SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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                                   FORM 8-A

              FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES 
                   PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                            EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

               Delaware                                  95-4703316
(State of Incorporation or Organization)                 (IRS Employer
                                                         Identification No.)

                  415 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 91108
              (Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

     If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant 
to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General 
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. [_]

     If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant 
to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General 
Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. [X]

     Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form 
relates:

                                   333-63605
                                (If Applicable)

     Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     Title of Each Class                  Name of Each Exchange on Which
     To be so Registered                  Each Class is to be Registered

            N/A                                         N/A

     Securities to be Registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                         Common Stock, $.001 par value
                               (Title of Class)

 
Item 1. Description of Securities to be Registered.

     The description of the registrant's common stock (the "Common Stock") to be
registered hereunder is incorporated by reference from the description of such 
shares contained in the "Description of Capital Stock" section of the prospectus
included in the registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Commission File
No. 333-63605)(the "Registration Statement"). This registration statement will 
incorporate by reference the description of the Common Stock contained in any 
prospectus or supplement related to such shares subsequently filed pursuant to 
Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 2. Exhibits.

          The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to 
Exhibits 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1 of the Registration Statement.

                                   SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

Dated: September 30, 1998
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                                     EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.

                                     By: /s/ Douglas P. Krause
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                                             Douglas P. Krause
                                             Senior Vice President, General
                                             Counsel and Secretary