<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-14-005054.txt : 20140311
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-14-005054.hdr.sgml : 20140311
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140311201731
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-14-005054
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140307
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140311
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140311

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOUW JULIA S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235498

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24939
		FILM NUMBER:		14685888

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		415 HUNTINGTON DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN MARINO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91108
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
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    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001235498</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOUW JULIA S</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4204</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.8376</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ratable-Vesting Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3246</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3246</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Cliff-Vesting Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>27137</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55172</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">A total of 20,000 shares were sold at a weighted average price of $36.8376</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted Stock Units vest in three annual installments beginning March 7, 2012. On the settlement date, for each vested RSU, the reporting person received one share of Common Stock. Vesting was also subject to meeting pre-established earning goals.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Performance Based Restricted Stock Units vest in 3 years. Number of vested units was based on meeting performance criteria. 11,900 units were for the performance maximum if pre-established performance goals are met. On the settlement date, for each vested RSU, the reporting person received one share of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Performance Based Restricted Stock Units vest in 3 years. Number of units that will vest depends on meeting performance criteria. 27,137 units are for the performance maximum if pre-established performance goals are met. On the settlement date, for each vested RSU, the reporting person will receive one share of Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julia S. Gouw</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
