East West Bancorp Reports Net Income for First Quarter of 2026 of $358 Million and Diluted Earnings Per Share of $2.57, Both Up 23% Year-Over-Year, Driven by Record Levels of Quarterly Fee Income, Loans and Deposits
East West Bancorp Reports Net Income for First Quarter of 2026 of $358 Million and Diluted Earnings Per Share of $2.57, Both Up 23% Year-Over-Year, Driven by Record Levels of Quarterly Fee Income, Loans and Deposits
A profitability ratio that shows how much profit common shareholders earn from the bank’s tangible equity — the shareholder capital left after removing goodwill, intangible assets and preferred stock — averaged over a period. Investors use it like a yield on the company’s real, hard capital to judge how efficiently management turns those tangible resources into earnings and to compare returns across banks or over time.
tangible book value per sharefinancial
Tangible book value per share is the company's total physical and financial assets minus its liabilities and intangible items (like goodwill and brand value), divided by the number of outstanding shares. It gives investors a conservative, per‑share estimate of what would remain if the business sold only its hard assets and paid its debts—useful for judging whether a stock is priced above or below its underlying, tangible worth, like valuing a property by its bricks and cash rather than its reputation.
tangible common equity ratiofinancial
Tangible common equity ratio measures how much real, loss-absorbing capital common shareholders have relative to a company's tangible assets—calculated by removing intangible items (like goodwill) and preferred equity from total equity and comparing that net amount to tangible assets. Think of it as the thickness of a safety cushion made of solid, visible value rather than accounting entries; investors use it to judge how well a company could withstand losses and protect common shareholders' claims.
pre-tax, pre-provision incomefinancial
Pre-tax, pre-provision income is a measure of a financial firm's earnings before deducting taxes and the money it sets aside to cover potential loan losses. Think of it as the company’s operating profit before accounting for future bad debts and taxes; like a shop’s sales minus running costs but before any emergency savings for damaged goods. Investors use it to see core profitability and to compare operating performance across periods or firms without the noise of loan-loss reserves and tax effects.
nonperforming assetfinancial
A nonperforming asset is a loan or other asset that is no longer generating the expected income because the borrower has stopped making payments or the asset is unlikely to be recovered. For investors this is a warning light about credit quality — like a car that won’t start, it ties up value, can force a lender to set aside money for losses, and may reduce profits and capital cushions, affecting share value and risk.
allowance for loan lossesfinancial
Allowance for loan losses is money set aside by a bank to cover potential losses if some loans don’t get repaid. It helps the bank stay prepared for bad debts, much like setting aside savings for unexpected expenses. This ensures the bank remains stable even if some borrowers can’t pay back their loans.
basis pointsfinancial
Basis points are a way to measure small changes in interest rates or percentages, where one basis point equals 0.01%. For example, if a loan's interest rate increases by 50 basis points, it's gone up by 0.50%. They help people understand tiny differences in rates that can add up over time, making financial comparisons clearer.
diluted earnings per sharefinancial
Diluted earnings per share is a measure of a company's profit allocated to each share of stock, taking into account all possible shares that could be created through stock options, convertible bonds, or other securities. It shows the lowest possible earnings per share if all these potential shares were issued, helping investors understand the worst-case scenario for their ownership. This figure matters because it provides a more conservative view of a company's profitability per share.
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PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
East West Bancorp, Inc. (“East West” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EWBC), parent company of East West Bank, reported first quarter 2026 net income of $358 million, or $2.57 per diluted share. Total loans and deposits both reached new records as of March 31, 2026, at $58.1 billion and $68.9 billion, respectively. Return on average assets was 1.79%, return on average common equity was 16.0%, and book value per share grew 14% year-over-year.
“East West reported record loans, deposits, and fee income in the first quarter, generating a 17% return on average tangible common equity1,” said Dominic Ng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our balance sheet growth reflects the strength of our customer relationships and the success of the clients we serve. This performance was complemented by 12% year-over-year growth in fee income, driven by notable strength in wealth management and deposit account fees.”
“Credit performance remained resilient, with net charge-offs and nonperforming asset levels stable, while we bolstered our allowance for loan losses to 1.44% of loans,” Ng continued. “We continued to operate from a position of capital strength, which enabled us to support our customers with confidence while also returning capital to our shareholders. Looking ahead, we are well positioned to deliver top-tier shareholder returns through industry-leading profitability, strong balance sheet growth, and prudent risk management,” concluded Ng.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2026 %
Change
($ in millions, except per share data)
March 31, 2026
Dec. 31, 2025
March 31, 2025
Qtr-o-Qtr
Yr-o-Yr
Total Revenue
$
774
$
758
$
692
2
%
12
%
Pre-tax, Pre-provision Income2
493
497
440
(1
)
12
Net Income
358
356
290
–
23
Diluted Earnings per Share
$
2.57
$
2.55
$
2.08
1
23
Book Value per Share
$
65.70
$
64.68
$
57.54
2
14
Tangible Book Value per Share1
$
62.27
$
61.27
$
54.13
2
%
15
%
Return on Average Assets
1.79
%
1.77
%
1.56
%
2 bps
23 bps
Return on Average Common Equity
16.04
%
16.11
%
14.96
%
-7 bps
108 bps
Return on Average Tangible Common Equity1
16.92
%
17.03
%
15.92
%
-11 bps
100 bps
Total Stockholders’ Equity to Assets Ratio
10.86
%
11.06
%
10.41
%
-20 bps
45 bps
Tangible Common Equity Ratio1
10.35
%
10.54
%
9.85
%
-19 bps
50 bps
Total Assets
$
82,886
$
80,435
$
76,165
3
%
9
%
1
Return on average tangible common equity, tangible book value per share, and tangible common equity ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. See reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures in Table 12 of East West’s detailed 1Q26 earnings release and financial tables, available at www.eastwestbank.com/investors.
2
Pre-tax, pre-provision income is a non-GAAP financial measure. See reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in Table 11 of East West’s detailed 1Q26 earnings release and financial tables, available at www.eastwestbank.com/investors.
Earnings Press Release and Financial Tables
East West’s first quarter 2026 earnings press release with accompanying financial tables can be accessed at www.eastwestbank.com/investors.
Conference Call
East West will host a conference call to discuss first quarter 2026 earnings with the public on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET. The public and investment community are invited to listen as management discusses first quarter 2026 results and operating developments.
The following dial-in information is provided for participation in the conference call: calls within the U.S. - (877) 506-6399; calls within Canada – (855) 669-9657; international calls – (412) 902-6699.
A presentation to accompany the earnings call, a listen-only live broadcast of the call, and information to access a replay one hour after the call will all be available on the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.eastwestbank.com/investors.
About East West
East West provides financial services that help customers reach further and connect to new opportunities. East West Bancorp, Inc. is a public company (Nasdaq: “EWBC”) with total assets of $82.9 billion as of March 31, 2026. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, East West Bank, is the largest independent bank headquartered in Southern California, and operates over 110 locations in the United States and Asia. The Bank’s markets in the United States include California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Washington. For more information on East West, visit www.eastwestbank.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters set forth herein (including any exhibits hereto) contain “forward-looking statements” intended to be covered by the safe harbor for such statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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”) may make forward-looking statements in other documents that it files with, or furnishes to, the United States (“U.S.”) Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and management may make forward-looking statements to analysts, investors, media members and others. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate to historical facts and that are based on current assumptions, beliefs, estimates, expectations and projections, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond the Company’s control. Forward-looking statements may relate to various matters, including the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, business or industry, and usually can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as “anticipates,” “assumes,” “believes,” “can,” “continues,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intends,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “plans,” “potential,” “projects,” “remains,” “should,” “target,” “trend,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions or variations thereof, and the negative thereof, although these terms are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
Factors that might cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: changes in local, regional and global business, economic and political conditions and natural or geopolitical events; the soundness of other financial institutions and the impacts related to or resulting from bank failures and other industry volatility, including potential increased regulatory requirements, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance premiums and assessments, and deposit withdrawals; changes in trade, tariff, tax, monetary and fiscal policies; changes in immigration laws and enforcement practices, or travel and visa related policies; current or potential disputes between the U.S., the People’s Republic of China and other countries; changes in the commercial and consumer real estate markets; changes in consumer or commercial spending, savings and borrowing habits, patterns and behaviors; the Company’s ability to compete effectively against financial institutions and other entities, including as a result of emerging technologies; the success and timing of the Company’s business strategies; the Company’s ability to retain key officers and employees; changes in market interest rates, competition, regulatory requirements and product mix; changes in the Company’s costs of operation, compliance and expansion; disruption, failure in, or breach of, the Company’s operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of third party vendors with which the Company does business, including as a result of cyber-attacks, and the disclosure or misuse of confidential information; the adequacy of the Company’s risk management framework; future credit quality and performance, including expectations regarding future credit losses and allowance levels; adverse changes to the Company’s credit ratings; legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and their resolution; the Company’s capital requirements and its ability to generate capital internally or raise capital on favorable terms; the impact on the Company’s liquidity due to changes in its ability to receive dividends from subsidiaries; any strategic acquisitions or divestitures; and the introduction of new or expanded products and services or other events that may directly or indirectly result in a negative impact on the financial performance of the Company and its customers.
For a more detailed discussion of some of the factors that might cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and any forward-looking statements, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2026 under the heading Item 1A. Risk Factors and the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based solely on information then actually known to the Company. The Company does not undertake, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as required by law.
For Investor Inquiries, Contact:
Adrienne Atkinson
Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Development
T: (626) 788-7536
E: adrienne.atkinson@eastwestbank.com
For Media Inquiries, Contact:
Angie Tang
Director of Corporate Communications
T: (626) 768-6853
E: angie.tang@eastwestbank.com
