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Employee Benefit Plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans

11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Deferred Compensation Plan—In 1996, the Company established a deferred compensation plan that permits eligible officers and directors to defer a portion of their compensation. In 2001, the Board of Directors approved and the Company established a deferred compensation plan that allows key executives of the Company additional deferment of their compensation. The deferred compensation plan is still in effect and was amended in 2007 to be in compliance with the new IRC §409(A) regulations. In May 2004, Center Bank approved Center Bank Executive Deferred Compensation Plan and BBCN has assumed and renamed the plan as the BBCN Bank Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. The deferred compensation, together with accrued accumulated interest, is distributable in cash after retirement or termination of service. The deferred compensation liabilities at December 31, 2011 and 2010 amounted to $1.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively, which are included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated statement of financial condition. Interest expense recognized under the deferred compensation plan totaled $54 thousand, $42 thousand and $58 thousand for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

In 2008, the Company established and the Board approved a Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") that rewards the named executive officers ("NEO") with deferred compensation if the Company meets certain performance goals, the NEOs meet individual performance goals, and the NEOs remain employed for a pre-determined period (between five and ten years, depending on the officer). Only two NEO are currently participating in the LTIP. The Company accrued $70 thousand in 2011 and $0 in 2010 as the Company did not meet the required performance goals in 2010.

The Company has insured the lives of certain officers and directors who participate in the deferred compensation plan. The Company has also purchased life insurance policies and entered into split dollar life insurance agreements with certain directors and officers. Under the terms of the split dollar life insurance agreements, a portion of the death benefits received by the Bank will be paid to beneficiaries named by the directors and officers.

401(k) Savings Plan—In 1996, the Company established a 401(k) savings plan, which is open to all eligible employees who are 21 years old or over and have completed three months of service. The plan requires the Bank to match 100% up to 3% of employee deferrals and 75% of the next 2% of employee deferrals for an additional contribution of up to 1.5% during the plan year. Employer matching is immediately vested in full regardless of the service term. Total employer contributions to the plan and expense amounted to approximately $591 thousand, $0 and $360 thousand for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Effective September 7, 2009, the Company had amended the Plan to discontinue the safe harbor employer matching contributions. The employer matching contributions were reinstated effective January 1, 2011. Pursuant to the merger, the 401(k) plans of Nara Bank and Center Bank were merged and the matching was increased to 100% up to 3% of employee deferred and 75% of the next 2% of the employee deferral effective January 1, 2012.

Employees Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP")—In 1996, the Company established an ESOP, which is open to all eligible employees who have completed one year of service working at least 1,000 hours. The Company's contributions to the ESOP represent an annual profit-sharing bonus paid to employees. Such contributions and available forfeitures are allocated to active employees based on the percentage that their compensation represents of the total compensation of eligible employees. The Company purchased 11,638, 10,259 and 0 shares of its common stock for the ESOP in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company's contribution and expense to the ESOP was approximately $100 thousand, $100 thousand and $0 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the ESOP held 152,358 and 162,773 shares, and there were no unallocated shares. On an annual basis, the Board determines the amount to contribute to the ESOP as a profit sharing bonus.

Upon termination, plan participants are paid in cash or retain their vested balance in the ESOP. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, shares withdrawn from the ESOP by participants who terminated their employment with the Company amounted to 22,053, 5,843 and 18,289 shares, respectively. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, no shares were added to the ESOP plan from dividend reinvestments.