Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$ 114,646	$ 117,888
Short-term investments and interest bearing deposits	426,456	294,956
Securities held-to-maturity (market value of $908,067 in 2012 and $1,203,977 in 2011)	849,376	1,153,504
Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $1,290,212 in 2012 and $1,309,521 in 2011)	1,293,571	1,294,478
Trading securities	4,619	4,542
Loans held for sale		760
Loans	7,259,930	7,059,212
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(184,438)	(206,280)
Unamortized deferred loan fees, net	(9,036)	(8,449)
Loans, net	7,066,456	6,844,483
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	45,493	52,989
Other real estate owned, net	60,642	92,713
Affordable housing investments, net	87,076	78,358
Premises and equipment, net	103,456	105,961
Customers’ liability on acceptances	30,553	37,300
Accrued interest receivable	29,542	32,226
Goodwill	316,340	316,340
Other intangible assets, net	7,638	11,598
Other assets	168,660	206,768
Total assets	10,604,524	10,644,864
Deposits
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,245,312	1,074,718
Interest-bearing deposits:
NOW deposits	569,708	451,541
Money market deposits	1,083,917	951,516
Savings deposits	460,182	420,030
Time deposits under $100,000	668,051	832,997
Time deposits of $100,000 or more	3,325,871	3,498,329
Total deposits	7,353,041	7,229,131
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	1,350,000	1,400,000
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank	21,200	225,000
Other borrowings from financial institutions		880
Other borrowings for affordable housing investments	18,746	18,920
Long-term debt	171,136	171,136
Acceptances outstanding	30,553	37,300
Other liabilities	53,912	46,864
Total liabilities	8,998,588	9,129,231
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 258,000 issued and outstanding in 2012 and 2011	253,678	250,992
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 82,951,885 issued and 78,744,320 outstanding at September 30, 2012, and 82,860,122 issued and 78,652,557 outstanding at December 31, 2011	830	829
Additional paid-in-capital	768,169	765,641
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net	1,947	(8,732)
Retained earnings	698,601	624,192
Treasury stock, at cost (4,207,565 shares at September 30, 2012, and at December 31, 2011)	(125,736)	(125,736)
Total Cathay General Bancorp stockholders' equity	1,597,489	1,507,186
Noncontrolling interest	8,447	8,447
Total equity	1,605,936	1,515,633
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,604,524	$ 10,644,864