Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Tai Pin
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/16/2013
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [CATY]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP, 9650 FLAIR DRIVE
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP, Deputy CLO, Cathay Bank
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

EL MONTE, CA 91731
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 1,664
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option 11/20/2004(1) 11/20/2013 Common Stock 16,180 $ 24.8 D  
Stock Option 02/19/2005(1) 02/19/2014 Common Stock 8,000 $ 28.695 D  
Stock Option 02/17/2006(1) 02/17/2015 Common Stock 14,710 $ 37 D  
Stock Option 01/19/2007(1) 01/19/2016 Common Stock 13,750 $ 36.9 D  
Stock Option 02/21/2009(1) 02/21/2018 Common Stock 25,000 $ 23.37 D  
Restricted Stock Units   (2)   (2) Common Stock 4,938 $ (3) D  
Restricted Stock Units   (4)   (4) Common Stock 3,084 $ (3) D  
Restricted Stock Units   (5)   (5) Common Stock 3,981 $ (3) D  
Restricted Stock Units   (6)   (6) Common Stock 3,973 $ (3) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Tai Pin
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
9650 FLAIR DRIVE
EL MONTE, CA 91731
      EVP, Deputy CLO, Cathay Bank  

Signatures

Monica Chen, attorney-in-fact 05/21/2013
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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).
(1) The option is fully exercisable.
(2) 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.
(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 May 8, 2014, 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 March 14, 2015, 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 April 15, 2015, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.

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