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AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE INVESTMENT SECURITIES (Details 2) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Schedule of Available-for-sale Investment Securities    
Proceeds from sales $ 180,501us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities $ 330,231us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities
Gross realized gains 4,404us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains 3,545us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
Gross realized losses   127us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses [1]
Related tax expense 1,850ewbc_TaxExpenseOnSaleOfAvailableForSaleInvestmentSecurities 1,436ewbc_TaxExpenseOnSaleOfAvailableForSaleInvestmentSecurities
MetroCorp    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Investment Securities    
Gross realized losses   $ 127us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ewbc_MetroCorpMember
[1] The gross $127 thousand of losses resulted from the available-for-sale investment securities acquired from MetroCorp which were sold immediately after the acquisition closed.