<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001437749-18-003872.txt : 20180305
<SEC-HEADER>0001437749-18-003872.hdr.sgml : 20180305
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180305121521
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001437749-18-003872
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180305
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180305

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHENG DUNSON K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185628

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31830
		FILM NUMBER:		18665004

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rdgdoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>DUNSON CHENG
<TEXT>
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    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-03-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185628</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHENG DUNSON K</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Executive Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-01</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>27868</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>124992</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </securityTitle>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Husband &amp; Wife Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Nonmarital Share Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ESOP</value>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
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    <derivativeTable>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6038</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6038</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <value>23465</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>23465</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of the Issuer's Common Stock received by the Reporting Person from the vesting of performance-based restricted stock units granted on December 18, 2014.  Such restricted stock units were previously reported in Table II on a Form 4 filed by the Reporting Person with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares withheld by Registrant to satisfy minimum statutory withholding requirements on vesting of restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each restricted stock unit represented a contingent right to receive one share of Common Stock upon vesting, subject to adjustment in accordance with the award agreement and the Cathay General Bancorp 2005 Incentive Plan, as amended and restated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in 3 annual equal installments beginning March 1, 2019, or earlier in the event of death, disability, retirement, or change in control.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Of the previously reported target award of 23,465 shares of restricted stock unit, 110.641% of the target award was earned based upon the achievement of certain performance criteria.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Performance-based restricted stock units vested on December 31, 2017.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Georgia Lo, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-03-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
