Document:

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                                                                 Exhibit 10.10

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into on this 27th
day of March, 1995, by and between EAST-WEST FEDERAL BANK, a California banking
corporation (the "Company"), and Donald Sang Chow (the "Employee"), with respect
to the following facts:

     A.  The Company desires to be assured of the continued association and
services of the Employee in order to take advantage of his experience, knowledge
and abilities in the Company's business, and is willing to employ the Employee,
and the Employee desires to be so employed, on the terms and conditions set
forth in the Agreement.

     B.  The Employee from time to time in the course of his employment may
learn trade secrets and other confidential information concerning the Company,
and the Company desires to safeguard such trade secrets and confidential
information against unauthorized use and disclosure.

     ACCORDINGLY, on the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  EMPLOYMENT
         ----------

         1.1  Employment. The Company hereby employs the Employee as Senior Vice
              ----------
President, and the Employee hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and
conditions set forth below, to perform during the term of the Agreement such
services as are required hereunder.

         1.2  Duties.  The Employee shall render such management services to the
              ------
Company, and shall perform such duties and acts, in each case consistent with
his position as Senior Vice President, as reasonably may be required by the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") in connection with any aspect of the
Company's business.  The Employee will have such authority, power,
responsibilities and duties as are inherent to his positions (and the
undertakings applicable to his positions) and necessary to carry out his
responsibilities and the duties required of his hereunder.

         1.3  Service to Others. During the period in which the Employee is
              -----------------
employed by the Company, the Employee shall devote substantially all of his
productive time, ability and attention to, and shall diligently and
conscientiously use his best efforts to further, the Company's business, and
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Board, perform such
services, for any person other than the Company, which would materially
interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 1.3, while the Employee is employed by the
Company, he may devote reasonable time to activities other than those required
under this Agreement, including the supervision of his personal investments, and
activities involving professional, charitable, educational, religious and
similar types of organizations, speaking engagements, membership on the boards
of directors of

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other organizations, and similar type activities, to the extent that such other
activities do not inhibit or prohibit the performance of the Employee's duties
under this Agreement, or conflict in any material way with the business or
interests of the Company; provided, however, that the Employee shall not serve
on the board of any business, or hold any other position with any business
without the consent of the Board.

         1.4  Place of Performance. In connection with his employment with the
              --------------------
Company, the Employee will be based at the principal executive offices of the
Company located in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

     2.  COMPENSATION

         2.1 Compensation. As the total consideration for the services which the
             ------------
Employee renders hereunder, the Employee shall be entitled to the following:

              (a)  An annual base salary of $88,188, less income tax and other
applicable withholdings, payable in installments consistent with the payments
practices generally applicable to employees of the Company; provided, however,
that effective as of each January 1 during the term of the Employee's employment
by the Company, the Board and the Employee shall review the annual base salary
and, if appropriate, revise the same (provided that in no event shall the Salary
of the Employee be reduced to an amount that is less than $88,188 per year, or
to an amount that is less than the amount that he was previously receiving).

              (b)  An annual bonus for each fiscal year of the Company payable
not more than ninety (90) days after the end of the fiscal year. The amount of
the bonus for each year shall equal thirty percent (30%) of the Employee's
annual base salary if the target level of performance criteria is realized, with
a greater percentage payable if performance exceeds the target level and a
lesser percentage payable if performance is at least at the minimum level but
less than target). The exact amount of such increased or reduced percentage
shall be equal to the percentage by which actual performance is below or above
the target level criteria. The performance criteria for determining the bonus
shall be based on achievement of the financial budget for the Company, and such
additional criteria as may be determined by the Board.

              (c)  Participation in all benefit plans or programs sponsored by
the Company for executive officers in general, including, without limitation,
participation in any group health, medical reimbursement, dental, disability,
accidental death or dismemberment or life insurance plan (the costs, including
premiums, of which shall be paid exclusively by the Company), vacation, sick
leave, pension, profit sharing and salary continuation plans (including, without
limitation, the non-qualified deferred compensation plan and the 401(k) match
restoration plan); provided that the plans and programs shall be maintained by
the Company on terms no less favorable to the Employee than those plans and
programs in effect on the date hereof.

              (d)  Reimbursement of any and all reasonable and documented

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expenses incurred by the Employee from time to time in the performance of his
duties hereunder.

              (e)  Four (4) weeks paid vacation per year, and all paid holidays
observed by the Company. In scheduling vacations the Employee shall take into
consideration the needs and activities of the Company. If the Employee has not
been absent from the Company for two consecutive weeks in the preceding twelve
months, no less than two weeks shall be taken consecutively.

              (f)  The Company will, to the maximum extent permitted by law,
defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Employee and the Employee's heirs,
estate, executors and administrators against any costs, losses, claims, suits,
proceedings, damages or liabilities to which the Employee may become subject
which arise out of, are based upon or relate to the Employee's employment by the
Company (and any predecessor company to the Company), or the Employee's service
as an officer or member of the Board of Directors of the Company (or any
predecessor company to the Company), including without limitation reimbursement
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Employee in
connection with investigation and defending against any such costs, losses,
claims, suits, proceedings, damages or liabilities. The Company shall maintain
directors and officers liability insurance in commercially reasonable amounts
(as reasonably determined by the Board), and the Employee shall be covered under
such insurance to the same extent as other senior management employees of the
Company.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Employee shall not be
entitled to the payment of any severance benefit to the extent that such payment
shall be deemed a "golden parachute payment" as defined in Section 359.1(f) of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Rules and Regulations.

         2.2  Illness. Subject to the limitations contained in Section 3.3, if
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the Employee shall be unable to render the services required hereunder on
account of personal injuries or physical or mental illness, he shall continue to
receive all payments provided in the Agreement; provided, however, that any such
payments may, at the sole option of the Company, be reduced by any amount that
the Employee receives for the period covered by such payments as disability
compensation under insurance policies, if any, maintained by the Company or
under government programs.

         2.3  Excise Tax Gross-Up.
              -------------------

              (a) If the Employee becomes entitled to one or more payments
(with a "payment" including, without limitation, the vesting of an option or
other non-cash benefit or property), whether pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or any other plan, arrangement, or agreement with the Company or any
affiliated company (the "Total Payments"), which are or become subject to the
tax imposed by section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code") or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed (the "Excise
Tax"), the Company shall pay to the Employee at the time specified below an
additional amount (the "Gross-up Payment") (which shall include, without
limitation, reimbursement for any penalties

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and interest that may accrue in respect of such Excise Tax) such that the net
amount retained by the Employee, after reduction for any Excise Tax (including
any penalties or interest thereon) on the Total Payments and any federal, state
and local income or employment tax and Excise Tax on the Gross-up Payment
provided for by this Section 2.3, but before reduction for any federal, state,
or local income or employment tax on the Total Payments, shall be equal to the
sum of (a) the Total Payments, and (b) an amount equal to the product of any
deductions disallowed for federal, state, or local income tax purposes because
of the inclusion of the Gross-up Payment in the Employee's adjusted gross income
multiplied by the highest applicable marginal rate of federal, state, or local
income taxation, respectively, for the calendar year in which the Gross-up
Payment is to be made.

                (b)  For purposes of determining whether any of the Total
Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax:

(i)  The Total Payments shall be treated as "parachute payments" within the
     meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all "excess parachute
     payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be
     treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless, and except to the extent
     that, in the written opinion of independent compensation consultants or
     auditors of nationally recognized standing ("Independent Advisors")
     selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Employee, the
     Total Payments (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments,
     or such excess parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent
     reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning
     of section 280G(b)(4) of the Code in excess of the base amount within the
     meaning of section 280G(b)(3) of the Code or are otherwise not subject to
     the Excise Tax.

(ii) The amount of the Total Payments which shall be treated as subject to the
     Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the total amount of the
     Total Payments or (B) the total amount of excess parachute payments within
     the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code (after applying clause (i)
     above).

(iii)  The value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit
     shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the
     principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

                (c)  For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-up
Payment, the Employee shall be deemed (A) to pay federal income taxes at the
highest marginal rate of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which
the Gross-up Payment is to be made; (B) to pay any applicable state and local
income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation for the calendar year in
which the Gross-up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in
federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and
local taxes if paid in such year (determined without regard to limitations on
deductions based upon the amount of the Employee's adjusted gross income); and
(C) to have otherwise allowable deductions for federal, state, and local income
tax purposes at least equal to those disallowed because of the inclusion of the
Gross-up Payment in the Employee's adjusted gross income. In the event that

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the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into
account hereunder at the time the Gross-up Payment is made, the Employee shall
repay to the Company at the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax
is finally determined (but, if previously paid to the taxing authorities, not
prior to the time the amount of such reduction is refunded to the Employee or
otherwise realized as a benefit by the Employee) the portion of the Gross-up
Payment that would not have been paid if such Excise Tax had been applied in
initially calculating the Gross-up Payment, plus interest on the amount of such
repayment at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the
event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account
hereunder at the time the Gross-up Payment is made (including by reason of any
payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the
Gross-up Payment), the Company shall make an additional Gross-up Payment in
respect of such excess (plus any interest and penalties payable with respect to
such excess) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined.

                (d) The Gross-up Payment provided for above shall be paid on the
30th day (or such earlier date as the Excise Tax becomes due and payable to the
taxing authorities) after it has been determined that the Total Payments (or any
portion thereof) are subject to the Excise Tax; provided, however, that if the
amount of such Gross-up Payment or portion thereof cannot be finally determined
on or before such day, the Company shall pay to the Employee on such day an
estimate, as determined by the Independent Advisors, of the minimum amount of
such payments and shall pay the remainder of such payments (together with
interest at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code), as soon as
the amount thereof can be determined. In the event that the amount of the
estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due,
such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company to the Employee, payable on
the fifth day after demand by the Company (together with interest at the rate
provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code). If more than one Gross-up
Payment is made, the amount of each Gross-up Payment shall be computed so as not
to duplicate any prior Gross-up Payment. The Company shall have the right to
control all proceedings with the Internal Revenue Service that may arise in
connection with the determination and assessment of any Excise Tax and, at its
sole option, the Company may pursue or forego any and all administrative
appeals, proceedings, hearings, and conferences with any taxing authority in
respect of such Excise Tax (including any interest or penalties thereof);
provided, however, that the Company's control over any such proceedings shall be
limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-up Payment would be payable
hereunder, and the Employee shall be entitled to settle or contest any other
issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. The
Employee shall cooperate with the Company in any proceedings relating to the
determination and assessment of any Excise Tax and shall not take any position
or action that would materially increase the amount of any Gross-up Payment
hereunder.

     3.  TERM OF EMPLOYMENT AND TERMINATION
         ----------------------------------

         3.1  Term. Unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 3.2 of the
              ----
Agreement, the term of employment under the Agreement shall be for a period
commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary date thereof;
provided, however, that such
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term of employment automatically shall be renewed daily, such
that at any time the remaining term shall be equal to three years.  However,
additional day-to-day renewals may be terminated by either party by delivering
written notice of such termination to the other party; provided that such
cessation of the automatic renewals shall be effective on the date specified in
such written notice; and further provided that such cessation of the automatic
renewals by the Board shall be effective only if it is pursuant to a performance
evaluation of the Employee by the Board or a finding by a bank regulatory
authority in a report of examination or otherwise that management of the Company
is unsatisfactory or inadequate.

         3.2 At Will Employment. Each party hereby acknowledges and agrees that,
             ------------------
except as expressly set forth in Section 3.3, (i) the Employee's employment
under this Agreement is AT WILL and can be terminated at the option of either
the Company or the Employee in their sole and absolute discretion, for any or no
reason whatsoever, with or without cause, and (ii) no representations,
warranties or assurances have been made concerning the length of such employment
by the Company.

         3.3 Duties Upon Termination.
             -----------------------

             In the event that employment under the Agreement is terminated,
neither the Company nor the Employee shall have any remaining duties or
obligations hereunder, except that (i) the Company shall pay to the Employee, or
his estate, such compensation as is due pursuant to Section 2.1, prorated
through the date of termination, (ii) the Employee shall continue to be bound by
Section 4 of the Agreement and (iii) in the event that such employment is
terminated (A) by the Company for any reason other than "for cause" (as defined
below) or (B) by the Employee with "just reason" (as defined below), the Company
shall pay or provide to the Employee, or his estate, (I) a lump sum payment, not
later than 30 days after such termination of employment, equal to the greater of
(A) the remaining payments due to the Employee under this contract, including
the contributions that would have been made on the Employee's behalf to any
employee benefit plans of the Bank during the remaining term of the agreement or
(B) three times the sum of the Employee's annual salary rate in effect on the
date of termination plus the annual bonus for the most recent fiscal year prior
to the fiscal year in which occurs the Employee's termination of employment, and
(II) participation in all benefit plans and programs sponsored by the Company
for executive officers in general, all as set forth in Section 2.1(c), and all
long-term incentive compensation (including, without limitation, stock options,
shall vest at the date of such termination of employment.

                (b) The Company shall be deemed to have terminated the
employment of the Employee "for cause" if, but only if, such termination (i)
shall result solely from the Employee's continued and willful failure or refusal
to substantially perform his duties in accordance with the terms of the
Agreement and shall have been approved by 66.66% of the Board (excluding the
Employee if a Board member); provided, however, that the Employee first shall
                             --------
have received written notice specifying the acts or omissions alleged to
constitute such failure or refusal and such failure or refusal continues after
the Employee shall have had reasonable opportunity (but in no event less than
thirty (30) days) to correct the same; (ii) the

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Employee is subject to a removal proceedings brought by a bank regulatory
authority; or (iii) the Employee is formally charged with a felony involving
dishonesty or moral turpitude; provided, however, that in the case of clause
(ii) next above, if the removal proceeding is unsuccessful, or in the case of
clause (iii) next above, if the Employee is not convicted of the felony, the
Employee shall not be treated as having been terminated "for cause" and shall be
entitled to prompt payment of all amounts described in clause 3.3(a)(iii). For
purposes of this paragraph (b), no act, or failure to act, on the Employee's
part shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by the
Employee not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Employee's
action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

                (c) The Employee shall be deemed to have terminated his
employment with "just reason" if such termination shall result, in whole or in
part, from any of the following events:

                     (i)    the breach by the Company of any material provision
                            of this Agreement;

                     (ii)   receipt by the Employee of a notice from the Company
                            that the Company intends to terminate employment
                            under this Agreement;

                     (iii)  the failure of a successor or assign of the
                            Company's rights under this Agreement to assume the
                            Company's duties hereunder;

                     (iv)   the Company directs the Employee to perform any
                            unlawful act;

                     (v)    the Employee's duties are materially reduced;

                     (vi)   a relocation of Employee's principal place of
                            employment by more than 25 miles by automobile from
                            415 Huntington Drive, San Marino, California;

                     (vii)  liquidation or dissolution of the Bank; or

                    (viii)  the death or disability of the Employee.

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                (d) The Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of
any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or
otherwise. The Company shall not be entitled to set off against the amounts
payable to the Employee under this Agreement any amounts owed to the Company by
the Employee, any amounts earned by the Employee in other employment after
termination of his employment with the Company, or any amounts which might have
been earned by the Employee in other employment had he sought such other
employment.

     4. TRADE SECRETS
        -------------

        4.1 Trade Secrets. The Employee shall not, without the prior written
            -------------
consent of the Board in each instance, disclose or use in any way, during the
term of his employment by the Company and for one (1) year thereafter, except as
required in the course of such employment, any confidential business or
technical information or trade secret of the Company acquired in the course of
such employment, whether or not patentable, copyrightable or otherwise protected
by law, and whether or not conceived of or prepared by his (collectively, the
"Trade Secrets") including, without limitation, any information concerning
customer lists, products, procedures, operations, investments, financing, costs,
employees, accounting, marketing, salaries, pricing, profits and plans for
future development, the identity, requirements, preferences, practices and
methods of doing business of specific parties with whom the Company transacts
business, and all other information which is related to any product, service or
business of the Company, other than information which is generally known in the
industry in which the Company transacts business or is acquired from public
sources; all of which Trade Secrets are the exclusive and valuable property of
the Company; provided, however, that, following termination of employment, the
Employee shall be entitled to retain a copy of any rolodex or other compilation
maintained by his of the names of business contacts with their addresses,
telephone numbers and similar information.

         4.2 Tangible Items. All files, accounts, records, documents, books,
             --------------
forms, notes, reports, memoranda, studies, compilations of information,
correspondence and all copies, abstracts and summaries of the foregoing, and all
other physical items related to the Company, other than a merely personal item,
whether of a public nature or not, and whether prepared by the Employee or not,
are and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company and shall not be
removed from the premises of the Company, except as required in the course of
employment by the Company, without the prior written consent of the Board in
each instance, and the same shall be promptly returned to the Company by the
Employee on the expiration or termination of his employment by the Company or at
any time prior thereto upon the request of the Company.

         4.3 Injunctive Relief. The Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that
             -----------------
it would be difficult to fully compensate the Company for damages resulting from
the breach or threatened breach of this Section 4 and, accordingly, that the
Company shall be entitled to seek temporary and injunctive relief, including
temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions,
to enforce such provisions without the necessity of proving actual damages and
without the necessity of posting any bond or other undertaking in connection

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therewith. This provision with respect to injunctive relief shall not, however,
diminish the Company's right to claim and recover damages.

         4.4  "Company". For the purposes of this Section 4 of the Agreement
               -------
only, the term "Company" shall mean collectively East-West Bank, a California
banking corporation, and its successors, assigns and nominees, and all
individuals, corporations and other entities that directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, control or are controlled by or are under
common control with any of the foregoing.

     5.  MISCELLANEOUS
         -------------

         5.1  Severable Provisions. The provisions of the Agreement are
              --------------------
severable, and if any one or more provisions may be determined to be illegal or
otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions, and any
partially unenforceable provisions to the extent enforceable, shall nevertheless
be binding and enforceable.

         5.2  Successors and Assigns. All of the terms, provisions and
              ----------------------
obligations of the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, representatives, successors
and assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Agreement nor any rights
hereunder shall be assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred by
the Employee without the prior written consent of the Board in each instance.

         5.3  Governing Law. The validity, construction and interpretation of
              -------------
the Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of
California applicable to contracts made and to be performed within that State.

         5.4  Headings. Section and subsection headings are not to be considered
              --------
part of the Agreement and are included solely for convenience and reference and
in no way define, limit or describe the scope of the Agreement or the intent of
any provisions hereof.

         5.5  Entire Agreement. The Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
              ----------------
between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions,
whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter of the Agreement. No
supplement, modification, waiver or termination of the Agreement shall be valid
unless executed by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver of any of the
provisions of the Agreement shall be deemed to or shall constitute a waiver of
any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver
constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.

         5.6  Notice.  Any notice or other communication required or permitted
              ------
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) if
personally delivered, when so delivered, (ii) if mailed, one (1) week after
having been placed in the United States mail, registered or certified, postage
prepaid, addressed to the party to whom it is directed at the address set forth
below or (iii) if given by telex or telecopier, when such notice or other

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communication is transmitted to the telex or telecopier number specified below
and the appropriate answerback or telephonic confirmation is received.  Either
party may change the address to which such notices are to be addressed by giving
the other party notice in the manner herein set forth.

         5.7  Attorneys' Fees. The Company will reimburse the Employee for the
              ---------------
reasonable attorney fees incurred in connection with the negotiation of this
Agreement. In the event any party takes legal action to enforce any of the terms
of the Agreement, the unsuccessful party to such action shall pay the successful
party's expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in such action.

         5.8  Third Parties.  Nothing in the Agreement, expressed or implied, is
              -------------
intended to confer upon any person other than the Company or the Employee any
rights or remedies under or by reason of the Agreement.

         5.9  Arbitration. Any controversy arising out of or relating to this
              -----------
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be referred to
arbitration before the American Arbitration Association strictly in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement and the substantive law of the State of
California. The board of arbitrators shall convene at a place mutually
acceptable to the parties in the State of California and, if the place of
arbitration cannot be agreed upon, arbitration shall be conducted in Los
Angeles. The parties hereto agree to accept the decision of the board of
arbitrators, and judgment upon any award rendered hereunder may be entered in
any court having jurisdiction thereof. Neither party shall institute a
proceeding hereunder until that party has furnished to the other party, by
registered mail, at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice of its intent
to do so.

         5.10  Construction. This Agreement was reviewed by legal counsel for
               ------------
each party hereto and is the product of informed negotiations between the
parties hereto. If any part of this Agreement is deemed to be unclear or
ambiguous, it shall be construed as if it were drafted jointly by the parties.
Each party hereto acknowledges that no party was in a superior bargaining
position regarding the substantive terms of this Agreement.

         5.11  Consent to Jurisdiction. Subject to Section 5.9, each party
               -----------------------
hereto, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law,
irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any court of the State
of California or the United States of America sitting in the City of Los Angeles
over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, (ii) waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense
or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such
court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the establishment of
the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and
any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has
been brought in an inconvenient forum, (iii) agrees that a judgment in any such
suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court shall be conclusive and
binding upon such party and may be enforced in the courts of the United States
of America or the State of California (or any other courts to the jurisdiction
of which such party is or may be subject) by a suit upon such

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judgment and (iv) consents to process being served in any such suit, action or
proceeding by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified air mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the address of such party
specified in or designated pursuant to Section 5.6. Each party agrees that such
service (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon
such party in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and
personal delivery to such party.

         5.12  Legal Counsel. EACH PARTY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IN CONNECTION
               -------------
WITH THIS AGREEMENT IT HAS SOUGHT THE ADVICE OF SUCH INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL
AS IT SHALL HAVE DETERMINED TO BE NECESSARY OR ADVISABLE IN ITS SOLE AND
ABSOLUTE DISCRETION.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the Agreement to be
executed as of the date and year first set forth above.

                                    EAST-WEST FEDERAL BANK

                                    By: _______________________________
                                    Authorized Representative
                                    Huntington Drive
                                    San Marino, California 91108
                                    Telecopier Number: (626) 799-2799

                                    ___________________________________
                                    DONALD SANG CHOW

                                      11<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.10.1

                   ANNUAL AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Annual Amendment to the Employment Agreement (the "Employment
Agreement") by and between EAST-WEST BANK ("Bank"), and Donald Sang Chow
("Executive") is entered into on this 1st day of February, 2000.

     Pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Employment Agreement between the Bank and
Executive, the following terms and conditions of the Employment agreement are
hereby modified and agreed to, as approved and authorized for and on behalf of
the Bank by action of its Board of Directors at a meeting held on January 19,
2000, at which meeting a quorum was present and voted, exclusive of Executive:

     1.  TERM
         ----
     The term of the Employment Agreement shall be extended from February 1,
2000 for a period of one year and during such term the Executive shall serve as
Executive Vice President.

     2.  COMPENSATION
         ------------

     During the Term, Executive shall receive an annual base salary in the
amount of One Hundred forty-five Thousand Three Hundred Fifty-One Dollars
($145,351.00)  payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the
Bank.  Annual salary increases shall be according to Bank policy which are based
on merit and the bank's financial performance for the previous year.  Annual
increases are in the sole discretion of the Bank.

     3.  CHANGE OF CONTROL
         -----------------
     A new Section 7.6 shall be added to the Agreement to read as follows:

     7.6  Change of Control.  If a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs
          -----------------
during the term of this Agreement, and if Executive is terminated without cause
within twelve (12) months of such Change of Control, Executive shall receive a
severance payment equal to two times the annual base salary; this severance
payment shall be in lieu of the severance payment provided in Section 7.1 and
7.4 of this Agreement or under any severance payment to which Executive would
otherwise be entitled to under this Agreement or under any severance program of
general application of the Bank or any entity which might acquire control of
Bank.  Change of Control means:

    (I)  any date upon which the directors of the Company who were last
nominated by the Board of Directors (the "Board") for election as directors
cease to constitute a majority of the directors of the Company;

    (II) the date of the first public announcement that any person or entity,
together with all Affiliates and Associates (as such capitalized terms are
defined in Rule 12b-2) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of such person or entity, shall have
become the Beneficial Owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of voting securities of the Company representing 51% or more of
the voting power of the Company (a "51% Stockholder"); provided,
                                                       --------
however, that the terms "person" and "entity," as used in this clause (B),
-------
shall not include (1) the Company or nay of its subsidiaries, (2) any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (3) any entity holding
voting securities of the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan
or (4) any person or entity who was a 51% Stockholder on the date of adoption of
the Plan by the Board; or (5) the formation of a holding in which the
shareholders of the holding company after its formation are substantially the
same as for the Company prior to the holding company formation.

       Except as expressly agreed to herein, the Employment Agreement between
the parties shall remain in force and effect.

                EAST WEST BANK

                By:
                  _______________________________________________

                ___________________________________________________
                Executive

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