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

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * WONG IRWIN   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [CATY] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP - Branch Administration (Last) (First) (Middle) 777 NORTH BROADWAY 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/18/2013 (Street) LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 4. If Amendment, Date 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 (City) (State) (Zip) 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) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/18/2013   A   161 (1) A $ 0 3,666 D   Common Stock               10,509.66 (2) D   Common Stock               16,726 I By ESOP

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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 Underlying Securities (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 of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock Option

$ 24.8

11/20/2004(3)

11/20/2013

Common Stock

143,040

143,040

D

Stock Option

$ 37

02/17/2006(3)

02/17/2015

Common Stock

32,580

175,620

D

Stock Option

$ 36.24

01/25/2007(3)

01/25/2016

Common Stock

31,000

206,620

D

Stock Option

$ 23.37

02/21/2009(4)

02/21/2018

Common Stock

20,000

226,620

D

Restricted Stock Units

(5)

(6)

(6)

Common Stock

3,840

230,460

D

Restricted Stock Units

(5)

(7)

(7)

Common Stock

4,774

235,234

D

Restricted Stock Units

(5)

(8)

(8)

Common Stock

3,810

239,044

D

Restricted Stock Units

(5)

(9)

(9)

Common Stock

6,001

245,045

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
WONG IRWIN 777 NORTH BROADWAY LOS ANGELES, CA 90012			EVP - Branch Administration

Signatures

Monica Chen, attorney-in-fact		01/23/2013
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	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).
(1)	Shares of Cathay General Banorp (the "Company") common stock acquired under the Company's 2005 Incentive Plan. As a condition to receiving these shares, the reporting person agreed to hold and not transfer, for the entire period during which the Company has any obligations outstandig under the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program (disregarding any warrants to purchase common stock of the Company that the U.S. Treasury may hold) (the "Restriction Period"), all of the shares received. These transfer restrictions will terminate upon the earlier of the end of the Restriction Period or the date of the reporting person's death or permanent disability.
(2)	Includes 13.205 shares acquired through dividend reinvestment year-to-date.
(3)	The option is fully exercisable.
(4)	The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/09.
(5)	Consists of long term restricted stock units within the meaning of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder ("EESA"). Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of CATY Common Stock.
(6)	These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on March 23, 2013, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.
(7)	These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on December 15, 2013, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.
(8)	These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on May 8, 2014, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.
(9)	These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on December 20, 2014, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.

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