Corporate Participants
- Dominic Ng – Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
- Irene Oh – Chief Financial Officer
- Julianna Balicka – Director, Investor Relations
Prepared Remarks
Julianna Balicka: Good afternoon, and welcome to East West Bancorp fourth quarter 2025 earnings call. Joining me are Dominic Ng, Chairman and CEO, and Irene Oh, CFO.
Dominic Ng: East West delivered strong results with EPS of $2.12 on revenue of $680 million. Our unique positioning in US-Asia banking continues to drive differentiated performance.
Cross-border banking activity remained robust with strong trade finance and foreign exchange volumes. Our relationships with Chinese companies expanding in the US and American companies growing in Asia continue to deepen.
Commercial real estate portfolio performed well with low delinquencies. We maintain conservative underwriting with average LTV of 55% and strong debt service coverage across the portfolio.
Irene Oh: Net interest income was $560 million with NIM of 3.45%. Fee income grew 8% driven by letters of credit and FX. Credit costs remained low at 15 basis points. Capital ratios are strong with CET1 of 13.5%.
Q&A Session
Analyst: How do you see US-China trade dynamics impacting your business?
Dominic Ng: Despite geopolitical tensions, trade flows between US and Asia remain substantial. Our clients need banking services regardless of the political environment. Our expertise and relationships position us to serve their evolving needs.
Analyst: What is your outlook for loan growth in 2026?
Dominic Ng: We expect mid-to-high single digit loan growth driven by C&I lending and selective CRE opportunities. Our focus remains on high-quality relationships with strong risk-adjusted returns.
Disclaimer: This transcript is provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is complete or error-free. Please refer to the company's official SEC filings for authoritative information.