EAST WEST BANCORP INC

The following discussion provides information about the results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources of East West Bancorp, Inc. (referred to herein on an unconsolidated basis as “East West” and on a consolidated basis as the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “EWBC”) and its subsidiaries, including its subsidiary bank, East West Bank and its subsidiaries (referred to herein as “East West Bank” or the “Bank”). This information is intended to facilitate the understanding and assessment of significant changes and trends related to the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes presented elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”), and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the United States (“U.S.”) Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2025 (the “Company’s 2024 Form 10-K”).

Organization and Strategy

East West is a bank holding company incorporated in Delaware on August 26, 1998, and is registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. The Company commenced business on December 30, 1998 when, pursuant to a reorganization, it acquired all of the voting stock of the Bank, which became its principal asset. The Bank is an independent commercial bank headquartered in California that focuses on the financial service needs of individuals and businesses that operate in both the U.S. and Asia. Through over 110 locations in the U.S. and Asia, the Company provides a full range of consumer and commercial products and services through the following three business segments: (1) Consumer and Business Banking and (2) Commercial Banking, with the remaining operations recorded in (3) Treasury and Other. The Company’s principal activity is lending to and accepting deposits from businesses and individuals. We are committed to enhancing long-term shareholder value by growing loans, deposits and revenue, improving profitability, and investing for the future while managing risks, expenses and capital. Our business model is built on customer loyalty and engagement, understanding our customers’ financial goals, and meeting our customers’ financial needs through our diverse products and services. We expect our relationship-focused business model to continue generating organic growth from existing customers and to expand our targeted customer bases. As of June 30, 2025, the Company had $78.2 billion in total assets and approximately 3,100 full-time equivalent employees. For additional information on our strategy, and the products and services provided by the Bank, see Item 1. Business — Organizationand Banking Servicesin the Company’s 2024 Form 10-K.

Current Developments

Economic Developments

The higher tariffs introduced throughout 2025 by the current U.S federal administration, coupled with its tax and immigration policies, have prompted concerns about a slowdown in economic growth, increased inflationary pressures, market volatility and a potential recession. The Federal Reserve held rates steady in the second quarter of 2025 and is expected to move cautiously with respect to interest rate cuts as it monitors the pass-through effect of elevated tariffs. Meanwhile, mortgage rates and home prices remain high, creating affordability challenges for many consumers. The economic uncertainty caused by these factors could result in decreased consumer spending and curb business investments, which could affect both the demand and performance of loans. However, the current administration’s focus on deregulation and capital reform could promote growth for banks. Deregulation could lead to increased access to capital for businesses and consumers as fewer restrictions would encourage banks to extend credit. The Company monitors changes in economic and industry conditions and their impacts on the Company’s business, customers, employees, communities and markets.

Further discussion of the potential impacts on the Company’s business due to the economic environment has been provided in Item 1A. — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Geopolitical Uncertaintiesand — Risks Related to Financial Mattersin the Company’s 2024 Form 10-K.

Climate Accountability

In October 2023, California Senate Bill No. 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (“SB 253”) and Senate Bill No. 261, the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (“SB 261”) were signed into law. SB 253 requires companies with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion that conduct business in California to report their Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions annually starting in 2026; and Scope 3 GHG emissions starting in 2027. SB 261 applies to companies with annual revenues over $500 million that operate in California, and requires disclosure of climate-related financial risks and mitigation measures taken to address such risks with the first report due on January 1, 2026, and biennially thereafter.

On December 5, 2024, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) issued an Enforcement Notice for SB 253, stating that it will exercise enforcement discretion for the first reporting cycle in 2026 covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions disclosures. CARB stated that companies making a good-faith effort to comply with SB 253 will not face penalties for incomplete Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions disclosures, and may submit initial disclosures in 2026 based on the data they currently possess, or in the process of collecting at the time the notice was issued. On May 29, 2025, CARB announced that it intends to issue SB 253 implementing regulations by the end of 2025, and reaffirmed that the SB 253 Scope 1 and 2 disclosures for fiscal year 2025 will be required in 2026.

The Company is a reporting entity under both SB 253 and SB 261 and has been monitoring the developments of CARB’s implementing regulations. The Company has engaged a third-party firm to facilitate its implementation of CARB’s regulations. The Company believes it is well-positioned to meet the requirements of the applicable regulations.

Resolution Planning

On June 20, 2024, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) released a final rule that requires covered insured depository institutions (“IDIs”) to develop and submit detailed plans demonstrating how they could be resolved in an orderly and timely manner in the event of receivership. IDIs with total assets of $100 billion or more are required to submit full resolution plans, and IDIs with total assets between $50 billion and $100 billion, including the Bank, are required to submit more limited informational filings. Under the final rule, if the FDIC deemed a resolution plan or informational filing not credible and the IDI failed to resubmit a credible plan, the IDI could become subject to an enforcement action. The Company has established a management-level working group to address the requirements under the final rule and is on schedule to meet the October 1, 2025 submission deadline. Going forward, the Bank will be required to submit informational filings every three years and interim supplements annually.

Regulatory Updates

On October 22, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) issued a final rule to implement Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act. Under the final rule, financial institutions are required, upon request, to make available to a consumer or third party authorized by the consumer, certain information the Bank has concerning a consumer financial product or service covered by the rule, such as a credit card or a deposit account. Industry organizations challenged the final rule in court. On May 30, 2025, the CFPB filed a motion for summary judgment in the litigation, in which the CFPB stated that it had concluded that the final rule exceeded the agency’s statutory authority and is arbitrary and capricious. The CFPB requested that the court vacate the final rule. On July 29, 2025, the CFPB filed a motion to stay the proceedings, announcing its plans to issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking that will serve as the starting point of an accelerated rulemaking process for a new final rule. The same day, the court granted the CFPB’s motion to stay and denied the CFPB’s summary judgment motion without prejudice.

On October 24, 2023, the federal banking agencies issued a final rule amending their regulations implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) to substantially revise how they evaluate an insured depository institution’s record of satisfying the credit needs of its entire communities, including low- and moderate-income individuals and neighborhoods. On July 16, 2025, the agencies issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to rescind the October 2023 final rule and restore the CRA framework that existed previously, which has remained in effect due to a preliminary injunction that stayed implementation of the October 2023 rule. The Bank received a rating of “Satisfactory” in its most recent performance evaluation, which was conducted using the CRA framework that existed prior to the October 2023 final rule.

Other Legislative Updates

In July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was signed into law, introducing significant tax changes. The OBBBA extends or makes permanent various tax provisions that were originally enacted in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and were set to expire at the end of this year. The OBBBA features modified versions of individual and business tax relief proposals, and other new tax relief measures. In addition, it includes various revenue-raising measures, including changes to certain Inflation Reduction Act clean energy tax credits and various limits on business and individual tax deductions, that are intended to offset part of the cost of the legislation. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the OBBBA on its business and consolidated financial statements.

In July 2025, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, or the “GENIUS Act,” was signed into law, establishing a federal licensing and supervisory framework for payment stablecoins and their issuers. The GENIUS Act may accelerate and increase the competition that non-traditional financial institutions pose to banks’ payment services, but may also create opportunities for banks to hold stablecoin reserve assets, custody stablecoins, or issue stablecoins. Several key provisions of the GENIUS Act require federal regulatory agencies to adopt implementing regulations, and the Act will take effect the earlier of 18 months after its enactment or 120 days after the agencies issue final implementing regulations.

In June 2025, California enacted Senate Bill No. 132 (“SB 132”), requiring banks and financial institutions to adopt a single sales factor for income apportionment, effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. Prior to SB 132, financial institutions had been required to use an equally weighted three-factor apportionment formula, which considered property, payroll and sales equally in apportioning income for California tax purposes. Refer to Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) — Income Taxesfor more details.