<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-12-004771.txt : 20120309
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-12-004771.hdr.sgml : 20120309
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120309211125
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-12-004771
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120307
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120309
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120309

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Oh Irene H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001482107

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24939
		FILM NUMBER:		12682256

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		135 N LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FL
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EAST WEST BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001069157
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				954703316
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6267686000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EAST WEST BANCORP INC
		STREET 2:		135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001069157</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EAST WEST BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EWBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001482107</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Oh Irene H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>EAST WEST BANK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>980</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27329</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ratable-Vesting Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>980</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>980</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1962</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Units will vest in three annual installments beginning March 7, 2012.  On the settlement date, for each vested RSU, the reporting person will receive one share of Common Stock.  Vesting is also subject to meeting pre-established earning goals.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas P. Krause, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
