<?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>0001615786</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>CAMPBELL MOLLY</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Affiliate</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>The Charles Schwab Corporation</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>4500</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>282195.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>140930142</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>11/29/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>06/30/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2006</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/30/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/08/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>650</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/08/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/24/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2603</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/24/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>11/29/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>Molly Christina Campbell</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3762}]
144
0001615786
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001069157
EAST WEST BANCORP INC
000-24939
135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR
PASADENA
CA
91101
6267686000
CAMPBELL MOLLY
Affiliate
Common
The Charles Schwab Corporation
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
4500
282195.00
140930142
11/29/2023
NASDAQ
Common
06/30/2022
Stock Award
Issuer
N
2006
06/30/2022
N/A
Common
05/08/2023
Open Market Purchase
Open Market
N
650
05/08/2023
Cash
Common
05/24/2023
Stock Award
Issuer
N
2603
05/24/2023
N/A
Y
11/29/2023
Molly Christina Campbell