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INVESTMENT SECURITIES (Details 2) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities      
Proceeds from sales $ 623,689us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities $ 663,569us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities $ 1,230,134us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities
Gross realized gains 10,978us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains 13,904us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains 28,211us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
Gross realized losses 127us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses [1] 1,815us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses 27,454us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
Related tax expense 4,557ewbc_TaxExpenseOnSaleOfAvailableForSaleInvestmentSecurities 5,077ewbc_TaxExpenseOnSaleOfAvailableForSaleInvestmentSecurities 318ewbc_TaxExpenseOnSaleOfAvailableForSaleInvestmentSecurities
MetroCorp      
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities      
Gross realized losses $ 127us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ewbc_MetroCorpMember		    
[1] The gross $127 thousand of losses resulted from the investment securities acquired from MetroCorp which were sold immediately after the acquisition closed.