East West Bancorp Roars into Q1 2026 with Record-Setting Deposits, Loans, and Fee Income
East West Bancorp, a leading regional bank, has kicked off 2026 on a high note, delivering record-breaking performance in deposits, loans, and fee income for the first quarter. According to the company's Q1 2026 earnings call transcript, East West had another strong quarter, driven by its commitment to providing solutions to retail and small business customers.
"We're pleased to report that East West had another record quarter for loans, deposits, and fee income," said Dominic Ng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our consumer and commercial depositors continue to place their trust in us, helping grow total deposits by 9% year-over-year."
One of the notable highlights from Q1 was the growth in non-interest-bearing deposits, which increased by nearly $800 million quarter-over-quarter. This was driven by East West's focus on providing solutions to retail and small business customers, demonstrating its ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
The company also delivered 7% year-over-year loan growth, with C&I loans increasing by more than $900 million quarter-over-quarter. This was largely due to a higher line utilization, particularly among capital call borrowers, which contributed to the strong momentum in this segment.
Additionally, East West achieved a record quarter of fee income, growing 12% year-over-year. The company saw strong momentum in wealth management during Q1, with its continued engagement with clients driving growth and diversification of fee revenues over time.
Credit performance remained stable, with net charge-offs and non-performing assets low in absolute terms, reflecting East West's disciplined approach to risk management. The company's capital position also remains a key advantage, with a tangible capital ratio of 10.3%.
"Our priority continues to be on supporting our long-standing real estate relationship clients," said Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles, Chief Financial Officer. "Given the level of net growth we saw in Q1 and the pipelines we see going into Q2, we are comfortable reiterating our guidance for full-year loan growth to be in the range of 5-7%."
East West Bancorp's impressive Q1 performance has set a strong tone for the remainder of 2026. With its commitment to delivering value to customers and shareholders alike, the company is well-positioned to continue driving growth and success.
