Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Jan. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2022
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	000-24939
Entity Registrant Name	EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	95-4703316
Entity Address, Address Line One	135 North Los Robles Ave.
Entity Address, Address Line Two	7th Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	Pasadena
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	91101
City Area Code	626
Local Phone Number	768-6000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	EWBC
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 9,058,196,758
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		141,003,685
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A relating to its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
Entity Central Index Key	0001069157
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false