<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><own:edgarSubmission xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common" xmlns:own="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership">
  <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
  <own:headerData>
    <own:submissionType>144</own:submissionType>
    <own:filerInfo>
      <own:filer>
        <own:filerCredentials>
          <own:cik>0001201236</own:cik>
          <own:ccc>XXXXXXXX</own:ccc>
        </own:filerCredentials>
      </own:filer>
      <own:liveTestFlag>LIVE</own:liveTestFlag>



    </own:filerInfo>
  </own:headerData>
  <own:formData>
    <own:issuerInfo>
      <own:issuerCik>0001069157</own:issuerCik>
      <own:issuerName>EAST WEST BANCORP INC</own:issuerName>
      <own:secFileNumber>000-24939</own:secFileNumber>
      <own:issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>135 North Los Robles Ave.,7th Floor</com:street1>
        <com:city>Pasadena</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>91101</com:zipCode>
      </own:issuerAddress>
      <own:issuerContactPhone>626-768-6000</own:issuerContactPhone>
      <own:nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>DOMINIC NG</own:nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <own:relationshipsToIssuer>
        <own:relationshipToIssuer>OFFICER</own:relationshipToIssuer>
      </own:relationshipsToIssuer>
    </own:issuerInfo>
    <own:securitiesInformation>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <own:name>Merrill Lynch</own:name>
        <own:address>
          <com:street1>2049 Century Park East, Suite 1200</com:street1>
          <com:city>Los Angeles</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>90067</com:zipCode>
        </own:address>
      </own:brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <own:noOfUnitsSold>30000</own:noOfUnitsSold>
      <own:aggregateMarketValue>3759246.15</own:aggregateMarketValue>
      <own:noOfUnitsOutstanding>137622675</own:noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <own:approxSaleDate>05/06/2026</own:approxSaleDate>
      <own:securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</own:securitiesExchangeName>
    </own:securitiesInformation>
    <own:securitiesToBeSold>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:acquiredDate>03/04/2023</own:acquiredDate>
      <own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <own:isGiftTransaction>N</own:isGiftTransaction>
      <own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>30000</own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <own:paymentDate>03/04/2023</own:paymentDate>
      <own:natureOfPayment>Compensation</own:natureOfPayment>
    </own:securitiesToBeSold>
    <own:nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</own:nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <own:securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <own:sellerDetails>
        <own:name>Dominic Ng</own:name>
        <own:address>
          <com:street1>135 North Los Robles Ave.</com:street1>
          <com:street2>7th Floor</com:street2>
          <com:city>Pasadena</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>91101</com:zipCode>
        </own:address>
      </own:sellerDetails>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:saleDate>05/05/2026</own:saleDate>
      <own:amountOfSecuritiesSold>30000</own:amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <own:grossProceeds>3704559.9</own:grossProceeds>
    </own:securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <own:noticeSignature>
      <own:noticeDate>05/06/2026</own:noticeDate>
      <own:signature>DOMINIC NG</own:signature>
    </own:noticeSignature>
  </own:formData>
</own:edgarSubmission>
