10-K/A

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K/A
(Amendment No. 1)

Mark One
ý	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
or
o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to             .

Commission file number 000-24939

EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	95-4703316 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
135 North Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, California (Address of principal executive offices)	91101 (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (626) 768-6000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value	NASDAQ "Global Select Market"

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
NONE

            Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý    No o

            Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o    No ý

            Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

            Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 or Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

            Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filed, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer, "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filed o Accelerated filer ý Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o

            Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o    No ý

            The aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates is approximately $439,466,813 (based on the June 30, 2008 closing price of Common Stock of $7.06 per share).

            As of January 31, 2009, 63,745,261 shares of East West Bancorp, Inc. Common Stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENT INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders – Part III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

            This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A amends the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2009. This Amendment is being filed solely to include the signature of our independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, which was inadvertently omitted from the consent, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 23.1.

            In addition, as required by Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, new certifications by our principal executive officer and principal financial officer are filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K/A under Item 15 of Part IV hereof.

            This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A does not modify or update the disclosures set forth in the Original filing, including the financial statements and notes to the financial statements set forth in the 2008 Form 10-K.

PART IV

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)(1) Financial Statements

            The following financial statements included in the registrant's 2008 Annual Report to Shareholders are included. Page number references are to the 2008 Annual Report to Shareholders.

	Page
East West Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	93
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2008 and 2007	94
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006	95
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006	96
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006	97
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	98

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

            Schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, not material or because the information is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

(a)(3) Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
3.1	Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on September 17, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
3.2	Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the Commission on March 28, 2003.]
3.3	Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Exhibit A of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on April 24, 2008.]
3.4	Bylaws of the Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on September 17, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
3.5	Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant dated May 29, 2008 [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 3, 2008.]
3.6	Certificate of Designations of 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, including Form of Series A Preferred Stock Certificate. [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 30, 2008.]
3.7	Certificate of Designations of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2008.]

1

4.1	Specimen Common Stock Certificate of Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on September 17, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
4.2	Form of Certificate of the Registrant's 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 30, 2008.]
4.3	Form of Preferred Share Certificate for Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B. [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2008.]
4.4	Warrant to purchase up to 3,035,109 shares of Common Stock [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2008.]
10.1	Employment Agreement with Dominic Ng+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on November 13, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
10.2	Employment Agreement with Julia Gouw+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on November 13, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
10.5	Employment Agreement with Douglas P. Krause+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]
10.6.1	East West Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan and Forms of Agreements+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on November 13, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
10.6.2	Amended East West Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.6.3	1998 Non-Qualified Stock Option Program for Employees and Independent Contractors+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.6.4	Performance-Based Bonus Plan+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.6.5	1999 Spirit of Ownership Restricted Stock Program+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.6.6	2003 Directors' Restricted Stock Program+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.7	East West Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on November 13, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
10.8	Employment Agreement with William J. Lewis+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]
10.9.1	Employment Agreement with Donald Sang Chow+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 filed with the Commission on March 30, 2000.]
10.9.2	Amendment to Employment Agreement with Donald Sang Chow+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 filed with the Commission on March 30, 2000.]
10.9.3	Amendment to Employment Agreement with Donald Sang Chow+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]

2

10.10	Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]
10.11	Employment Agreement with Wellington Chen+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]
10.12	Director Compensation%+
10.13	Named Executive Officer Compensation%+
10.14	Letter Agreement, dated December 5, 2008, including Securities Purchase Agreement—Standard Terms incorporated by reference therein, by and between the Registrant and the United States Department of Treasury [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2008.]
21.1	Subsidiaries of the Registrant%
23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm%
31.1	Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002%
31.2	Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002%
32.1	Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant To Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002%
32.2	Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant To Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002%

Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K identified in the exhibit index have SEC file number 000-24939.

+	Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
%	A copy of this exhibit is being filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

3

SIGNATURES

            Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 2, 2009
	EAST WEST BANCORP INC. (Registrant)
	By	/s/ DOMINIC NG Dominic Ng
		Chairman of the Board, President     and Chief Executive Officer

4

EXHIBIT INDEX

To Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A
For the Year Ended December 31, 2008

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
3.1	Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on September 17, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
3.2	Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the Commission on March 28, 2003.]
3.3	Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Exhibit A of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on April 24, 2008.]
3.4	Bylaws of the Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on September 17, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
3.5	Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant dated May 29, 2008 [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 3, 2008.]
3.6	Certificate of Designations of 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, including Form of Series A Preferred Stock Certificate. [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 30, 2008.]
3.7	Certificate of Designations of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2008.]
4.1	Specimen Common Stock Certificate of Registrant [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on September 17, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
4.2	Form of Certificate of the Registrant's 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 30, 2008.]
4.3	Form of Preferred Share Certificate for Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B. [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2008.]
4.4	Warrant to purchase up to 3,035,109 shares of Common Stock [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2008.]
10.1	Employment Agreement with Dominic Ng+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on November 13, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
10.2	Employment Agreement with Julia Gouw+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on November 13, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
10.5	Employment Agreement with Douglas P. Krause+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]

5

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
10.6.1	East West Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan and Forms of Agreements+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on November 13, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
10.6.2	Amended East West Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.6.3	1998 Non-Qualified Stock Option Program for Employees and Independent Contractors+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.6.4	Performance-Based Bonus Plan+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.6.5	1999 Spirit of Ownership Restricted Stock Program+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.6.6	2003 Directors' Restricted Stock Program+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2005.]
10.7	East West Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on November 13, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).]
10.8	Employment Agreement with William J. Lewis+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]
10.9.1	Employment Agreement with Donald Sang Chow+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 filed with the Commission on March 30, 2000.]
10.9.2	Amendment to Employment Agreement with Donald Sang Chow+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 filed with the Commission on March 30, 2000.]
10.9.3	Amendment to Employment Agreement with Donald Sang Chow+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]
10.10	Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]
10.11	Employment Agreement with Wellington Chen+ [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005.]
10.12	Director Compensation%+
10.13	Named Executive Officer Compensation%+
10.14	Letter Agreement, dated December 5, 2008, including Securities Purchase Agreement—Standard Terms incorporated by reference therein, by and between the Registrant and the United States Department of Treasury [Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2008.]
21.1	Subsidiaries of the Registrant%
23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm%
31.1	Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002%
31.2	Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002%

6

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
32.1	Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant To Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002%
32.2	Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant To Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002%

Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K identified in the exhibit index have SEC file number 000-24939.

+	Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
%	A copy of this exhibit is being filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

7

EX-23.1

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Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

            We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-128828, 333-46718, 333-54538, 333-113478, 333-118677, 333-96193, 333-156567, and 333-150353 on Form S-3 and Nos. 333-85330, 333-91554, 333-105292, 333-88527, 333-88529 and 333-56468 on Form S-8 of our reports dated March 2, 2009, relating to the financial statements of East West Bancorp, Inc. and the effectiveness of East West Bancorp, Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of East West Bancorp, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2008.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Los Angeles, California
March 2, 2009

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Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

EX-31.1

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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION
EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Dominic Ng, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of East West Bancorp, Inc. (the "registrant");

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the period presented in this report;

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;



b.

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.



c.

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures, and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and



d.

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and



b.

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting.

Date: March 2, 2009

/s/ DOMINIC NG
Dominic Ng

President and Chief Executive Officer

            A signed original of this written statement required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION EAST WEST BANCORP, INC. CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

EX-31.2

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Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION
EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Thomas J. Tolda, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of East West Bancorp, Inc. (the "registrant");

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the period presented in this report;

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b.

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

c.

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures, and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d.

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

1

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting.

Date: March 2, 2009

/s/ THOMAS J. TOLDA
Thomas J. Tolda

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

            A signed original of this written statement required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

2

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Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION EAST WEST BANCORP, INC. CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

EX-32.1

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Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

            In connection with the Annual Report of East West Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Dominic Ng, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge that:

(a)

the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and



(b)

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: March 2, 2009

/s/ DOMINIC NG
Dominic Ng
President and Chief Executive Officer

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Exhibit 32.1

EX-32.2

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Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

            In connection with the Annual Report of East West Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Thomas J. Tolda, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge that:

(a)

the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and



(b)

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: March 2, 2009

/s/ THOMAS J. TOLDA
Thomas J. Tolda
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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Exhibit 32.2