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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES. |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | NOTE 15 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Credit Extensions — In the normal course of business, the Company has various outstanding commitments to extend credit that are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. While the Company does not anticipate losses as a result of these transactions, commitments to extend credit are included in determining the appropriate level of the allowance for unfunded commitments and credit exposures. Loan commitments are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the agreement. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses. Because many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future funding requirements. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, undisbursed loan commitments amounted to $3.87 billion and $4.02 billion, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013 all undisbursed loan commitments are for loans held for investment. Commercial letters of credit are issued to facilitate domestic and foreign trade transactions while standby letters of credit (“SBLCs”) are issued to make payments on behalf of customers when certain specified future events occur. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, commercial and SBLC totaled $1.25 billion and $1.16 billion, respectively. The Company issues SBLC and financial guarantees to support the obligations of its customers to beneficiaries. Based on historical trends, the probability that it will have to make payments under SBLC is low. Additionally, in many cases, the Company holds collateral in various forms against these SBLC. As part of its risk management activities, the Company monitors the creditworthiness of the customer as well as its SBLC exposure; however, if the customer fails to perform the specified obligation to the beneficiary, the beneficiary may draw upon the SBLC by presenting documents that are in compliance with the letter of credit terms. In that event, the Company either repays the money borrowed or advanced, makes payment on account of the indebtedness of the customer or makes payment on account of the default by the customer in the performance of an obligation, to the beneficiary up to the full notional amount of the SBLC. The customer is obligated to reimburse the Company for any such payment. If the customer fails to pay, the Company would, as applicable, liquidate collateral and/or set off accounts. Credit card lines are unsecured commitments that are not legally binding. Management reviews credit card lines at least annually and, upon evaluation of the customers’ creditworthiness, the Bank has the right to terminate or change certain terms of the credit card lines. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as in extending loan facilities to customers. It evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty. Collateral held varies but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, and income-producing commercial properties. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the allowance for unfunded loan commitments, off-balance sheet credit exposures, and recourse provision amounted to $12.7 million and $11.3 million, respectively. These amounts are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Guarantees — In prior years, the Company sold or securitized loans with recourse in the ordinary course of business. For loans that have been sold or securitized with recourse, the recourse component is considered a guarantee. As such, the Companyis committed to stand ready to perform if the loan defaults and to make payments to remedy the default. As of December 31, 2014, the maximum potential future payment, which is generally the unpaid principal balance of total loans sold or securitized with recourse amounted to $249.8 million and were comprised of $35.5 million in single-family loans with full recourse and $214.3 million in multifamily loans with limited recourse. In comparison, total loans sold or securitized with recourse amounted to $338.8 million as of December 31, 2013, comprised of $42.2 million in single-family loans with full recourse and $296.6 million in multifamily loans with limited recourse. The recourse provision on multifamily loans varies by loan sale and is limited to 4% of the top loss on the underlying loans. The Company’s recourse reserve related to loan sales and securitizations totaled $2.2 million and $3.2 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company continues to experience minimal losses from the single-family and multifamily loan portfolios sold or securitized with recourse. The Company also sells or securitizes loans without recourse that may have to be subsequently repurchased if a defect that occurred during the loan origination process results in a violation of a representation or warranty made in connection with the securitization or sale of the loan. When a loan sold or securitized to an investor without recourse fails to perform according to its contractual terms, the investor will typically review the loan file to determine whether defects in the origination process occurred and if such defects give rise to a violation of a representation or warranty made to the investor in connection with the sale or securitization. If such a defect is identified, the Company may be required to either repurchase the loan or indemnify the investor for losses sustained. If there are no such defects, the Company has no commitment to repurchase the loan. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the amount of loans sold without recourse totaled $781.4 million and $818.2 million, respectively. Total loans securitized without recourse amounted to $162.8 million and $193.8 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The loans sold or securitized without recourse represent the unpaid principal balance of the Company’s loans serviced for others portfolio. Lease Commitments — The Company conducts a portion of its operations utilizing leased premises and equipment under operating leases. Rental expense amounted to $26.2 million, $26.2 million and $22.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases are estimated as follows:
Estimates For The Years Ending December 31, |  | Amount
|  | (In thousands)
2015 |  | $ | 24,076 |
2016 |  | 19,239 |
2017 |  | 14,957 |
2018 |  | 11,389 |
2019 |  | 9,950 |
Thereafter |  | 30,910 |
Total |  | $ | 110,521 |
Litigation — In the ordinary course of the Company’s business, the Company is a party to various legal actions, which the Company believes are incidental to the operation of our business. In accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, the Company accrues reserves for currently outstanding lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. The outcome of litigation and other legal and regulatory matters is inherently uncertain, and it is possible that one or more of the legal or regulatory matters, if any, currently pending or threatened could have a material adverse effect on the Company's liquidity, consolidated financial position, and/or results of operations. Based on the information currently available, advice of counsel and established reserves, the Company believes that the eventual outcome of the matters described below, will not, individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position. On September 8, 2014, a jury in the case titled “F&F, LLC and 618 Investment, Inc. v. East West Bank,” Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, Case No. BC462714, delivered a verdict in favor of plaintiff F&F, LLC, which was adjusted down by the court on December 18, 2014 to the amount of $36.6 million. The case is subject to further legal proceedings including appeal. The Company continues to appeal but has accrued based on the unfavorable verdict. As of December 31, 2014, a litigation accrual of $31.6 million has been recorded. Other Commitments — The Company has commitments to invest in affordable housing partnerships and other tax credit investments qualifying for community reinvestment tax credits or other types of tax credits. These commitments are payable on demand. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013 these commitments were $114.7 million and $73.1 million, respectively. These commitments are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

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