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Current Accounting Developments and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

East West Bancorp, Inc. (referred to herein on an unconsolidated basis as “East West” and on a consolidated basis as the “Company”) is a registered bank holding company that offers a full range of banking services to individuals and businesses through its subsidiary bank, East West Bank and its subsidiaries (“East West Bank” or the “Bank”). The unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“this Form 10-Q”) include the accounts of East West, East West Bank and East West’s subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. As of September 30, 2022, East West also has six wholly-owned subsidiaries that are statutory business trusts (the “Trusts”). In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation, the Trusts are not included on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), applicable guidelines prescribed by regulatory authorities and general practices in the banking industry. While the unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for fair presentation, they primarily serve to update the most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K, and may not include all the information and notes necessary to constitute a complete set of financial statements. Accordingly, they should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2022 (the “Company’s 2021 Form 10-K”). In addition, certain items on the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes for the prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements


Standard	Required Date of Adoption	Description	Effect on Financial Statements
Standards Not Yet Adopted
Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-02, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and the Vintage Disclosures	January 1, 2023	ASU 2022-02 eliminates the troubled debt restructuring (“TDRs”) accounting model for creditors and instead requires companies to apply the loan refinancing and restructuring guidance to determine whether a modification made to a borrower results in a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan. In addition, companies are no longer required to use a discounted cash flow method to measure the allowance for credit losses for certain TDRs and instead allows for the use of an expected loss approach for all loans. The guidance also introduces new disclosure requirements related to restructuring of financing receivables made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, and amends vintage disclosures to require current-period gross write-off by year of origination. The guidance should be applied on a prospective basis except for amendments related to recognition and measurement of TDRs, where a modified retrospective transition method is optional.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2022-02 on January 1, 2023.
ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions	January 1, 2024	ASU 2022-03 clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value. This ASU also requires the following disclosures for equity securities that are subject to contractual restrictions: the fair value of equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions; nature and remaining duration of the restrictions; and circumstances that could cause a lapse in the restrictions. The guidance should be applied on a prospective basis with any adjustments from the adoption of the amendment recognized in earnings and disclosed on the date of adoption.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2022-03 on January 1, 2024.

Transfer between Categories of Debt Securities and Held-to-Maturity Debt Securities

Transfer between Categories of Debt Securities — Upon transfer of a debt security from the AFS to HTM category, the security’s new amortized cost is reset to fair value, reduced by any previous write-offs but excluding any allowance for credit losses. Unrealized gains or losses at the date of transfer of these securities continue to be reported in AOCI and are amortized into interest income over the remaining life of the securities as effective yield adjustments, in a manner consistent with the amortization or accretion of the original purchase premium or discount on the associated security. For transfers of securities from the AFS to HTM category, any allowance for credit losses that was previously recorded under the AFS model is reversed and an allowance for credit losses is subsequently recorded under the HTM debt security model. The reversal and re-establishment of the allowance for credit losses are recorded in the provision for credit losses.Held-to-Maturity Debt Securities — Debt securities that the Company has the intent and ability to hold until maturity are classified as HTM and are carried at amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses. The criteria used to place HTM debt securities on nonaccrual are largely similar to those described for loans. The amortized cost of the Company’s HTM debt securities excludes accrued interest, which is included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company has made an accounting policy election not to recognize an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivables on HTM debt securities, as the Company reverses any accrued interest against interest income if a debt security is placed on nonaccrual status. Any cash collected on nonaccrual HTM securities is applied to reduce the security’s amortized cost basis and not as interest income. Generally, the Company returns an HTM security to accrual status when all delinquent interest and principal become current under the contractual terms of the security, and the collectability of remaining principal and interest is no longer doubtful.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Held-to-Maturity Debt Securities

Allowance for Credit Losses on Held-to-Maturity Debt Securities — For each major HTM debt security type, the allowance for credit losses is estimated collectively for groups of securities with similar risk characteristics. For securities that do not share similar risk characteristics, the losses are estimated individually. The Company applies a zero credit loss assumption to certain HTM debt securities, including debt securities that are either guaranteed or issued by the U.S. government or government-sponsored enterprises, are highly rated by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”), and have a long history of no credit losses. Any expected credit loss is recorded through the allowance for credit losses on HTM debt securities and deducted from the amortized cost basis of the security, reflecting the net amount the Company expects to collect.

Fair Value Determination

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or the price that would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining the fair value of financial instruments, the Company uses various methods including market and income approaches. Based on these approaches, the Company utilizes certain assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy described below is based on the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices available in active markets and the lowest priority to prices derived from data lacking transparency. The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities is classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

•Level 1 — Valuation is based on quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

•Level 2 — Valuation is based on quoted prices for similar instruments traded in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments traded in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable and can be corroborated by market data.

•Level 3 — Valuation is based on significant unobservable inputs for determining the fair value of assets or liabilities. These significant unobservable inputs reflect assumptions that market participants may use in pricing the assets or liabilities.

The classification of assets and liabilities within the hierarchy is based on whether inputs to the valuation methodology used are observable or unobservable, and the significance of those inputs in the fair value measurement. The Company’s assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to their fair value measurements.

Balance Sheet Offsetting

The Company’s resale and repurchase agreements are transacted under legally enforceable master repurchase agreements that, in the event of default by the counterparty, provide the Company the right to liquidate securities held and to offset receivables and payables with the same counterparty. The Company nets resale and repurchase transactions with the same counterparty on the Consolidated Balance Sheet when it has a legally enforceable master netting agreement and the transactions are eligible for netting under ASC 210-20-45-11, Balance Sheet Offsetting Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements.

Cash Flow Hedges

Changes in the fair values of cash flow hedges are recognized in AOCI and reclassified to earnings in the same period when the hedged cash flows impact earnings.

Credit Quality Indicators

All loans are subject to the Company’s credit review and monitoring process. For the commercial loan portfolio, loans are risk rated based on an analysis of the borrower’s current payment performance or delinquency, repayment sources, financial and liquidity factors, including industry and geographic considerations. For the consumer loan portfolio, payment performance or delinquency is typically the driving indicator for risk ratings.

The Company utilizes internal credit risk ratings to assign each individual loan a risk rating of 1 through 10:

•Pass — loans risk rated 1 through 5 are assigned an internal risk rating category of “Pass.” Loans risk rated 1 are typically loans fully secured by cash. Pass loans have sufficient sources of repayment to repay the loan in full, in accordance with all terms and conditions.

•Special mention — loans assigned a risk rating of 6 have potential weaknesses that warrant closer attention by management; these are assigned an internal risk rating category of “Special Mention.”

•Substandard — loans assigned a risk rating of 7 or 8 have well-defined weaknesses that may jeopardize the full and timely repayment of the loan; these are assigned an internal risk rating category of “Substandard.”

•Doubtful — loans assigned a risk rating of 9 have insufficient sources of repayment and a high probability of loss; these are assigned an internal risk rating category of “Doubtful.”

•Loss — loans assigned a risk rating of 10 are uncollectible and of such little value that they are no longer considered bankable assets; these are assigned an internal risk rating category of “Loss.”

Loan exposures categorized as criticized consist of special mention, substandard, doubtful and loss categories. The Company reviews the internal risk ratings of its loan portfolio on a regular basis, and adjusts the ratings based on changes in the borrowers’ financial status and the collectability of the loans.

Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Partnerships, Net and Investments in Tax Credit and Other Investments, Net

Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Partnerships, Net

The Company records its investments in qualified affordable housing partnerships, net, using the proportional amortization method if certain criteria are met. Under the proportional amortization method, the Company amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the amortization in Income tax expense on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Investments in Tax Credit and Other Investments, Net

For investments in tax credit and other investments, the Company applies the equity or fair value method of accounting depending on the Company’s ownership percentage. For equity investments without readily determinable fair values, the Company elected the measurement alternative under ASU 2016-01 valuing them at cost less impairment adjusted for observable price changes. Tax credit and other investments are evaluated for possible OTTI on an annual basis or when events or changes in circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of the tax credit investments may not be realizable. OTTI charges and impairment recoveries are recorded within Amortization of tax credit and other investments on the Consolidated Statement of Income

Variable Interest Entities

The majority of both the investments in affordable housing partnerships and tax credit and other investments discussed above are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) where the Company is a limited partner in these partnerships, and an unrelated third party is typically the general partner or managing member who has control over the significant activities of these investments. While the Company’s interest in some of the investments may exceed 50% of the outstanding equity interests, the Company does not consolidate these structures due to the general partner’s or managing member’s ability to manage the entity, which is indicative of the general partner’s or managing member’s power over the entity. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss in connection with these partnerships consists of the unamortized investment balance and any tax credits claimed that may become subject to recapture.

Special purpose entities formed in connection with securitization transactions are generally considered VIEs. A CLO is a VIE that purchases a pool of assets consisting primarily of non-investment grade corporate loans, and issues multiple tranches of notes to investors to fund the asset purchases and pay upfront expenses associated with forming the CLO.

Goodwill

The Company’s goodwill impairment test is performed annually, as of December 31, or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value.

Litigation

Litigation — The Company is a party to various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of its business. In accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, the Company accrues reserves for outstanding lawsuits, claims and proceedings when a loss contingency is probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company estimates the amount of loss contingencies using current available information from legal proceedings, advice from legal counsel and available insurance coverage. Due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and unpredictability of the outcomes of the legal proceedings, any amounts accrued or included in this aggregate amount may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company from the legal proceedings in question. Thus, the Company’s exposure and ultimate losses may be higher, and possibly significantly more, than the amounts accrued.

Share-based Compensation

Compensation costs are calculated using the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock at the grant date. Compensation costs for certain time-based awards that will be settled in cash are adjusted to fair value based on changes in the share price of the Company’s common stock up to the settlement date. For performance-based RSUs, the compensation costs are based on grant date fair value which considers both performance and market conditions, and is subject to subsequent adjustments based on the Company’s outcome in meeting the performance criteria at the end of the performance period. Compensation costs of both time and performance-based awards are estimated based on awards ultimately expected to vest, and are recognized net of estimated forfeitures on a straight-line basis from the grant date until the vesting date of each grant.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company has an allowance framework under ASU 2016-13 for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. The Company’s allowance for credit losses, which includes both the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for unfunded credit commitments, is calculated with the objective of maintaining a reserve sufficient to absorb losses inherent in our credit portfolios. The measurement of the allowance for credit losses is based on management’s best estimate of lifetime expected credit losses, and periodic evaluation of the loan portfolio, lending-related commitments, and other relevant factors.

The allowance for credit losses is deducted from the amortized cost basis of a financial asset or a group of financial assets so that the balance sheet reflects the net amount the Company expects to collect. Amortized cost is the principal balance outstanding, net of purchase premiums and discounts, deferred fees and costs, and escrow advances. Subsequent changes in expected credit losses are recognized in net income as a provision for, or a reversal of, credit loss expense.

The allowance for credit losses estimation involves procedures to consider the unique risk characteristics of the portfolio segments. The majority of the Company’s credit exposures that share risk characteristics with other similar exposures are collectively evaluated. The collectively evaluated loans include performing loans and unfunded credit commitments. If an exposure does not share risk characteristics with other exposures, the Company generally estimates expected credit losses on an individual basis. These individually assessed loans include TDR and nonaccrual loans.

Allowance for Collectively Evaluated Loans

The allowance for collectively evaluated loans consists of a quantitative component that assesses the different risk factors considered in our models and a qualitative component that considers risk factors external to the models. Each of these components are described below.

Quantitative Component — The Company applies quantitative methods to estimate loan losses by considering a variety of factors such as historical loss experience, the current credit quality of the portfolio, and an economic outlook over the life of the loan. The Company incorporates forward-looking information using macroeconomic scenarios, which include variables that are considered key drivers of increases and decreases in credit losses. The Company utilizes a probability-weighted, multiple-scenario forecast approach. These scenarios may consist of a base forecast representing management's view of the most likely outcome, combined with downside or upside scenarios reflecting possible worsening or improving economic conditions. The quantitative models incorporate a probability-weighted calculation of these macroeconomic scenarios over a reasonable and supportable forecast period. If the life of loans extends beyond the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the Company will consider historical experience or long-run macroeconomic trends over the remaining lives of the loans to estimate the allowance for loan losses.

There were no changes to the overall model methodology. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, there were no changes to the reasonable and supportable forecast period and reversion to the historical loss experience method.

The following table provides key credit risk characteristics and macroeconomic variables that the Company uses to estimate the expected credit losses by portfolio segment:

Portfolio Segment

Risk Characteristics

Macroeconomic Variables

C&I

Age, size and spread at origination, and risk rating

Volatility Index and BBB yield to 10-year U.S. Treasury spread

CRE, Multifamily residential, and Construction and land

Delinquency status, maturity date, collateral value, property type, and geographic location

Unemployment rate, Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”), and U.S. Treasury rates

Single-family residential and HELOCs

FICO score, delinquency status, maturity date, collateral value, and geographic location

Unemployment rate, GDP, and home price index

Other consumer

Historical loss experience

Immaterial (1)

(1)Macroeconomic variables are included in the qualitative estimate.

Allowance for Loan Losses for the Commercial Loan Portfolio

The Company’s C&I lifetime loss rate model estimates credit losses by estimating a loss rate expected over the life of a loan. This loss rate is applied to the amortized cost basis, excluding accrued interest receivable, to determine expected credit losses. The lifetime loss rate model’s reasonable and supportable period spans 11 quarters, thereafter immediately reverting to the historical average loss rate, expressed through the loan-level lifetime loss rate.

To generate estimates of expected loss at the loan level for CRE, multifamily residential, and construction and land loans, projected probabilities of default (“PDs”) and loss given defaults (“LGDs”) are applied to the estimated exposure at default, considering the term and payment structure of the loan. The forecast of future economic conditions returns to long-run historical economic trends within the reasonable and supportable period.

In order to estimate the life of a loan under both models, the contractual term of the loan is adjusted for estimated prepayments based on historical prepayment experience.

Allowance for Loan Losses for the Consumer Loan Portfolio

For single-family residential and HELOC loans, projected PDs and LGDs are applied to the estimated exposure at default, considering the term and payment structure of the loan, to generate estimates of expected loss at the loan level. The forecast of future economic conditions returns to long-run historical economic trends after the reasonable and supportable period. To estimate the life of a loan for the single-family residential and HELOC portfolios, the contractual term of the loan is adjusted for estimated prepayments based on historical prepayment experience. For other consumer loans, the Company uses a loss rate approach.

Qualitative Component — The Company also considers the following qualitative factors in the determination of the collectively evaluated allowance if these factors have not already been captured by the quantitative model. Such qualitative factors may include, but are not limited to:

— loan growth trends;

— the volume and severity of past due financial assets, and the volume and severity of adversely classified financial assets;

— the Company’s lending policies and procedures, including changes in lending strategies, underwriting standards, collection, write-off and recovery practices;

— knowledge of a borrower’s operations;

— the quality of the Company’s credit review system;

— the experience, ability and depth of the Company’s management and associates;

— the effect of other external factors such as the regulatory and legal environments, or changes in technology;

— actual and expected changes in international, national, regional, and local economic and business conditions in which the Company operates; and

— risk factors in certain industry sectors not captured by the quantitative models.

The magnitude of the impact of these factors on the Company’s qualitative assessment of the allowance for credit losses changes from period to period according to changes made by management in its assessment of these factors. The extent to which these factors change may be dependent on whether they are already reflected in quantitative loss estimates during the current period and the extent to which changes in these factors diverge from period to period.

While the Company’s allowance methodologies strive to reflect all relevant credit risk factors, there continues to be uncertainty associated with, but not limited to, potential imprecision in the estimation process due to the inherent time lag of obtaining information and normal variations between expected and actual outcomes. The Company may hold additional qualitative reserves that are designed to provide coverage for losses attributable to such risk.

Allowance for Individually Evaluated Loans

When a loan no longer shares similar risk characteristics with other loans, such as in the case of certain nonaccrual or TDR loans, the Company estimates the allowance for loan losses on an individual loan basis. The allowance for loan losses for individually evaluated loans is measured as the difference between the recorded value of the loans and their fair value. For loans evaluated individually, the Company uses one of three different asset valuation measurement methods: (1) the fair value of collateral less costs to sell; (2) the present value of expected future cash flows; and (3) the loan's observable market price. If an individually evaluated loan is determined to be collateral dependent, the Company applies the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell method. If an individually evaluated loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, the Company uses the present value of future cash flows or the observable market value of the loan.

•Collateral-Dependent Loans — The allowance of a collateral-dependent loan is limited to the difference between the recorded value and fair value of the collateral less cost of disposal or sale.