<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001069157-21-000025.txt : 20210312
<SEC-HEADER>0001069157-21-000025.hdr.sgml : 20210312
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210312133249
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001069157-21-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210312
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210312

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TEO GARY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001668233

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24939
		FILM NUMBER:		21736544

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE 7TH FLR
		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>3/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form3a_161557395554004.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3/A
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2021-03-08</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001668233</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TEO GARY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O  EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE 7TH FLR</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>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21331</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>126</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401 (k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This amount has been updated to include 21,314 time-based restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) that each represent the right to receive one share of common stock at settlement. These RSUs were inadvertently excluded from the reporting person's prior filing. The reporting person's aggregate direct ownership of the issuer's common stock as of the date of this amendment is 19,757 shares, which gives effect to 1,574 shares withheld upon vesting of RSUs as reported on the reporting person's Form 4 filed on March 10, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As of March 8, 2021.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Louisa Wang, as Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
