East West Bancorp Reports Net Income for Third Quarter 2012 of $71.1 Million, up 14% from Prior Year

East West Bancorp Reports Net Income for Third Quarter 2012 of $71.1 Million, up 14% from Prior Year, and Earnings Per Share of $0.48, up 17% from Prior Year

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- East West Bancorp, Inc. (NAS: EWBC) , parent company of East West Bank, the financial bridge between the United States and Greater China, today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2012. For the third quarter of 2012, net income was $71.1 million or $0.48 per dilutive share. East West increased third quarter net income by $8.7 million or 14% and increased earnings per dilutive share $0.07 or 17% from the prior year period.

"We are pleased with our solid financial results for the third quarter of 2012. Third quarter earnings per share totaled $0.48, up 17% from the prior year period, and our seventh consecutive quarter of earnings per share growth," stated Dominic Ng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of East West. "Our strong financial performance in the third quarter was driven by healthy growth in our loan and deposit portfolios, which resulted in increased total revenue, net income and earnings per share from both the prior quarter and prior year period. During the third quarter of 2012, East West grew non-covered commercial and trade finance loans by $314.1 million or 9%, and increased core deposits by $329.7 million or 3% to a record $11.4 billion from June 30, 2012."

"Although the interest rate and economic environment continues to be challenging for East West and the banking industry, we are confident that we will continue to perform well. For the third quarter of 2012, our return on assets totaled 1.30%, up 17 basis points from the prior year period, and our return on equity totaled 12.43%, up 144 basis points from the prior year period," continued Ng.

"At this point, we believe we are well on our way to another year of record earnings for East West for the full year 2012. As the premier financial bridge between the East and the West, we continue to win new business and grow our market share as evidenced by our solid financial results. As we look to 2013 and beyond, we are confident that we will be able to continue to deliver healthy financial results and return strong value to our shareholders," concluded Ng.

Third Quarter 2012 Highlights

• Strong Third Quarter Earnings - For the third quarter of 2012, net income was $71.1 million or $0.48 per dilutive share. Net income increased by $553 thousand from the second quarter of 2012 and $8.7 million or 14% from the third quarter of 2011. Earnings per dilutive share grew $0.01 or 2% from the second quarter of 2012 and $0.07 or 17% from the third quarter of 2011.

• Repurchase of 2.3 Million Shares of Common Stock - During the third quarter of 2012, we repurchased 2.3 million shares of our common stock for a total cost of $50.0 million.

• Strong Loan Growth - Quarter to date, non-covered loans, excluding loans held for sale, grew $360.3 million or 3%. This growth was largely due to increases in commercial and trade finance loans, commercial real estate loans and single family loans, which grew $314.1 million or 9%, $74.6 million or 2% and $47.7 million or 2%, respectively. Total loans, including loans covered under loss-share agreements grew $142.4 million or 1% quarter to date.

• Strong Core Deposit Growth - Core deposit growth continued in the third quarter and increased by $329.7 million to a record $11.4 billion or 64% of total deposits. Total deposits increased to a record $17.7 billion, an increase of $324.6 million or 2% from $17.3 billion as of June 30, 2012.

• Cost of Deposits Down 4 bps from Q2 2012 and Down 24 bps from Q3 2011 - The cost of deposits improved to 0.41% for the third quarter of 2012, down from 0.45% in the second quarter of 2012 and 0.65% in the third quarter of 2011. The cost of funds improved to 0.67% for the third quarter of 2012, down from 0.71% in the second quarter of 2012 and 0.93% in the third quarter of 2011.

• Nonperforming Assets Down to 0.66% of Total Assets - Nonperforming assets decreased to $144.1 million, or 0.66% of total assets at September 30, 2012, an $11.6 million or 7% decrease from June 30, 2012 and a $24.8 million or 15% decrease from September 30, 2011.

Management Guidance

The Company is providing guidance for the fourth quarter and full year of 2012. Management currently estimates that fully diluted earnings per share for the full year of 2012 will range from $1.87 to $1.89, an increase of $0.27 to $0.29 or 17% to 18% from the full year of 2011.

Management currently estimates that fully diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2012 will range from $0.47 to $0.49 per dilutive share. This EPS guidance for the fourth quarter of 2012 is based on the following assumptions:

• Stable balance sheet

• A stable interest rate environment and an adjusted net interest margin of approximately 3.90%¹

• Provision for loan losses for non-covered loans of approximately $10 to $13 million for the quarter

• Total noninterest expense of approximately $100 million for the quarter, net of amounts to be reimbursed by the FDIC

• Effective tax rate of approximately 34%

Balance Sheet Summary

At September 30, 2012, total assets increased to $21.8 billion compared to $21.5 billion at June 30, 2012. The increase in total assets during the third quarter was primarily attributable to an increase in non-covered loans, securities purchased under resale agreements and investment securities with a partial offsetting decrease in cash and cash equivalents. Average earning assets increased during the third quarter of 2012, up $265.6 million or 1% compared to the prior quarter. The increase in average earning assets during the third quarter was primarily attributable to an increase in average loans receivable and securities purchased under resale agreements, offset by a decrease in average investment securities.

Total loans receivable at September 30, 2012 equaled $14.5 billion, compared to $14.3 billion as of June 30, 2012. During the third quarter non-covered loan balances, excluding loans held for sale, grew $360.3 million or 3%. This growth was largely due to increases in commercial and trade finance loans, commercial real estate loans and single family loans, which grew $314.1 million or 9% and $74.6 million or 2% and $47.7 million or 2%, respectively.

Covered Loans

Covered loans totaled $3.2 billion as of September 30, 2012, a decrease of $238.0 million or 7% from June 30, 2012. The decrease in the covered loan portfolio was primarily due to payoffs and paydown activity, as well as charge-offs.

The covered loan portfolio is comprised of loans acquired from the FDIC-assisted acquisitions of United Commercial Bank (UCB) and Washington First International Bank (WFIB) which are covered under loss-share agreements with the FDIC. During the third quarter of 2012, we recorded a net decrease in the FDIC indemnification asset and receivable included in noninterest (loss)/income of ($26.8) million, largely due to continued improved credit performance of the UCB portfolio as compared to our original estimate.

Deposits and Borrowings

At September 30, 2012, total deposits increased to $17.7 billion, up $324.6 million or 2% from $17.3 billion as of June 30, 2012. In the third quarter of 2012, the Company continued to successfully grow low-cost, commercial deposits. Total core deposits increased 3% quarter over quarter to $11.4 billion at September 30, 2012, largely due to a $290.4 million or 8% increase in noninterest-bearing demand deposits which grew to $4.1 billion as of September 30, 2012. Time deposits remained stable and slightly decreased as we continue to reduce our reliance on higher cost time deposits and focus our strategy on growing core deposits.

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company prepaid $75.0 million of subordinated debt carrying an effective interest rate of 1.60%, incurring a prepayment penalty of $42 thousand, which is included in noninterest expense.

Third Quarter 2012 Operating Results

Net Interest Income

Net interest income, adjusted for the net impact of covered loan dispositions, totaled $196.3 million for the third quarter of 2012, an increase of $1.6 million from $194.7 million in the prior quarter.¹ The core net interest margin, excluding the net impact to interest income of $25.6 million resulting from covered loan activity and amortization of the FDIC indemnification asset, totaled 3.95% for the third quarter of 2012. This compares to a core net interest margin, excluding the net impact to interest income of $38.5 million resulting from covered loan activity and amortization of the FDIC indemnification asset, of 4.01% for the second quarter of 2012.¹

The increase in net interest income from the prior quarter stemmed from higher average interest earning assets, which increased $265.6 million or 1% quarter over quarter, largely fueled by higher total average loans outstanding, which increased $103.8 million or 1% quarter over quarter. The increase in earnings assets for the third quarter reduced the impact of the decrease in the core net interest margin to 3.95% for the third quarter of 2012, down 6 basis points from the prior quarter.

As previously discussed, with the extended low interest rate environment, downward pressure on the net interest margin is expected to continue to be a challenge for East West and the rest of the banking industry. However, East West continues to successfully maximize our asset yields by growing our loan portfolio and earning assets, minimizing our cost of funds, and while also ensuring prudent interest rate risk management.

The cost of funds decreased 4 basis points from 0.71% in the second quarter of 2012 to 0.67% in the third quarter of 2012. The reduction in the cost of funds and interest expense is primarily due to management's ongoing actions to reduce higher cost funding and time deposits, and grow core deposits. During the third quarter, the Company reduced the average cost of time deposits from 0.84% in the second quarter of 2012 to 0.78% in the third quarter of 2012. In addition, the Company increased core deposit balances by 3%, quarter over quarter. These combined actions resulted in an overall reduction in the cost of deposits of 4 basis points to 0.41% for the third quarter of 2012 from 0.45% in the prior quarter.

Management expects to maintain a relatively stable net interest margin and expects the adjusted net interest margin to be approximately 3.90% for the fourth quarter of 2012.

Noninterest Income/(Loss) & Expense

The Company reported total noninterest income for the third quarter of 2012 of $2.8 million, an increase from noninterest (loss) of ($11.7) million in the second quarter of 2012 and ($13.5) million in the third quarter of 2011. The increase in noninterest income from the prior quarter and prior year is primarily attributable to a decrease in the net reduction of the FDIC indemnification asset and FDIC receivable.

Branch fees, letter of credit and foreign exchange income, ancillary loan fees and other operating income increased and totaled $24.0 million in the third quarter of 2012, an increase from $22.2 million in the second quarter of 2012 and $21.2 million in the third quarter of 2011. In addition, included in noninterest income for the third quarter of 2012 were net gains on sales of loans of $5.3 million, and net gains on sales of investment securities of $93 thousand. A summary of fees and other operating income for the third quarter of 2012, compared to the second quarter of 2012 and third quarter of 2011 is detailed below:

Noninterest expense totaled $101.0 million for the third quarter of 2012, a decrease of $652 thousand from the second quarter of 2012 and $3.6 million from the third quarter of 2011.

Noninterest expense, excluding amounts to be reimbursed by the FDIC on covered assets and prepayment penalties for other borrowings, totaled $97.9 million for the third quarter of 2012.¹ A summary of noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2012, compared to the second quarter of 2012 and third quarter of 2011 is detailed below:

Total noninterest expense for the third quarter, excluding amounts to be reimbursed by the FDIC on covered assets and prepayment penalties for other borrowings, increased $1.3 million from the second quarter of 2012 to $97.9 million. The small increase in noninterest expense, excluding amounts to be reimbursed by the FDIC on covered assets and prepayment penalties for other borrowings, was primarily due to an increase in legal expense, offset by a decrease in compensation and employee benefits.

Credit cycle costs, which include other real estate owned expense, loan related expense, and legal expense totaled $14.9 million for the third quarter of 2012, as compared to $12.8 million for the second quarter of 2012 and $15.7 million for the third quarter of 2011. Of the total credit cycle costs incurred in the third quarter, $3.8 million is related to covered loans and other real estate owned for which we expect that 80% or $3.0 million is reimbursable by the FDIC.

Management anticipates that for the fourth quarter of 2012, noninterest expense will total approximately $100.0 million, net of amounts reimbursable from the FDIC.

The effective tax rate for the third quarter remained unchanged from the prior quarter at 32.4%. The effective tax rate is reduced from the statutory tax rate primarily due to the utilization of tax credits related to affordable housing investments. The expected effective tax rate for the remainder of 2012 is approximately 34%.

Credit Quality

Non-covered Loans

As a result of continued credit quality improvement, nonperforming assets as of September 30, 2012, were down to $144.1 million, a decrease of 7% from the previous quarter and 15% from the prior year quarter. The provision for loan losses for non-covered loans declined to $13.3 million for the third quarter of 2012, a decrease of $3.3 million or 20% from the prior quarter, and a decrease of $9.0 million or 40% as compared to the third quarter of 2011. Additionally, nonaccrual loans, excluding covered loans, decreased to $104.1 million or 0.72% of total loans as of September 30, 2012.

Total net charge-offs on the non-covered loans decreased to $10.6 million for the third quarter of 2012, down from $11.7 million in the second quarter of 2012. East West continues to maintain an allowance for non-covered loan losses at $223.6 million or 2.00% of non-covered loans receivable at September 30, 2012. This compares to an allowance for non-covered loan losses of $219.5 million or 2.03% of non-covered loans at June 30, 2012 and $211.7 million or 2.16% of non-covered loans at September 30, 2011. The total nonperforming assets, excluding covered assets, to total assets ratio was under 1.00% for the twelfth consecutive quarter with nonperforming assets of $144.1 million or 0.66% of total assets at September 30, 2012.

Covered Loans

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company recorded provision for loan losses on covered loans of $5.2 million, resulting from charge-offs of $6.5 million on three covered loans outside of the scope of ASC 310-30. As these loans are covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC, the Company recorded income of $5.2 million or 80% of the charge-off amount of $6.5 million in noninterest income as a net increase in the FDIC receivable, resulting in a net impact to earnings for the third quarter of ($1.3) million.

Our capital ratios remain very strong. As of September 30, 2012, our Tier 1 leverage capital ratio totaled 9.7%, our Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio totaled 15.3% and our total risk-based capital ratio totaled 16.6%.

The Company is focused on active capital management and is committed to maintaining strong capital levels that exceed regulatory requirements while also supporting balance sheet growth and providing a strong return to our shareholders. During the third quarter of 2012, the Company repurchased 2.3 million shares of common stock at an average price of $21.86 per share, or $50.0 million in total cost. Under the repurchase program authorized by East West's Board of Directors earlier in the year, management had the authority to repurchase up to a total of $200.0 million of the Company's common stock. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had completed the authorized repurchase program, purchasing a total of 9.1 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $199.9 million during the year.

Dividend Payout

East West's Board of Directors has declared fourth quarter dividends on the common stock and Series A Preferred Stock. The common stock cash dividend of $0.10 is payable on or about November 23, 2012 to shareholders of record on November 9, 2012. The dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock of $20.00 per share is payable on November 1, 2012 to shareholders of record on October 15, 2012.

Conference Call

East West will host a conference call to discuss third quarter 2012 earnings with the public on Thursday, October 18, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. PDT/11:30 a.m. EDT. The public and investment community are invited to listen as management discusses third quarter results and operating developments. The following dial-in information is provided for participation in the conference call: Calls within the US - (877) 317-6789; Calls within Canada - (866) 605-3852; International calls - (412) 317-6789. A listen-only live broadcast of the call also will be available on the investor relations page of the Company's website at www.eastwestbank.com.

About East West

East West Bancorp is a publicly owned company with $21.8 billion in assets and is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "EWBC". The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, East West Bank, is one of the largest independent banks headquartered in California. East West is a premier bank focused exclusively on the United States and Greater China markets and operates over 120 locations worldwide, including in the United States markets of California, New York, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas and Washington. In Greater China, East West's presence includes a full service branch in Hong Kong and representative offices in Beijing, Shenzhen and Taipei. Through a wholly-owned subsidiary bank, East West's presence in Greater China also includes full service branches in Shanghai and Shantou and a representative office in Guangzhou. For more information on East West Bancorp, visit the Company's website at www.eastwestbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters set forth herein (including any exhibits hereto) constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including forward-looking statements relating to the Company's current business plans and expectations regarding future operating results. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, local, regional, national and international economic, political or industry conditions and events and the impact they may have on us and our customers; our ability to attract deposits and other sources of liquidity; continued deterioration in values of real estate in California and other states where our bank makes loans, both residential and commercial; our ability to manage the loan portfolios acquired from FDIC-assisted acquisitions within the limits of the loss protection provided by the FDIC; changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers; changes in the level of nonperforming assets, reserve requirements, and charge-offs; the effect of changes in laws, regulations, and accounting standards, and related costs of these changes;inflation, interest rate, securities market and monetary fluctuations; changes in the competitive environment among financial and bank holding companies and other financial service providers; changes in our organization, management; the adequacy of our enterprise risk management framework; the ability to manage our growth and the effect of acquisitions we may make and the integration of acquired businesses and branching efforts; our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items and other factors set forth in the Company's public reports including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and particularly the discussion of risk factors within that document.

¹ See reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure to the non-GAAP financial measure in the tables attached.