EAST WEST BANCORP INC (EWBC)

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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Overview

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, 2025, filed with the United States (“U.S.”) Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 27, 2026 (the “Company’s 2025 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, 2026, the Company had $84.8 billion in total assets and approximately 3,500 full-time equivalent employees. For additional information on our strategy, and the products and services provided by the Bank, see Item 1. Business — Organization and Banking Services in the Company’s 2025 Form 10-K.

Current Developments

Economic Developments

Evolving geopolitical uncertainties, including recent developments in the Middle East and ongoing shifts in global trade policies and tariffs, continue to create uncertainty regarding inflation, prices and potential supply chain disruptions. At its most recent meeting, the Federal Reserve maintained the target rate of the federal funds rate, reflecting a cautious stance as it continues to balance economic uncertainty, persistent inflationary pressures and continued strength in the labor market. These conditions may contribute to market volatility and influence the pace of inflation and economic growth. The U.S. economy continues to expand at a moderate pace, with Federal Reserve projections indicating GDP growth of 2% and inflation expected to gradually moderate. Commercial and consumer loan demand remains solid, supported by healthy consumer spending and business investment. The Company continues to monitor changes in the economic, regulatory and banking environment and their potential impacts on its business and customers.

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 Geographic and Political Uncertainties and — Risks Related to Financial Matters in the Company’s 2025 Form 10-K.

Regulatory Updates

In March 2026, the federal banking agencies issued proposed revisions to the U.S. regulatory capital framework that would modify certain aspects of the standardized approach to risk-based capital treatment of certain exposure categories that are material to the Company. The proposed changes address the definition of capital, the calculation of certain risk-weighted assets and future indexing of certain dollar-based thresholds. The Company has been monitoring these proposals and assessing their potential impacts on its regulatory capital position.

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In June 2026, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) issued two proposals that would modify certain requirements applicable to the Bank. The first would streamline resolution planning requirements for insured depository institutions by, among other things, increasing the applicability threshold to institutions with $100 billion or more in total assets, eliminating the need for institutions to provide a strategy for their own resolution and annual interim resolution plan supplements, and removing the FDIC’s ability to deem resolution plans, which would be renamed “resolution submissions,” not credible. The second proposal would decrease initial base deposit insurance assessment rates for institutions with total assets of $30 billion or more, including the Bank, by one basis point (“bp”). This proposal would provide an additional downward adjustment of 0.5 bp to such an institution’s assessment rate if the institution successfully completed a virtual data room testing exercise and a further downward adjustment of 0.5 bp if the institution provided the FDIC with temporary access to certain data service providers and/or internal data systems. We are evaluating the potential impact of these proposals on EWBC and the Bank.

In June 2026, the California Air Resources Board announced a proposed deferral of the first-year initial reporting deadline under SB 253 for Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions under SB 253 from August 10, 2026 to November 10, 2026. The Company is monitoring these developments, including potential changes to reporting requirements, and evaluating their impact on its disclosures, processes, and controls.

Financial Review

(1)For additional information regarding the reconciliation of these non-U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) financial measures, refer to Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) — Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures in this Form 10-Q.

(2)Efficiency ratio is calculated as noninterest expense divided by total revenue.

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The Company’s net income for the second quarter and first half of 2026 was $364 million and $721 million, respectively, which increased $53 million or 17%, and $121 million or 20%, respectively, from the same prior year periods. The year-over-year increases were primarily driven by higher net interest income before provision for credit losses, increased noninterest income, and lower provision for credit losses, partially offset by higher noninterest expense. Noteworthy aspects of the Company’s performance for the second quarter and first half of 2026 included:

•Net interest income and net interest margin. Second quarter 2026 net interest income before provision for credit losses was $685 million, an increase of $68 million or 11% from the second quarter of 2025. Second quarter 2026 net interest margin was 3.43% up 8 bps from the prior-year quarter. For the first half of 2026, net interest income before the provision for credit losses totaled $1.4 billion, an increase of $139 million or 11% compared with the first half of 2025. Net interest margin was 3.46% for the first half of 2026, an increase of 11 bps year over year.

•Earnings per share growth. Second quarter 2026 basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) each increased 18% to $2.65 and $2.63, respectively, compared with the second quarter of 2025. For the first half of 2026, basic EPS increased 20% to $5.24, while di

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL

CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Overview

The following discussion provides information about the results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources of the Company, including its subsidiary bank, East West 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 Form 10-K. For information on our business, see Item 1. Business in this Form 10-K.

Current Economic Developments

Evolving trade policies and tariffs and recent government shutdowns raised concerns about inflation, supply chain disruptions, and slower economic growth. The uncertain business environment led to a softening in the labor market, as companies adopted more cautious hiring practices, while reduced immigration further limited labor supply. The residential mortgage and CRE markets moderated but housing affordability pressures remained elevated. The Federal Reserve, which resumed lowering interest rates in late 2025, now faces heightened policy complexity in 2026. The transition to a new Chairman of the Federal Reserve, which is expected after Chairman Jerome Powell’s term expires in May 2026, adds additional uncertainty, particularly as leadership debates continue over balancing inflation risks against labor market softening. The economic uncertainty caused by these factors could result in decreased consumer spending and curb business investments. 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 Geographic and Political Uncertainties and — Risks Related to Financial Matters in this Form 10-K.

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Financial Review

Our MD&A analyzes the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for 2025 and 2024. Some tables include additional periods to comply with disclosure requirements or to illustrate trends in greater depth. The page locations of specific sections that we refer to are presented in the table of contents. To review our financial condition and results of operations for 2024 and a comparison between 2024 and 2023 results, see Item 7. MD&A of our 2024 Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025.

(1)For additional information regarding the reconciliation of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, refer to Item 7. MD&A — Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures in this Form 10-K.

(2)Efficiency ratio is calculated as noninterest expense divided by total revenue.

The Company’s 2025 net income was $1.3 billion, a $160 million or 14% increase from 2024. The increase was primarily driven by higher net interest income before provision for credit losses, increased noninterest income and a decrease in provision for credit losses, partially offset by higher noninterest expense and income tax expense. Noteworthy items about the Company’s performance for 2025 included:

•Net interest income and net interest margin. Year-over-year net interest income before provision for credit losses increased $274 million or 12% to $2.6 billion in 2025. Full year 2025 net interest margin was 3.41%, a 14 bp increase year-over-year.

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•Earnings per share growth. Full year 2025 basic EPS and diluted EPS both expanded 14% to $9.58 and $9.52, respectively.

•Profitability ratios. Full year 2025 ROA and ROAE of 1.70% and 16.01%, respectively, expanded 10 bps and 8 bps, respectively, year-over-year. Full year 2025 ROATCE was 16.99%. ROATCE is a non-GAAP financial measure. For additional information regarding the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures, refer to Item 7. MD&A — Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures in this Form 10-K.

•Efficiency ratio. The efficiency ratio was 35.69% in 2025, a 96 bp improvement compared with 2024. The improvement in the efficiency ratio primarily reflected a year-over-year increase in net interest income before provision for credit losses.

•Asset growth. Total assets reached $80.4 billion as of December 31, 2025, an increase of $4.5 billion or 6% year-over-year, primarily driven by loan growth of $3.0 billion or 6%, and an increase in AFS debt securities of $2.4 billion or 22%.

•Deposit growth. Total deposits were $67.1 billion as of December 31, 2025, an increase of $3.9 billion or 6% year-over-year, primarily reflecting growth in time deposits and noninterest-bearing demand deposits.

•Capital levels. Stockholders’ equity was $8.9 billion as of December 31, 2025, up $1.2 billion or 15%, from December 31, 2024. Book value per share of $64.68 as of December 31, 2025, increased $8.89 or 16% from December 31, 2024. Tangible book value per share of $61.27 as of December 31, 2025, increased $8.88 or 17% from December 31, 2024. Tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. For additional details, see the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures presented under Item 7. MD&A — Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures in this Form 10-K.

Results of Operations

Net Interest Income

The Company’s primary source of revenue is net interest income, which is the interest income earned on interest-earning assets less interest expense paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest margin is the ratio of net interest income to average interest-earning assets. Net interest income and net interest margin are impacted by several factors, including changes in average balances and the composition of interest-earning assets and funding sources, market interest rate fluctuations and the slope of the yield curve, repricing characteristics and maturity of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, the volume of noninterest-bearing sources of funds, and asset quality.

Net interest income and net interest margin for 2025 increased year-over-year. The $274 million or 12% year-over-year increase in 2025 net interest income is primarily due to lower interest-bearing deposit funding costs and increases in the average balances of deposits, AFS debt securities and loans, partially offset by lower loan yields. The 14 bps year-over-year increase in 2025 net interest margin primarily reflected lower interest-bearing deposit costs, partially offset by an increase in AFS securities and decreases in the yield and balances of interest-bearing cash and deposits with banks.

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Average interest-earning assets increased $5.2 billion or 7% to $74.9 billion in 2025. The year-over-year increase in average interest-earning assets primarily reflected increases in AFS debt securities and loan growth. The yield on average interest-earning assets was 5.73% in 2025, a decrease of 28 bps from 2024. The year-over-year decrease in the yield on average interest-earning assets primarily reflected the impact of lower benchmark interest rates of the loan portfolio.

The average loan yield was 6.40% in 2025, a decrease of 27 bps from 2024. The year-over-year decrease in the average loan yield primarily reflected the loan portfolio’s sensitivity to lower benchmark interest rates. Excluding the $32 million discount accretion and interest recoveries from the full payment on purchased credit impaired and workout loans from the 2025 loans’ interest income, the adjusted average loan yield for 2025 was 6.34%, compared with 6.67% in 2024. Adjusted average loan yield is a non-GAAP financial ratio. For additional details, refer to Item 7. MD&A — Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures in this Form 10-K. Approximately 58% of loans held-for-investment were variable-rate as of both December 31, 2025 and 2024.

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Deposits are an important source of funds and impact both net interest income and net interest margin. Average deposits of $64.8 billion in 2025, increased $5.2 billion or 9% from 2024. Average noninterest-bearing deposits of $15.6 billion in 2025, increased $799 million or 5% from 2024. Average noninterest-bearing deposits made up 24% and 25% of average deposits in 2025 and 2024, respectively.

The average cost of deposits was 2.46% in 2025, a decrease of 42 bps from 2024. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 3.24% in 2025, a decrease of 59 bps from 2024. These year-over-year decreases primarily reflected the impacts of lower benchmark interest rates and the Company’s efforts to reduce deposit costs.

The average cost of funds calculation includes deposits, short-term borrowings, FHLB advances, assets sold under repurchase agreements (“repurchase agreements”) and long-term debt. In 2025, the average cost of funds was 2.56%, a decrease of 46 bps from 2024. The year-over-year decrease was mainly driven by the change in the average cost of deposits as discussed above.

The Company utilizes various tools to manage interest rate risk. Refer to the Interest Rate Risk Management section of Item 7. MD&A — Risk Management — Market Risk Management for details.

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The following table presents the interest s

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