Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4)

FORM 4 [ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5
	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * CHEN HENG W	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [ CATY ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director                      _____ 10% Owner __ X __ Officer (give title below)      _____ Other (specify below) EVP/CFO
(Last)          (First)          (Middle) 777 NORTH BROADWAY	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 10/31/2012
(Street) LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 (City)        (State)        (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	10/31/2012		A		345   (1)	A	$0	3618	D
Common Stock								29844	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option	$24.80							11/20/2007   (2)	11/20/2013	Common Stock	19896		19896	D
Stock Option	$37.00							2/17/2006   (2)	2/17/2015	Common Stock	40100		59996	D
Stock Option	$36.24							1/25/2007   (2)	1/25/2016	Common Stock	45000		104996	D
Stock Option	$23.37							2/21/2009   (3)	2/21/2018	Common Stock	44000		148996	D
Restricted Stock Units	(4)							(5)	(5)	Common Stock	4830		153826	D
Restricted Stock Units	(4)							(6)	(6)	Common Stock	6057		159883	D
Restricted Stock Units	(4)							(7)	(7)	Common Stock	4819		164702	D

Explanation of Responses:
( 1)	Shares of Cathay General Banorp (the "Company") 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 outstanding 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 "Restriction Period"), all of the shares received. This transfer restriction will terminate upon the earlier of the end of the Restriction Period or the date of the reporting person's death or permanent disability.
( 2)	The option is fully exercisable.
( 3)	The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/09.
( 4)	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 ("EESA"). Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of CATY Common Stock.
( 5)	These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on March 23, 2013, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.
( 6)	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.
( 7)	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.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
CHEN HENG W 777 NORTH BROADWAY LOS ANGELES, CA 90012			EVP/CFO

Signatures
Monica Chen, attorney-in-fact		11/2/2012
** Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note:	File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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