- 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 * CHENG DUNSON K	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [ CATY ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __ X __ Director                      _____ 10% Owner __ X __ Officer (give title below)      _____ Other (specify below) Chairman, President, & CEO
(Last)          (First)          (Middle) 777 NORTH BROADWAY	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 12/20/2012
(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								19540	D
Common Stock								62660	D
Common Stock								102224	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								445577	I	Husband & Wife Trust
Common Stock								182452	I	Nonmarital Shares Trust

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	$19.925							1/16/2004   (1)	1/16/2013	Common Stock	153060		153060	D
Stock Option	$24.80							11/20/2004   (1)	11/20/2013	Common Stock	246940		400000	D
Stock Option	$37.00							2/17/2006   (1)	2/17/2015	Common Stock	154940		554940	D
Stock Option	$32.47							3/22/2005   (1)	3/22/2015	Common Stock	245060		800000	D
Stock Option	$33.54							11/20/2005   (1)	5/12/2015	Common Stock	264694		1064694	D
Stock Option	$36.24							1/25/2007   (1)	1/25/2016	Common Stock	154940		1219634	D
Stock Option	$23.37							2/21/2009   (2)	2/21/2018	Common Stock	154970		1374604	D
Stock Option	$23.37							2/21/2009   (1)	2/21/2018	Common Stock	100000		1474604	D
Restricted Stock Units	(3)							(4)	(4)	Common Stock	12384		1486988	D
Restricted Stock Units	(3)							(5)	(5)	Common Stock	21913		1508901	D
Restricted Stock Units	(3)							(6)	(6)	Common Stock	11862		1520763	D
Restricted Stock Units	(3)	12/20/2012		A		30481		(7)	(7)	Common Stock	30481	$0	1551244	D

Explanation of Responses:
( 1)	The option is fully exercisable.
( 2)	The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/09.
( 3)	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.
( 4)	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.
( 5)	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.
( 6)	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.
( 7)	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.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
CHENG DUNSON K 777 NORTH BROADWAY LOS ANGELES, CA 90012	X		Chairman, President, & CEO

Signatures
Monica Chen, attorney-in-fact		12/21/2012
** 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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