<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001069157-21-000021.txt : 20210310
<SEC-HEADER>0001069157-21-000021.hdr.sgml : 20210310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210310192703
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001069157-21-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210308
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210310
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KRAUSE DOUGLAS PAUL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235499

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24939
		FILM NUMBER:		21731372

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		415 HUNTINGTON DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN MARINO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91108

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>wf-form4_161542240823152.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-03-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001235499</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KRAUSE DOUGLAS PAUL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.</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>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12315</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49065</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3947</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>76.79</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45118</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24807</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401 (k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units granted on March 8, 2018 fully vest in three years. Number of vested units depends on meeting pre-established performance criteria. As of March 8, 2021, 166% of the units granted on March 8, 2018 were earned and vested. On the settlement date, for each vested Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit, the reporting person received one share of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 30 shares granted under the Spirit of Ownership program that were previously reported at the date of grant, but were not included in the reporting person's total direct beneficial ownership in prior filings.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares withheld for payment of tax liability in connection with the vesting of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units. The number of shares withheld was determined on March 8, 2021 based on the closing price of the issuer's common stock on March 8, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">As of March 8, 2021.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Louisa Wang, as Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa-dougkrausexjuly2020.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POA NEW 2020 - DOUGLAS KRAUSE
<TEXT>
<!-- Document created using Workiva -->
<html>
<body>
<pre>
LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR

SECTION 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

The undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Irene Oh, Lisa Kim, and
Louisa Wang, each acting individually, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact,
with full power and authority as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and
stead of the undersigned to:

(1) prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Forms 3, 4, and 5, and Form 144,
(including any amendments thereto) with respect to the securities of East West Bancorp, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, any national securities exchanges and the Company, as considered necessary or
advisable under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time (the "Exchange Act");

(2) seek or obtain, as the undersigned's representative and on the undersigned's
behalf, information on transactions in the Company's securities from any third party, including
brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby
authorizes any such person to release any such information to each of the undersigned's
attorneys-in-fact appointed by this Power of Attorney and approves and ratifies any such release
of information; and

(3) perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are
necessary or desirable for and on behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing.

The undersigned acknowledges that:

(1) this Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney-in-fact
to act in their discretion on information provided to such attorney-in-fact without independent
verification of such information;

(2) any documents prepared and/or executed by either such attorney-in-fact on behalf
of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such
information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or
desirable;

(3) neither the Company nor either of such attorneys-in-fact assumes (a) any liability
for the undersigned's responsibility to comply with the requirement of the Exchange Act, (b) any
liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such requirements, or (c) any
obligation or liability of the undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act; and

(4) this Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for
compliance with the undersigned's obligations under the Exchange Act, including without
limitation the reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

The undersigned hereby gives and grants each ofthe foregoing attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do ifpresent, hereby ratifying all that each such attorney-in-fact of, for and on behalfofthe undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue ofthis Limited Power ofAttorney.
This Power ofAttorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each such attorney-in-fact.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersiined has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 11 th day of July , 2020.
Signature
~
Douglas Krause

</pre>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
