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  <p align="center" style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></strong></p>
  
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">UNITED STATES</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Current Report</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d)&nbsp;of</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">April&nbsp;23, 2008</font></b></strong><b><br>
  </b>Date of Report (date of
  earliest event reported)</p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EAST
  WEST BANCORP, INC.<br>
  </font></b>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Commission file number 000-24939</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center">
  
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    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">95-4703316</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(IRS Employer Identification Number)</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  </div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">135 N Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor,&nbsp;Pasadena,
  California 91101</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(626) 768-6000 </font></b></strong><b><br>
  </b>(Registrant&#146;s telephone
  number, including area code)</p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check
  the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
  provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font> Written communications pursuant to
  Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font> Soliciting material pursuant to
  Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
  Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
  Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</p>
  
  <div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  
  <p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  </div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\C900105\08-12455-1\task2903636\12455-1-ba.htm',USER='C900105',CD='Apr 30 02:45 2008' -->
  
  
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  <div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 3.03&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Material
  Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On April&nbsp;29, 2008</font>, the Company
  issued 200,000 shares of Preferred Stock the terms of which are more fully
  described in the Certificate of Designations of the Company filed with the
  Delaware Secretary of State on April 28, 2008 designating the rights,
  preferences, limitations, voting powers and relative rights of the Preferred
  Stock (the &#147;<u>Certificate of Designations</u>&#148;).</p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The holders of the Preferred Stock have
  preferential liquidation rights over the holders of the Company&#146;s Common Stock.
  Further, the Company&#146;s ability to declare or pay dividends with respect to, or
  to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to the Company&#146;s
  Common Stock is limited by the terms of the Preferred Stock.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A copy of the
  Certificate of Designations setting forth the terms of the Preferred Stock and
  the specimen certificate of the Preferred Stock, which represents the form of
  certificate that will be issued to holders in the event certificates are ever
  issued, are attached as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 and Exhibit&nbsp;4.1, respectively,
  and are incorporated by reference herein.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="layout-grid-mode:char;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.03&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Amendments
  to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="layout-grid-mode:char;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On April&nbsp;28,
  2008, the Company filed the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of
  State of the State of Delaware.&nbsp; Upon filing, the Certificate of
  Designations became effective with the Secretary of State of the State of
  Delaware. </font>Dividends will
  be payable on the Preferred Stock on a non-cumulative basis quarterly in
  arrears on each February&nbsp;1, May&nbsp;1, August&nbsp;1 and November&nbsp;1,
  commencing on August&nbsp;1, 2008, at a rate of 8.00% per year on the
  liquidation preference of $1,000 per share.</p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The holders of the Preferred Stock will have the right at any time to
  convert each share of Preferred Stock into 64.9942 shares of the Company&#146;s
  common stock, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately
  $15.39 per share of common stock or a 22.50% conversion premium based on the closing
  price of the Company&#146;s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on
  April&nbsp;23, 2008 of $12.56 per share.&#160;
  The conversion rate, and thus the conversion price, will be subject to
  adjustment under certain circumstances.&#160;
  In addition, the holders of the Preferred Stock will have the right
  under certain circumstances to convert each share of Preferred Stock into the
  Company&#146;s common stock at an increased conversion rate.&#160; On or after May&nbsp;1, 2013, the Company
  will have the </font>right under
  certain circumstances to cause the Preferred Stock to be converted into shares
  of the Company&#146;s common stock at the then applicable conversion rate.</p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="layout-grid-mode:char;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A copy of the Certificate of Designations is included as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1
  to this Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and is incorporated by reference
  herein.</font></p>
  
  <p style="layout-grid-mode:char;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-1.0in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 8.01&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Other Events</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On April&nbsp;23, 2008,&#160; </font>East West Bancorp,&nbsp;Inc., a Delaware corporation
  (the &#147;<u>Company</u>&#148;) entered into an Underwriting Agreement with Lehman
  Brothers Inc. (the &#147;Underwriter&#148;), relating to the offering of 200,000 shares
  of 8.00% Non-cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001
  per share ($200 million aggregate liquidation preference) the (&#147;<u>Preferred
  Stock</u>&#148;).</p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A copy of
  the Underwriting Agreement is included as Exhibit&nbsp;1.1 to this Current
  Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='2',FILE='C:\JMS\C900105\08-12455-1\task2903636\12455-1-ba.htm',USER='C900105',CD='Apr 30 02:45 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item
  9.01&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Financial Statements
  and Exhibits.</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(d)&nbsp;Exhibits</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.08%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Underwriting
    Agreement, dated April&nbsp;23, 2008, by and between the Company and Lehman
    Brothers Inc., as underwriter</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.08%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.08%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Certificate of
    Designations of the Company&#146;s 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible
    Preferred Stock, Series&nbsp;A</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.08%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.08%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;of
    Certificate for the Company&#146;s 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible
    Preferred Stock, Series&nbsp;A</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='3',FILE='C:\JMS\C900105\08-12455-1\task2903636\12455-1-ba.htm',USER='C900105',CD='Apr 30 02:45 2008' -->
  
  
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">SIGNATURES</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant
  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
  duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
  duly authorized.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:
  April&nbsp;29, 2008</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="99%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:99.82%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.68%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EAST
    WEST BANCORP, INC.</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.68%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.2%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="43%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.48%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/&nbsp;Douglas
    P. Krause</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.2%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="43%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.48%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Douglas
    P. Krause<br>
    Executive Vice President, General Counsel<br>
    and Corporate Secretary</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='4',FILE='C:\JMS\C900105\08-12455-1\task2903636\12455-1-ba.htm',USER='C900105',CD='Apr 30 02:45 2008' -->
  
  
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">EXHIBIT INDEX</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="6%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.84%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit<br>
    No.</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.9%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="90%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.26%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.84%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="90%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.26%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Underwriting
    Agreement, dated April&nbsp;23, 2008, by and between the Company and Lehman
    Brothers Inc., as underwriter</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.84%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.26%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.84%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.26%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Certificate of
    Designations with respect to the Company&#146;s 8.0% Non-Cumulative Perpetual
    Convertible Preferred Stock, Series&nbsp;A</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.84%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.26%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.84%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.26%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;of
    Certificate for the Company&#146;s 8.0% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible
    Preferred Stock, Series&nbsp;A</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5</font></p>
  
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a08-12455_18k.htm", "description": "8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 31688}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "EAST WEST BANCORP INC", "cik": "0001069157", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "954703316", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-24939", "film-number": "08787508"}, "business-address": {"street1": "135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR", "city": "PASADENA", "state": "CA", "zip": "91101", "phone": "6267686000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "EAST WEST BANCORP INC", "street2": "135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR", "city": "PASADENA", "state": "CA", "zip": "91101"}}
text: UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  Washington, D.C. 20549
  FORM 8-K
  Current Report
  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  April 23, 2008
  Date of Report (date of
  earliest event reported)
  EAST
  WEST BANCORP, INC.
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Commission file number 000-24939
  Delaware
  95-4703316
  (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
  (IRS Employer Identification Number)
  135 N Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena,
  California 91101
  (Address of principal executive offices including zip code)
  (626) 768-6000
  (Registrant's telephone
  number, including area code)
  Check
  the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
  provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
  o
  Written communications pursuant to
  Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  o
  Soliciting material pursuant to
  Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
  Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
  Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Item 3.03               Material
  Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.
  On April 29, 2008
  , the Company
  issued 200,000 shares of Preferred Stock the terms of which are more fully
  described in the Certificate of Designations of the Company filed with the
  Delaware Secretary of State on April 28, 2008 designating the rights,
  preferences, limitations, voting powers and relative rights of the Preferred
  Stock (the "
  Certificate of Designations
  ").
  The holders of the Preferred Stock have
  preferential liquidation rights over the holders of the Company's Common Stock.
  Further, the Company's ability to declare or pay dividends with respect to, or
  to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to the Company's
  Common Stock is limited by the terms of the Preferred Stock.
  A copy of the
  Certificate of Designations setting forth the terms of the Preferred Stock and
  the specimen certificate of the Preferred Stock, which represents the form of
  certificate that will be issued to holders in the event certificates are ever
  issued, are attached as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 4.1, respectively,
  and are incorporated by reference herein.
  Item 5.03               Amendments
  to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
  On April 28,
  2008, the Company filed the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of
  State of the State of Delaware.  Upon filing, the Certificate of
  Designations became effective with the Secretary of State of the State of
  Delaware.
  Dividends will
  be payable on the Preferred Stock on a non-cumulative basis quarterly in
  arrears on each February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1,
  commencing on August 1, 2008, at a rate of 8.00% per year on the
  liquidation preference of $1,000 per share.
  The holders of the Preferred Stock will have the right at any time to
  convert each share of Preferred Stock into 64.9942 shares of the Company's
  common stock, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately
  $15.39 per share of common stock or a 22.50% conversion premium based on the closing
  price of the Company's common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on
  April 23, 2008 of $12.56 per share. 
  The conversion rate, and thus the conversion price, will be subject to
  adjustment under certain circumstances. 
  In addition, the holders of the Preferred Stock will have the right
  under certain circumstances to convert each share of Preferred Stock into the
  Company's common stock at an increased conversion rate.  On or after May 1, 2013, the Company
  will have the
  right under
  certain circumstances to cause the Preferred Stock to be converted into shares
  of the Company's common stock at the then applicable conversion rate.
  A copy of the Certificate of Designations is included as Exhibit 3.1
  to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference
  herein.
  Item 8.01               Other Events
  On April 23, 2008,
  East West Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation
  (the "
  Company
  ") entered into an Underwriting Agreement with Lehman
  Brothers Inc. (the "Underwriter"), relating to the offering of 200,000 shares
  of 8.00% Non-cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001
  per share ($200 million aggregate liquidation preference) the ("
  Preferred
  Stock
  ").
  A copy of
  the Underwriting Agreement is included as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current
  Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
  2
  Item
  9.01               Financial Statements
  and Exhibits.
  (d) Exhibits
  1.1
  Underwriting
    Agreement, dated April 23, 2008, by and between the Company and Lehman
    Brothers Inc., as underwriter
  3.1
  Certificate of
    Designations of the Company's 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible
    Preferred Stock, Series A
  4.1
  Form of
    Certificate for the Company's 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible
    Preferred Stock, Series A
  3
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant
  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
  duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
  duly authorized.
  Date:
  April 29, 2008
  EAST
    WEST BANCORP, INC.
  By:
  /s/ Douglas
    P. Krause
  Douglas
    P. Krause
  Executive Vice President, General Counsel
  and Corporate Secretary
  4
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit
  No.
  Exhibit
  1.1
  Underwriting
    Agreement, dated April 23, 2008, by and between the Company and Lehman
    Brothers Inc., as underwriter
  3.1
  Certificate of
    Designations with respect to the Company's 8.0% Non-Cumulative Perpetual
    Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A
  4.1
  Form of
    Certificate for the Company's 8.0% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible
    Preferred Stock, Series A
  5