Question 1

What is East West Bank?

Accepted Answer

East West Bank is a United States-based commercial bank that operates a representative office in Singapore. The bank is a subsidiary of East West Bancorp, a publicly traded company listed on NASDAQ.

With over $70 billion in assets as of 2024, East West Bank is the largest independent bank headquartered in Southern California. The bank specializes in serving as a financial bridge between the United States and Asia, facilitating cross-border banking and trade between these regions.

The Singapore representative office plays a facilitation and liaison role for East West Bank's U.S. and international operations, supporting clients engaged in cross-border business activities.

Question 2

When was East West Bank founded?

Accepted Answer

East West Bank was founded in 1973 in Los Angeles as East West Federal Bank, operating initially as a federal savings and loan association. The bank was established to serve the Chinese American community in Southern California.

In 1995, the institution converted to a state-chartered commercial bank. Over the past five decades, East West Bank has expanded significantly beyond its original community focus to become a major financial institution serving diverse cross-border clients.

The bank has been listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange since 1999 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.

Question 3

Where is East West Bank headquartered?

Accepted Answer

East West Bank's corporate headquarters is located in Pasadena, California, at 135 N. Los Robles Avenue. The parent company, East West Bancorp, is the largest state-chartered bank in California.

The bank maintains regional head offices in major U.S. cities including San Francisco, Houston, and New York. Internationally, East West Bank has established a significant presence across Asia with full-service branches and representative offices.

Question 4

Where does East West Bank operate?

Accepted Answer

In Singapore, East West Bank operates as a representative office located at 23 Church Street, Level 7 (07-89), Capital Square, Singapore 049481. The office is registered with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under a Representative Office (Banking) license.

As a representative office rather than a full branch, the Singapore location serves primarily as a liaison and facilitation point connecting clients between the bank's U.S. operations and the Asian market. The chief representative is Ted Teo.

The Singapore office is part of East West Bank's broader Asian network, which includes full-service branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Shantou, as well as representative offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Chongqing, and Xiamen.

Question 5

What services does East West Bank offer?

Accepted Answer

As a representative office in Singapore, East West Bank provides liaison and facilitation services rather than traditional retail banking services. The office supports cross-border banking needs for clients doing business between the United States and Asia.

Globally, East West Bank offers comprehensive commercial banking services including deposit-taking, lending, cash management, wealth management, and specialized financial solutions. The bank serves multiple sectors including technology, biotech, media and entertainment, clean energy, private equity, venture capital, and real estate.

East West Bank provides multilingual customer support in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish through its various offices. The bank also offers digital banking platforms and online services for its customers in markets where it holds full banking licenses.

Question 6

What makes East West Bank unique?

Accepted Answer

East West Bank's distinctive positioning as a "financial bridge" between the United States and Asia sets it apart from other institutions. The bank has deep expertise in facilitating bilateral trade and cross-border investments between these two major economic regions.

The bank has earned recognition as the number one performing bank in the $50 billion and above asset category by Bank Director for three consecutive years (2023, 2024, and 2025). In 2022, S&P Global Market Intelligence ranked East West as the top performing U.S. public bank with over $10 billion in assets.

East West Bank's cross-border infrastructure, understanding of U.S.-Asia markets, and extensive network across both continents enable it to provide specialized services that few other financial institutions can match. The bank has over 51 years of experience serving clients with international business needs.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is East West Bank?

Accepted Answer

In Singapore, East West Bank operates as a Representative Office under banking regulations administered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). A representative office is a limited form of banking presence that does not conduct direct banking activities such as deposit-taking or lending in the local market.

Representative offices in Singapore serve primarily as liaison points, providing market information, facilitating communication between the bank's other offices and local clients, and supporting cross-border business development. They cannot engage in commercial banking activities within Singapore itself.

In its home market of the United States, East West Bank is a state-chartered commercial bank offering full universal banking services including retail, commercial, and investment banking activities.

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About East West Bank in Singapore