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<!-- 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 -->

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<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: center">UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>

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

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

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<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"><B>FORM 8-K</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>CURRENT REPORT</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>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; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
January 23, 2012</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: 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>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 36%; text-align: center; text-autospace: none">Delaware</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; text-align: center; text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; text-align: center; text-autospace: none">0-18630</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; text-align: center; text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 27%; text-align: center; text-autospace: none">95&#45;4274680</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; text-autospace: none">(State or other jurisdiction of<BR> incorporation)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; text-autospace: none">(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; text-autospace: none">(IRS Employer<BR> 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; text-align: center">777 North Broadway, Los&nbsp;Angeles, California&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
90012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center; text-indent: 22pt">&#9;(Address of principal executive offices)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#9;(Zip Code)</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">Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number, including
area code: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(213)&nbsp;625-4700</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">Not Applicable</P>

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

<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-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>

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

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

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 7%; font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 93%">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</TD>
    <TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;Item&nbsp;2.02&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Results of Operations and Financial
Condition. </B></P>

<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-indent: 0.5in">On January 23, 2012, Cathay General Bancorp
announced, in a press release, its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2011. That press release is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1.</P>

<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-indent: 0.25in">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 it 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: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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

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

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: normal 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-variant: normal; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 17pt; text-align: right">(d)&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding-left: 11pt"><U>Exhibits</U></TD></TR></TABLE>

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<TD STYLE="width: 17pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 33pt">99.1&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated January 23, 2012.&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>




<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

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<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"><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-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; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none">Date:&nbsp; January 23, 2012</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none; font-size: 12pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-autospace: none; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 44%; text-autospace: none; padding-bottom: 3pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 5%; text-autospace: none; padding-bottom: 2pt">By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 51%; text-autospace: none; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; padding-bottom: 2pt">/s/ Heng W. Chen</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none">Heng W. Chen</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

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

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

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

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    <TD STYLE="width: 12%; text-autospace: none; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Number</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; text-autospace: none; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 85%; text-autospace: none; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Exhibit</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none; font-size: 12pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">99.1</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-autospace: none"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated January 23, 2012.</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v300085_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15637}]
{"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": "12540091"}, "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 23, 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 2.02      Results of Operations and Financial
Condition.
On January 23, 2012, Cathay General Bancorp
announced, in a press release, its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2011. 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 it 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 23, 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 23, 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 23, 2012.