FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK ADVANCES AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Capital Resources
Minimum total consolidated assets for exclusion of trust preferred securities as Tier I regulatory capital	$ 15,000,000,000
Debt redeemed	30,310,000	10,310,000	75,000,000
Long-term debt	225,848,000	226,868,000
Junior Subordinated Debt
Capital Resources
Number of statutory business trusts formed for the purpose of issuing junior subordinated debt to third party investors	6
Number of junior subordinated debts called	1
Common stock issued by the Trusts to the Company	4,600,000	3,900,000
Minimum total consolidated assets for exclusion of trust preferred securities as Tier I regulatory capital	15,000,000,000
Debt instrument, phased out (as a percent)		25.00%
Debt instrument, phased out period		4 years
Stated Interest Rate, base	three-month LIBOR
Balance at the end of the period	148,000,000	123,000,000
Long-term debt	145,848,000	126,868,000
Term loan
Capital Resources
Stated Interest Rate, base	three-month LIBOR
Stated Interest Rate, basis spread (as a percent)	1.50%
Interest rate as of reporting date (as a percent)	1.81%
Issue of debt					100,000,000
Maturity period of debt					3 years
Quarterly installment				5,000,000
Final, lump sum repayment at maturity of debt instrument	50,000,000
Long-term debt	80,000,000	100,000,000
East West Capital Trust IV | Junior Subordinated Debt
Capital Resources
Stated Interest Rate, base	3-month Libor +
Stated Interest Rate, basis spread (as a percent)	2.55%
Balance at the end of the period		10,000,000
Debt redeemed	10,000,000
Stock redeemed	310,000
East West Capital Trust V | Junior Subordinated Debt
Capital Resources
Stated Interest Rate, base	3-month Libor +
Stated Interest Rate, basis spread (as a percent)	1.80%
Interest rate as of reporting date (as a percent)	2.03%
Balance at the end of the period	15,000,000	15,000,000
East West Capital Trust VI | Junior Subordinated Debt
Capital Resources
Stated Interest Rate, base	3-month Libor +
Stated Interest Rate, basis spread (as a percent)	1.50%
Interest rate as of reporting date (as a percent)	1.74%
Balance at the end of the period	20,000,000	20,000,000
East West Capital Trust VII | Junior Subordinated Debt
Capital Resources
Stated Interest Rate, base	3-month Libor +
Stated Interest Rate, basis spread (as a percent)	1.35%
Interest rate as of reporting date (as a percent)	1.59%
Balance at the end of the period	30,000,000	30,000,000
East West Capital Trust VIII | Junior Subordinated Debt
Capital Resources
Stated Interest Rate, base	3-month Libor +
Stated Interest Rate, basis spread (as a percent)	1.40%
Interest rate as of reporting date (as a percent)	1.64%
Balance at the end of the period	18,000,000	18,000,000
East West Capital Trust IX | Junior Subordinated Debt
Capital Resources
Stated Interest Rate, base	3-month Libor +
Stated Interest Rate, basis spread (as a percent)	1.90%
Interest rate as of reporting date (as a percent)	2.14%
Balance at the end of the period	30,000,000	30,000,000
Metro Bank Trust | Junior Subordinated Debt
Capital Resources
Reduction of a purchase accounting adjustment	6,800,000
Common stock issued by the Trusts to the Company	1,100,000
Stated Interest Rate, base	3-month Libor +
Stated Interest Rate, basis spread (as a percent)	1.55%
Interest rate as of reporting date (as a percent)	1.79%
Balance at the end of the period	$ 35,000,000