Net Origination Fees

No definition available.

Name:	ewbc_NetOriginationFees
Namespace Prefix:	ewbc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of allowance for credit loss on financing receivable. Excludes allowance for financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121611835&loc=SL6953423-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(7)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599878&loc=SL82895884-210446

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599337&loc=SL82919249-210447

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599337&loc=SL82919249-210447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121647567&loc=SL82922352-210448

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599337&loc=SL82919230-210447

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 80
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121647567&loc=SL82922355-210448

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599337&loc=SL82919230-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121593590&loc=d3e4428-111522

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of deferred fees paid by borrowers and unamortized costs incurred to originate loans and leases, unamortized loan commitments and loan syndication fees, and premiums over or discounts from face amounts of loans that are being amortized into income as an adjustment to yield. Excludes amounts for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6378536&loc=d3e10092-111533

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnamortizedLoanCommitmentAndOriginationFeesAndUnamortizedDiscountsOrPremiums
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansInsuredOrGuaranteedByGovernmentAuthoritiesAxis=ewbc_CARESActPaycheckProtectionProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=ewbc_CommercialAndIndustrialLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_CommercialRealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_RealEstateLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=srt_MultifamilyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=ewbc_ConstructionAndLandLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=ewbc_TotalCommercialRealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=srt_SingleFamilyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_HomeEquityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=ewbc_TotalResidentialMortgageMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=ewbc_OtherConsumerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses (Composition of Loans Held-for-Investment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	$ 39,588,748	$ 38,390,955
Allowance for loan losses	(607,506)	(619,983)	$ (557,003)	$ (358,287)
Loans held-for-investment, net	38,981,242	37,770,972
Net deferred loan fees, unearned fees, unamortized premiums and unaccreted discounts	(76,900)	(58,800)
CARES Act, Paycheck Protection Program
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Net origination fees	(34,300)	(12,700)
Commercial and industrial (“C&I”) \| CARES Act, Paycheck Protection Program
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	2,070,000	1,570,000
Commercial lending
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	29,169,913	28,440,027
Commercial lending \| Commercial and industrial (“C&I”)
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	14,081,110	13,631,726
Allowance for loan losses	(394,084)	(398,040)	(362,629)	(238,376)
Commercial lending \| Commercial real estate (“CRE”)
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	11,563,034	11,174,611
Allowance for loan losses	(146,399)	(163,791)	(132,819)	(40,509)
Commercial lending \| Real estate loan \| Multifamily residential
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	3,066,515	3,033,998
Allowance for loan losses	(27,407)	(27,573)	(16,530)	(22,826)
Commercial lending \| Construction and land
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	459,254	599,692
Allowance for loan losses	(19,089)	(10,239)	(11,018)	(19,404)
Commercial lending \| Total CRE
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	15,088,803	14,808,301
Consumer lending
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	10,418,835	9,950,928
Consumer lending \| Real estate loan \| Single-family residential
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	8,524,287	8,185,953
Allowance for loan losses	(15,839)	(15,520)	(26,822)	(28,527)
Consumer lending \| HELOCs
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	1,749,172	1,601,716
Allowance for loan losses	(2,670)	(2,690)	(3,881)	(5,265)
Consumer lending \| Total residential mortgage
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	10,273,459	9,787,669
Consumer lending \| Other consumer
LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held-for-investment	145,376	163,259
Allowance for loan losses	$ (2,018)	$ (2,130)	$ (3,304)	$ (3,380)