<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001235502</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001069157</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>EAST WEST BANCORP INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>000-24939</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR</com:street1>
        <com:city>PASADENA</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>91101</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>6267686000</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>LIU JACK C</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Charles Schwab Corp.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3000 Schwab Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Westlake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>76262</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>2000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>151460.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>140930142</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>01/25/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/29/2010</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Vested Stock Grants</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1990</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/29/2010</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>08/18/2020</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Vested Stock Grants</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>294</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>08/18/2020</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/08/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Vested Stock Grants</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1006</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/08/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Jack C Liu</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR</com:street1>
          <com:city>Pasadena</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>91101</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/13/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>68874.30</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>Shareholder received stock as part of stock grants and did not pay anything for the shares.</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>01/25/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>Jack C Liu</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
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144
0001235502
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001069157
EAST WEST BANCORP INC
000-24939
135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR
PASADENA
CA
91101
6267686000
LIU JACK C
Director
Common
Charles Schwab Corp.
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
2000
151460.00
140930142
01/25/2024
NASDAQ
Common
07/29/2010
Vested Stock Grants
Issuer
N
1990
07/29/2010
N/A
Common
08/18/2020
Vested Stock Grants
Issuer
N
294
08/18/2020
N/A
Common
07/08/2022
Vested Stock Grants
Issuer
N
1006
07/08/2022
N/A
N
Jack C Liu
135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR
Pasadena
CA
91101
Common
12/13/2023
1000
68874.30
Shareholder received stock as part of stock grants and did not pay anything for the shares.
01/25/2024
Jack C Liu