# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001069157
**File Stem:** 0001069157-26-000033
**Filing Date:** 2026-5
**Character Count:** 26490
**Document Hash:** c5dbb910aa1642effc917d9e1553e324
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001069157-26-000033.hdr.sgml**: 20260622

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001069157-26-000033

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: S-8

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 16

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260520

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260520

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20260520

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** EAST WEST BANCORP INC
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001069157
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 954703316
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** S-8
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 333-296085
- **FILM NUMBER:** 261005131

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR
- **CITY:** PASADENA
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 91101
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 6267686000

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** EAST WEST BANCORP INC
- **STREET 2:** 135 N. LOS ROBLES AVE. 7TH FLOOR
- **CITY:** PASADENA
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 91101

**As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 2026**

**Registration No. 333-** 

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

**FORM S-8**

**REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933**

**EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.**

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Delaware**<br>(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | **95-4703316**<br>(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| **135 North Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, California 91101**<br>(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) | **135 North Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, California 91101**<br>(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) |

---

**East West Bancorp, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan**

(Full title of the plan)

**Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles**

**Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer**

**East West Bancorp, Inc.**

**135 North Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor**

**Pasadena, California 91101**

(Name and address of agent for service)

**(626) 768-6000**

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

***Copies to:***

**Matthew C. Franker**

**Charlotte May**

**Covington & Burling LLP**

**One CityCenter**

**850 Tenth Street, N.W.**

**Washington, D.C. 20001**

**(202) 662-6000**

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐ Emerging growth company ☐ <br> Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

------

**EXPLANATORY NOTE**

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") is filed by East West Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") for the purpose of registering additional shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share ("Common Stock"), to be issued under the East West Bancorp, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated through May 18, 2026 (the "2021 Plan"). The 2021 Plan was originally established as the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan and was amended, restated and renamed the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan in 2016. The 2016 Stock Incentive Plan was amended, restated and renamed as the 2021 Plan, effective upon the approval by the Company's stockholders on May 27, 2021.

This Registration Statement registers the offer and sale of 3,000,000 additional shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2021 Plan, as approved by the Company's board of directors and stockholders.

The Company previously registered the offer and sale of shares of Common Stock under the 2021 Plan and its predecessors pursuant to the Company's Registration Statements on Form S-8 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on <u>[October 6, 1999](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000944209-99-001550.txt/000094420999001550/0000944209-99-001550-index.html)</u> (File No. 333-88529), <u>[March 2, 2001](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/a2040493zs-8.htm/000091205701007146/0000912057-01-007146-index.html)</u> (File No. 333-56468), <u>[April 1, 2002](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/a2075452zs-8.htm/000091205702013020/0000912057-02-013020-index.html)</u> (File No. 333-85330), <u>[May 15, 2003](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/a2111307zs-8.htm/000091205703000234/0000912057-03-000234-index.html)</u> (File No. 333-105292), <u>[June 26, 2019](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000106915719000041/ewbcs-82016plan.htm)</u> (File No. 333-232350) and <u>[May 28, 2021](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000106915721000046/ewbcs-8_2021.htm)</u> (File No. 333-256597) (collectively, the "Prior Registration Statements").

Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, the contents of the Prior Registration Statements, including any amendments thereto or filings incorporated therein by reference, are incorporated herein by reference and made part of this Registration Statement. Any items in the Prior Registration Statements not expressly changed hereby shall be as set forth in the Prior Registration Statements.

**PART I**

**INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS**

The information required by Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The Company will deliver the documents containing the information specified in Part I to the participants in the 2021 Plan as required by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.

**PART II**

**INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT**

**Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.**

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our filings with the SEC are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.eastwestbank.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. However, the information on our website is not incorporated by reference herein, and is not a part of this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or our other filings with the SEC.

The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this registration statement, and information that we subsequently file with the SEC will

------

automatically update and supersede this information. The following documents previously filed with the SEC (File No. 000-24939) pursuant to the Exchange Act are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the Company's Annual Report on <u>[Form 10-K](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001069157/000106915726000009/ewbc-20251231.htm)</u> for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2026;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the Company's Quarterly Report on <u>[Form 10-Q](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001069157/000106915726000020/ewbc-20260331.htm)</u> for the period ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 8, 2026;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the Company's Current Report on <u>[Form 8-K](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000106915726000022/ewbc-20260518.htm)</u> filed with the SEC on May 19, 2026; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the description of the Company's Common Stock contained in <u>[Exhibit 4.3](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000106915720000016/ewbc4310k12312019.htm)</u> to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020, together with any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description.

All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities registered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents, except as to specific sections of such statements as set forth therein.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purpose of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein (or in any subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

------

**Item 8. Exhibits.**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **<u>Exhibit No.</u>** | **<u>Description</u>** |
| 4.1\* | <u>[Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant \[Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on September 17, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).\]](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/0000944209-98-001661.txt)</u> |
| 4.1.1\* | <u>[Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant \[Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(i).1 from Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the Commission on March 28, 2003 (File No. 000-24939).\]](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000104746903010681/a2106548zex-3_i1.htm)</u> |
| 4.1.2\* | <u>[Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation to Increase Authorized Shares of the Registrant \[Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on April 15, 2005 (File No. 000-24939).\]](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000106915705000010/body14a.htm)</u> |
| 4.1.3\* | <u>[Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant \[Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A from the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on April 23, 2008 (File No. 000-24939).\]](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000104746908005054/a2184987zdef14a.htm)</u> |
| 4.2\* | <u>[Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant dated March 14, 2023 \[Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 from Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 17, 2023 (File No. 000-24939).\]](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000106915723000033/ewbc318k3172023.htm)</u> |
| 4.3\* | <u>[Specimen Common Stock Certificate of Registrant \[Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 from Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed with the Commission on November 5, 1998 (File No. 333-63605).\]](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/0000944209-98-001824.txt)</u> |
| 5.1 | <u>[Opinion of Covington & Burling LLP.](ewbc-formsx8xsipxex51leg.htm)</u> |
| 23.1 | <u>[Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.](ewbc231s-8_2026xsip.htm)</u> |
| 23.2 | <u>[Consent of Covington & Burling LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).](ewbc-formsx8xsipxex51leg.htm)</u> |
| 24.1 | <u>[Power of Attorney](ewbc241s-8_2026sip.htm)[.](ewbc241s-8_2026sip.htm)</u> |
| 99.1\* | <u>[East West Bancorp, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (As amended and restated through May 18, 2026).](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000207709626000050/ea0285126-def14a_eastwest.htm)[\[Incorporated by reference to Appendix A from the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on April 8, 2026 (File No. 000-24939).\]](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1069157/000207709626000050/ea0285126-def14a_eastwest.htm)</u> |
| 107 | <u>[Filing Fee Table.](exfilingfees_sip.htm)</u> |

---

\* Incorporated by reference

------

**SIGNATURES**

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pasadena, State of California, on this 20<sup>th</sup> day of May, 2026.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| EAST WEST BANCORP, INC. | EAST WEST BANCORP, INC. |
| By: | /s/ Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles |
|  | Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles<br>Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |

---

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Signature** | **Title** | **Date** |
| /s/ Dominic Ng | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director<br>(Principal Executive Officer) | May 20, 2026 |
| Dominic Ng | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director<br>(Principal Executive Officer) |  |
| /s/ Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<br>(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | May 20, 2026 |
| Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<br>(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |  |
| /s/ Manuel P. Alvarez\* | Director | May 20, 2026 |
| Manuel P. Alvarez |  |  |
| /s/ Peter Babej\* | Director | May 20, 2026 |
| Peter Babej |  |  |
| /s/ Molly C. Campbell\* | Director | May 20, 2026 |
| Molly C. Campbell |  |  |
| /s/ Archana Deskus\* | Director | May 20, 2026 |
| Archana Deskus |  |  |
|  | Director |  |
| Serge Dumont |  |  |
| /s/ Mark Hutchins\* | Director | May 20, 2026 |
| Mark Hutchins |  |  |
| /s/ Paul H. Irving\* | Director | May 20, 2026 |
| Paul H. Irving |  |  |
| /s/ Sabrina Kay\* | Director | May 20, 2026 |
| Sabrina Kay |  |  |

---

------

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| /s/ Jack C. Liu\* | Director | May 20, 2026 |
| Jack C. Liu | | |
| /s/ Lester M. Sussman\* | Lead Director | May 20, 2026 |
| Lester M. Sussman | | |

---

*\* Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles, by signing his name hereto, signs this Registration Statement on behalf of the noted individuals, pursuant to a power of attorney duly executed by such persons that is filed as Exhibit 24.1 hereto.*

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Dated: May 20, 2026 | By: | /s/ Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles |
|  |  | Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles |
|  |  | Attorney-in-Fact |
|  |  | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |

---

## Ex-Filing

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? EX-FILING FEES

---

| |
|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Calculation of Filing Fee Tables**  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **S-8**  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **EAST WEST BANCORP INC**  |

---

---

| | | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Security Type**  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Security Class Title**  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Fee Calculation Rule**  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Amount Registered**  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit**  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Maximum Aggregate Offering Price**  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Fee Rate**  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Amount of Registration Fee**  |
| 1 | Equity | Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share | Other | 3000000 | $120.61 | $361830000.00 | 0.0001381 | $49968.72 |
| Total Offering Amounts: | Total Offering Amounts: | Total Offering Amounts: | Total Offering Amounts: | Total Offering Amounts: |  | $361830000.00  |  | $49968.72  |
| Total Fee Offsets:  | Total Fee Offsets:  | Total Fee Offsets:  | Total Fee Offsets:  | Total Fee Offsets:  |  |  |  | $0.00  |
| Net Fee Due:  | Net Fee Due:  | Net Fee Due:  | Net Fee Due:  | Net Fee Due:  |  |  |  | $49968.72  |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Offering Note** <br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <sup>1</sup> (1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the registrant's common stock that become issuable in respect of such securities by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction. (2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act and based upon the average of the high and low prices of the registrant's Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 18, 2026. (3) Represents additional shares of the registrant's common stock reserved for issuance under the registrant's 2021 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated through May 18, 2026, to which this Registration Statement relates.

---

| |
|:---|
| |
| **Rule 457(p)** |
| Fee Offset Claims |
| Fee Offset Sources |

---

## Exhibit 5.1

![](ewbc-formsx8xsipxex51leg001.jpg)

May 20, 2026 East West Bancorp, Inc. 135 North Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor Pasadena, California 91101 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to East West Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and are rendering this opinion in connection with the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), of the offer and sale of up to 3,000,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable under the East West Bancorp, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on the date hereof (the "Registration Statement"). We have reviewed the Registration Statement and the Plan. We have also reviewed such corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. We have assumed that all signatures are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and that all copies of documents submitted to us conform to the originals. We have assumed that the Shares will be duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar of the Common Stock and that the Company will comply with applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"). We have assumed further that, except as to legal conclusions expressly set forth in this opinion, the information and representations and warranties contained in the agreements, instruments, records, certificates and other documents we reviewed were true, accurate and complete as of their stated date and are true, accurate and complete as of the date of this letter. We have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible. Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized, and assuming that individual issuances under the Plan are duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan and any awards duly granted thereunder and in accordance therewith, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. We are members of the bar of the District of Columbia. We do not express any opinion herein on any laws other than the DGCL. Exhibit 5.1

------

![](ewbc-formsx8xsipxex51leg002.jpg)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;East West Bancorp, Inc. May 20, 2026 Page 2 We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act. Very truly yours, /s/ Covington & Burling LLP

------

## Exhibit 23.1

**Exhibit 23.1**

**Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

We consent to the use of our reports dated February 27, 2026, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of East West Bancorp, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference.

/s/ KPMG LLP

---

| |
|:---|
| Los Angeles, California |
| May 20, 2026 |

---

## Exhibit 24.1

**Exhibit 24.1**

**POWER OF ATTORNEY**

**KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS,** that each of the directors and/or officers of East West Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Dominic Ng, Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles and Douglas P. Krause, and each of them acting severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign one or more Registration Statements on Form S-8 and any and all post-effective amendments thereto, which may be required with respect to any securities issued under any of the Company's duly adopted employee benefit plans, or any such other form as such attorney-in-fact may deem necessary or desirable, and any amendments thereto each in such form as they or any one of them may approve, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or her or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

**IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, each of the undersigned has set his or her hand on this 20th day of May, 2026.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Signature** | **Title** |
| /s/ Dominic Ng | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director<br>(Principal Executive Officer) |
| Dominic Ng | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director<br>(Principal Executive Officer) |
| /s/ Manuel P. Alvarez | Director |
| Manuel P. Alvarez | |
| /s/ Peter Babej | Director |
| Peter Babej | |
| /s/ Molly C. Campbell | Director |
| Molly C. Campbell | |
| /s/ Archana Deskus | Director |
| Archana Deskus | |
| | Director |
| Serge Dumont | |
| /s/ Mark Hutchins | Director |
| Mark Hutchins | |
| /s/ Paul H. Irving | Director |
| Paul H. Irving | |
| /s/ Sabrina Kay | Director |
| Sabrina Kay | |

---

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| /s/ Jack C. Liu | Director |
| Jack C. Liu | |
| /s/ Lester M. Sussman | Lead Director |
| Lester M. Sussman | |

---

<br>