SEC FORM 5

SEC Form 5

FORM 5

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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

Form 3 Holdings Reported.

Form 4 Transactions Reported.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

WONG IRWIN

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

777 NORTH BROADWAY

(Street)

LOS ANGELES

90012

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

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

3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2003

4. If Amendment, Date of 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

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 at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
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)	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	01/22/2003		J⁽¹⁾	6.38	A	$39.51	2,207.84	D
Common Stock	04/22/2003		J⁽¹⁾	6.31	A	$40.11	2,214.15	D
Common Stock	07/22/2003		J⁽¹⁾	7.1	A	$45.958	2,221.25	D
Common Stock	09/29/2003		J⁽¹⁾	6.98	A	$46.909	2,228.23	D
Common Stock	12/31/2003		J⁽²⁾	334	A	$0	10,070⁽³⁾	D

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 Securities Underlying Derivative Security (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: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
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)	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Stock Option	$16.5						09/17/2002⁽⁴⁾	09/17/2008	Common Stock	3,120		3,120	D
Stock Option	$21.25						01/20/2003⁽⁵⁾	01/20/2010	Common Stock	5,364		8,484	D
Stock Option	$30.095						01/18/2002⁽⁶⁾	01/18/2011	Common Stock	8,060		16,544	D
Stock Option	$32.55						02/21/2003⁽⁷⁾	02/21/2012	Common Stock	9,240		25,784	D
Stock Option	$39.85						01/16/2004⁽⁸⁾	01/16/2013	Common Stock	18,790		44,574	D
Stock Option	$49.6						11/20/2004⁽⁹⁾	11/20/2013	Common Stock	71,520		116,094	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Dividend Reinvestment.

2. ESOP Allocation.

3. Vested interest in ESOP as of 12/31/03.

4. The option is fully exercisable.

5. The option vests in 3 equal annual installments beginning 1/20/03.

6. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/18/02.

7. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/03.

8. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/16/04.

9. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 11/20/04.

Remarks:

	Irwin Wong	02/13/2004
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* 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).
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