Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN 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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
WONG IRWIN
 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 - Branch Administration
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

777 NORTH BROADWAY		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2011
(Street)


LOS ANGELES, CA 90012		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(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 Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 03/10/2011   J(1) 3.096 A $ 16.9312 10,496.46 D  
Common Stock 06/10/2011   J(1) 3.553 A $ 14.7576 10,496.46 D  
Common Stock 09/12/2011   J(1) 4.555 A $ 11.5171 10,496.46 D  
Common Stock 12/15/2011   J(1) 4.127 A $ 12.7274 10,496.46 D  
Common Stock 12/31/2011   J(2) 47.3247 A $ 13.68 16,725.73 I By ESOP

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction 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
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option $ 16.275           02/21/2005(3) 02/21/2012 Common Stock
11,088
  11,088
D
 
Stock Option $ 19.925           01/16/2005(3) 01/16/2013 Common Stock
30,064
  41,152
D
 
Stock Option $ 24.8           11/20/2004(3) 11/20/2013 Common Stock
143,040
  184,192
D
 
Stock Option $ 37           02/17/2006(3) 02/17/2015 Common Stock
32,580
  216,772
D
 
Stock Option $ 36.24           01/25/2007(3) 01/25/2016 Common Stock
31,000
  247,772
D
 
Stock Option $ 23.37           02/21/2009(4) 02/21/2018 Common Stock
20,000
  267,772
D
 
Restricted Stock Units               (6)   (6) Common Stock
3,840
  271,612
D
 
Restricted Stock Units               (7)   (7) Common Stock
4,774
  276,386
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
WONG IRWIN
777 NORTH BROADWAY
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012		       EVP - Branch Administration  

Signatures

Irwin Wong 02/14/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* 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).
(1) Dividend Reinvestment.
(2) ESOP Earning Allocation.
(3) The option is fully exercisable.
(4) The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/09.
(5) 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.
(6) 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.
(7) 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.

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