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      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
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          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
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      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



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    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000861842</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-31830</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>777 N BROADWAY</com:street1>
        <com:city>LOS ANGELES</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>90012</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>2136254700</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>BINGHAM KIM R</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Charles Schwab Corporation</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3000 Schwab Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Westlake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>76262</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>6000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>224760.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>72563187</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>11/03/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/22/2014</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSA</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1786</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/22/2014</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Equity Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/14/2016</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSA</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1149</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/14/2016</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Equity Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/17/2017</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSA</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>707</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/17/2017</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Equity Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>04/01/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSA</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2358</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>04/01/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Equity Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>11/03/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>Kim Bingham</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
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144
0001301191
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000861842
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
001-31830
777 N BROADWAY
LOS ANGELES
CA
90012
2136254700
BINGHAM KIM R
Director
Common
Charles Schwab Corporation
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
6000
224760.00
72563187
11/03/2023
NASDAQ
Common
12/22/2014
RSA
Issuer
N
1786
12/22/2014
Equity Compensation
Common
03/14/2016
RSA
Issuer
N
1149
03/14/2016
Equity Compensation
Common
02/17/2017
RSA
Issuer
N
707
02/17/2017
Equity Compensation
Common
04/01/2022
RSA
Issuer
N
2358
04/01/2022
Equity Compensation
Y
11/03/2023
Kim Bingham