PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 895,820	$ 1,323,106	$ 1,431,185	$ 1,333,949
Investment securities available-for-sale	2,733,797	2,607,029
Other assets	533,759	517,718
TOTAL	24,730,068	22,536,110	21,968,667
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Long-term debt	226,868	137,178
Total liabilities	22,365,843	20,153,988
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; Series A, non-cumulative convertible, 200,000 shares issued; no shares outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 85,710 shares outstanding in 2012.		83,027
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 163,098,008 and 157,160,193 shares issued in 2013 and 2012, respectively; 137,630,896 and 140,294,092 shares outstanding in 2013 and 2012, respectively.	163	157
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	163,098,008	157,160,193
Common stock, shares outstanding	137,630,896	140,294,092
Additional paid in capital	1,571,670	1,464,739
Retained earnings	1,360,130	1,151,828
Treasury stock, at cost - 25,467,112 shares in 2013 and 16,866,101 shares in 2012.	(537,279)	(322,298)
Treasury stock, shares	25,467,112	16,866,101
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(30,459)	4,669	(33,940)	(12,414)
Total stockholders' equity	2,364,225	2,382,122	2,311,743	2,113,931
TOTAL	24,730,068	22,536,110
Preferred stock, Series A, non-cumulative convertible
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	200,000	200,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	85,710
East West Bancorp, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	79,934	64,489	9,287	4,973
Investment securities available-for-sale	69,796
Investment in subsidiaries	2,400,937	2,450,058
Other investments	21,371	3,083
Other assets	37,037	5,122
TOTAL	2,609,075	2,522,752
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Long-term debt	226,868	137,178
Other liabilities	17,982	3,452
Total liabilities	244,850	140,630
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 163,098,008 and 157,160,193 shares issued in 2013 and 2012, respectively; 137,630,896 and 140,294,092 shares outstanding in 2013 and 2012, respectively.	163	157
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	163,098,008	157,160,193
Common stock, shares outstanding	137,630,896	140,294,092
Additional paid in capital	1,571,670	1,464,739
Retained earnings	1,360,130	1,151,828
Treasury stock, at cost - 25,467,112 shares in 2013 and 16,866,101 shares in 2012.	(537,279)	(322,298)
Treasury stock, shares	25,467,112	16,866,101
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(30,459)	4,669
Total stockholders' equity	2,364,225	2,382,122
TOTAL	2,609,075	2,522,752
East West Bancorp, Inc. | Preferred stock, Series A, non-cumulative convertible
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; Series A, non-cumulative convertible, 200,000 shares issued; no shares outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 85,710 shares outstanding in 2012.		$ 83,027
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	200,000	200,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	85,710