SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

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

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

TANG ANTHONY M

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

777 NORTH BROADWAY

(Street)

LOS ANGELES

90012

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

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)
	EVP

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/19/2004

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

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. 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 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)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	02/19/2004		M		10,820	A	$16.5	186,112	D
Common Stock	02/19/2004		S		10,820	D	$57	175,292	D
Common Stock								40,348⁽¹⁾	D
Common Stock								120,431.03⁽²⁾	I	By spouse
Common Stock								44,139	I	As custodian for children

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 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: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
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)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Stock Option	$16.5	02/19/2004		M			10,820	09/17/1999	09/17/2008	Common Stock	0	$0	0	D
Stock Option	$21.25							01/20/2001⁽³⁾	01/20/2010	Common Stock	11,500		11,500	D
Stock Option	$30.095							01/18/2002⁽⁴⁾	01/18/2011	Common Stock	13,180		24,680	D
Stock Option	$32.55							02/21/2003⁽⁵⁾	02/21/2012	Common Stock	13,000		37,680	D
Stock Option	$39.85							01/16/2004⁽⁶⁾	01/16/2013	Common Stock	23,750		61,430	D
Stock Option	$49.6							11/20/2004⁽⁷⁾	11/20/2013	Common Stock	52,570		114,000	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Vested interest in ESOP as of 12/31/03.

2. Includes 319.06 shares acquired on 1/21/04 through dividend reinvestment.

3. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/20/01.

4. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/18/02.

5. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/03.

6. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/16/04.

7. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 11/20/04.

Remarks:

	Anthony M. Tang	02/23/2004
	** 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.
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 Number.