<HTML>
<HEAD>
     <TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">




<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"></P>

<!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV ALIGN="LEFT" STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 3pt"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 2pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; width: 100%">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center">Washington, D.C. 20549</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.0in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><B>CURRENT REPORT</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><B>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center">Date of Report (Date of earliest event
reported): January 30, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase"><B>CATHAY
GENERAL BANCORP<BR>
</B></FONT>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Delaware</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">0-18630</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">95&#45;4274680</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 49%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 10pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">777 North Broadway, Los&nbsp;Angeles, California</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 49%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 10pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">90012</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 10pt">(Address of principal executive offices)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 10pt">(Zip Code)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: justify">Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number,
including area code: &#9;(213)&nbsp;625-4700</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Not Applicable</P>

<!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV ALIGN="CENTER" STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 1pt solid; width: 100%">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;(Former name or former address,
if changed since last report)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in">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:</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">[ &nbsp;]</TD>
<TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">[ &nbsp;]</TD>
<TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">[ &nbsp;]</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">[ &nbsp;]</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD></TR></TABLE>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 1 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01</B>&#9;<B>Other Events. </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 4.5pt 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">On January 30, 2012, Cathay General
Bancorp announced, in a press release, the death of Mr. Thomas G. Tartaglia. Mr. Tartaglia had served as a director on the Cathay
General Bancorp&rsquo;s Board of Directors since 1990 and on Cathay Bank&rsquo;s Board of Directors since 1986. He was also a
member of the Cathay General Bancorp board&rsquo;s Audit and Risk Management Committee. That press release is attached hereto
as Exhibit 99.1.</P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The foregoing information and the attached exhibit
are intended to be furnished only and shall not be deemed &quot;filed&quot; for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference into any
filing under the Securities Act of 1933.</P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 4.5pt 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt"><B>Item 9.01&#9;Financial Statements and Exhibits.</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-left: 0.5in; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">(d)</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><U>Exhibits</U></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 7%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 9%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 84%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated January 30, 2012.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 2 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>SIGNATURE</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">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.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Date: January 30, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2"><B>CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP</B></TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%">By:&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 46%">/s/ Heng W. Chen</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-top: #000000 1px solid"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Heng W. Chen</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</P>
</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt">&nbsp;</P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 3 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 18%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: underline">Number</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 80%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: underline">Exhibit</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric">Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated January 30, 2012.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 4 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"></P>



<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v300796_8k.htm", "description": "CURRENT REPORT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 16637}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP", "cik": "0000861842", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "954274680", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-18630", "film-number": "12556847"}, "business-address": {"street1": "777 N BROADWAY", "city": "LOS ANGELES", "state": "CA", "zip": "90012", "phone": "2136254700"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "777 NORTH BROADWAY", "city": "LOS ANGELES", "state": "CA", "zip": "90012"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "CATHAY BANCORP INC", "date-changed": "19930328"}}
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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): January 30, 2012
CATHAY
GENERAL BANCORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
0-18630
95-4274680
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer 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(b) 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))
Item 8.01
Other Events.
On January 30, 2012, Cathay General
Bancorp announced, in a press release, the death of Mr. Thomas G. Tartaglia. Mr. Tartaglia had served as a director on the Cathay
General Bancorp's Board of Directors since 1990 and on Cathay Bank's Board of Directors since 1986. He was also a
member of the Cathay General Bancorp board's Audit and Risk Management Committee. 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 they 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 January 30, 2012.
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: January 30, 2012
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
By:
/s/ Heng W. Chen
Heng W. Chen
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Number
Exhibit
99.1
Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated January 30, 2012.