Summary of EAST WEST BANCORP INC

ITEM 4.01 Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.

(a) Dismissal of Previous Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On April 3, 2009, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of East West Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm.

During the Company's two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and from January 1, 2009 through April 2, 2009, there were no disagreements between the Company and Deloitte on any matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure that, if not resolved to Deloitte's satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to the matter in conjunction with its report on the Company's consolidated financial statements for the relevant year; and there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The audit reports of Deloitte on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

The Company furnished a copy of the above disclosure to Deloitte and requested that Deloitte provide a letter addressed to the Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made above. A copy of such letter, dated April 7, 2009, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.

(b) Engagement of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Additionally on April 3, 2009, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of KPMG LLP ("KPMG") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm commencing with the audit for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. During the Company's two fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and through April 2, 2009, neither the Company, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with KPMG regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's consolidated financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided by KPMG to the Company that KPMG concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of either a disagreement as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K or a reportable event as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.