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

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 20, 2006

                             CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                    0-18630                95-4274680
  (State or other jurisdiction        (Commission             (IRS Employer
        of incorporation)             File Number)         Identification No.)

     777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California                90012
       (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (213) 625-4700

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
     Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(d) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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ITEM 2.02   RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

       On July 20, 2006, Cathay General Bancorp announced, in a press release,
its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. That press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

       The foregoing information and the attached exhibit are intended to be
furnished only and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933.

ITEM 9.01   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)   Exhibits

      99.1  Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated July 20, 2006.



                                    SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: July 20, 2006
                                                CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

                                                By: /s/ Heng W. Chen
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Heng W. Chen
                                                    Executive Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Number    Exhibit
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99.1      Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated July 20, 2006.