REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Actual
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	$ 2,395,109,000	$ 2,296,253,000
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	2,102,476,000	2,116,757,000
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Amount	2,102,476,000	2,116,757,000
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	13.50%	16.10%
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	11.90%	14.80%
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	8.60%	9.60%
For Capital Adequacy Purposes
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	1,416,203,000	1,142,743,000
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	708,102,000	571,371,000
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Amount	976,596,000	880,526,000
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	8.00%	8.00%
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	4.00%	4.00%
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	4.00%	4.00%
Regulatory Requirements - Additional Disclosure
Minimum total consolidated assets for exclusion of trust preferred securities as Tier I regulatory capital	15,000,000,000
Trust preferred securities as a percentage of the Company's Tier I capital	4.40%	6.30%
East West Bank
Actual
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	2,262,494,000	2,225,888,000
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	2,041,894,000	2,046,477,000
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Amount	2,041,894,000	2,046,477,000
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	12.90%	15.60%
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	11.60%	14.30%
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	8.40%	9.30%
For Capital Adequacy Purposes
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	1,407,944,000	1,142,215,000
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	703,972,000	571,107,000
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Amount	973,958,000	880,162,000
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	8.00%	8.00%
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	4.00%	4.00%
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	4.00%	4.00%
To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	1,759,931,000	1,427,769,000
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Amount	1,055,958,000	856,661,000
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Amount	1,217,448,000	1,100,202,000
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	10.00%	10.00%
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	6.00%	6.00%
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets), Ratio (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%
Reserve Requirement
Daily average reserve requirement	$ 218,500,000	$ 228,700,000