- Amended Statement of Ownership (SC 13G/A)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G/A

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
EXIT FILING

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
(NAME OF ISSUER)

COMMON STOCK
(TITLE CLASS OF SECURITIES)

149150104
(CUSIP NUMBER)

12/31/2009
(DATE OF EVENT WHICH REQUIRES FILING OF THIS STATEMENT)

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX TO DESIGNATE THE RULE PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS
SCHEDULE IS FILED:

(X) RULE 13D-1(B)

() RULE 13D-1(C)

() RULE 13D-1(D)

*THE REMAINDER OF THIS COVER PAGE SHALL BE FILLED OUT FOR A REPORTING PERSON'S INITIAL FILING ON THIS FORM WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT CLASS OF SECURITIES, AND FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT CONTAINING INFORMATION WHICH WOULD ALTER THE DISCLOSURES PROVIDED IN A PRIOR COVER PAGE.

THE INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REMAINDER OF THIS COVER PAGE SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE "FILED" FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECTION 18 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 ("ACT") OR OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO THE LIABILITIES OF THAT SECTION OF THE ACT BUT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE ACT (HOWEVER, SEE THE NOTES).

CUSIP NO. 149150104 13G PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON SS OR IRS IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, ACTING IN VARIOUS FIDUCIARY CAPACITIES. 04-1867445 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP. * NOT APPLICABLE A __ B __ 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 5. SOLE VOTING POWER 2,828,403 SHARES 6. SHARED VOTING POWER 0 SHARES 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 SHARES 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,828,403 SHARES 9. AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,828,403 SHARES 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* NOT APPLICABLE 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 4.6% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* BK SCHEDULE 13G PAGE 3 OF 5 PAGES ITEM 1. (A) NAME OF ISSUER CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP (B) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES 777 N BROADWAY LOS ANGELES CA 90012 ITEM 2. (A) NAME OF PERSON FILING STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE (B) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE STATE STREET FINANCIAL CENTER ONE LINCOLN STREET BOSTON, MA 02111 (C) CITIZENSHIP BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (D) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES COMMON STOCK (E) CUSIP NUMBER 149150104 ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(B), OR 13D-2(B), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: (B) _X_ BANK AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(A)(6) OF THE ACT PAGE 4 OF 5 PAGES ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP (A) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED 2,828,403 SHARES (B) PERCENT OF CLASS 4.6% (C) NUMBER OF SHARES AS TO WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS: (I) SOLE POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE 2,828,403 SHARES (II) SHARED POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE 0 SHARES (III) SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF 0 SHARES (IV) SHARED POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF 2,828,403 SHARES ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS NOT APPLICABLE ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON. NOT APPLICABLE ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY NOT APPLICABLE ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP NOT APPLICABLE ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP NOT APPLICABLE 13G PAGE 5 OF 5 PAGES ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION SHALL BE INCLUDED IF THE STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(B): BY SIGNING BELOW I CERTIFY THAT, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE WERE ACQUIRED IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS AND WERE NOT ACQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF AND DO NOT HAVE THE EFFECT OF CHANGING OR INFLUENCING THE CONTROL OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES AND WERE NOT ACQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH OR AS A PARTICIPANT IN ANY TRANSACTION HAVING SUCH PURPOSES OR EFFECT. THIS REPORT IS NOT AN ADMISSION THAT STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY IS THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF ANY SECURITIES COVERED BY THIS REPORT, AND STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF ALL SHARES REPORTED HEREIN PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-4. SIGNATURE AFTER REASONABLE INQUIRY AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND CORRECT. 12 FEBRUARY 2010 STATE STREET CORPORATION STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE /s/ CUAN COULTER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT