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  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001235499</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>KRAUSE DOUGLAS PAUL</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</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>12000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>760560.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>140930142</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>11/30/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/06/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Grant</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>12000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/06/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>11/30/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>Douglas P Krause</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
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144
0001235499
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001069157
EAST WEST BANCORP INC
000-24939
135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR
PASADENA
CA
91101
6267686000
KRAUSE DOUGLAS PAUL
Officer
Common
The Charles Schwab Corporation
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
12000
760560.00
140930142
11/30/2023
NASDAQ
Common
03/06/2022
Stock Grant
Issuer
N
12000
03/06/2022
N/A
Y
11/30/2023
Douglas P Krause