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INCOME TAXES (Details 3) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
INCOME TAXES      
Net operating loss carryforwards $ 4,000,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards    
Activity related to unrecognized tax benefits      
Ending Balance 4,677,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 3,457,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits  
Additions for tax positions of prior years 343,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions 232,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions  
Additions for tax positions of current year   988,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions  
Beginning Balance 5,020,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 4,677,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits  
Increase in unrecognized tax benefits reserve for the California enterprise zone net interest deduction 343,000ewbc_IncreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReserveForEnterpriseZoneNetInterestDeduction 1,200,000ewbc_IncreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReserveForEnterpriseZoneNetInterestDeduction  
Reduction in unrecognized tax benefits reserve for California enterprise zone, net interest deduction 0ewbc_DecreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReserveForEnterpriseZoneNetInterestDeduction    
ASC 740-10 liability 7,200,000ewbc_AccountingForUncertaintyInIncomeTaxesAsc74010Liability 6,300,000ewbc_AccountingForUncertaintyInIncomeTaxesAsc74010Liability  
Total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate 3,300,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate 3,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate  
Accrued interest and penalties expense for unrecognized tax positions 597,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued (744,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 1,200,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Total interest and penalties accrued $ 2,200,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued $ 1,600,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued