U.S. Regional Bank CEO Sells Shares Worth 50 Billion Won

Dominic Ng, CEO of Nasdaq‐listed East West Bancorp, Inc. (EWBC), sold 30,000 shares of the company’s common stock on May 5 in an open‐market transaction, generating roughly $3.7 million (approximately 5 billion KRW) in proceeds. The shares traded at an average price of $123.49 each. After the sale, Ng directly holds 737,930 shares and indirectly holds 7,776 shares through his 401(k) retirement account. The transaction was coded as an open‐market sale (code S), with no indication it was executed under an automatic trading plan.

East West Bancorp recently reported solid first‐quarter 2026 results, with net income and revenue surpassing market expectations. Citing the bank’s strong capital position and profitability, UBS upgraded its rating on EWBC to “Buy.” The stock has traded near its 52-week high and posted double-digit gains over the past year, outperforming many regional peers.

Headquartered in Pasadena, California, East West Bancorp is a bank holding company that, through its subsidiary East West Bank, offers corporate and retail banking services as well as cross-border transaction financing between the U.S. and Asia. Founded in 1973 to serve Asian American communities, it has grown into a mid-sized commercial bank with approximately $80 billion in assets, making it the largest Southern California–based bank.