<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001262063-13-000156.txt : 20130528
<SEC-HEADER>0001262063-13-000156.hdr.sgml : 20130527
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130528204439
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001262063-13-000156
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130524
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130528
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130528

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000861842
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				954274680
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 N BROADWAY
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90012
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2136254700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 NORTH BROADWAY
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90012

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CATHAY BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHEN  HENG W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207193

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18630
		FILM NUMBER:		13876572

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CATHAY BANCORP, INC.
		STREET 2:		777 NORTH BROADWAY
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90012
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-05-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000861842</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CATY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207193</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHEN  HENG W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>777 NORTH BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP/CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeHolding>
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            </securityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
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            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of Cathay General Banorp (the &quot;Company&quot;) common stock acquired under the Company's 2005 Incentive Plan.  As a condition to receiving these shares, the reporting person agreed to hold and not transfer, for the entire period during which the Company has any obligations outstandig under the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program (disregarding any warrants to purchase common stock of the Company that the U.S. Treasury may hold) (the &quot;Restriction Period&quot;), all of the shares received.  These transfer restrictions will terminate upon the earlier of the end of the Restriction Period or the date of the reporting person's death or permanent disability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option is fully exercisable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Consists of long term restricted stock units within the meaning of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (&quot;EESA&quot;).  Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of CATY Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on December 15, 2013, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on May 8, 2014, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on December 20, 2014, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Monica Chen, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-05-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
