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

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                                    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): October 21, 2004

                             CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                      0-18630                 95-4274680
(State or other jurisdiction           (Commission              (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                File Number)          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 October 21, 2004, Cathay General Bancorp announced, in a press release,
its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. That press
release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

      The foregoing information is 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.

(c)   Exhibits

      99 Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated October 21, 2004.



                                    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: October 21, 2004

                                                CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

                                                By: /s/ Heng W. Chen
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Heng W. Chen
                                                    Executive Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Number      Exhibit
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99          Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated October 21, 2004.