8-K

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): February 1, 2016

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-31830	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 February 1, 2016, Cathay General Bancorp (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a new stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $45,000,000 of the Company’s common stock. The Company also announced that it has completed the repurchase of 2,000,000 shares under the stock repurchase program in effect as of August 31, 2015. Any purchases under the new program will be made from time to time in the open market.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as an Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8−K and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release, dated February 1, 2016

SIGNATURES

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
Date: February 1, 2016
	By:	/s/ Heng W. Chen
		Heng W. Chen
		Executive Vice President and Chief
		Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release, dated February 1, 2016

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Cathay General Bancorp Adopts New Share Repurchase Program

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cathay General Bancorp (the "Company"), (NASDAQ: CATY), the holding company for Cathay Bank, announced today that its Board of Directors has adopted a new stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $45,000,000 of the Company's common stock. Any purchases under the new program will be made from time to time in the open market. The timing and amount of any stock repurchases will be determined by the Company's management based on its evaluation of market conditions, regulatory requirements and other factors.

On August 31, 2015, the Company adopted a stock repurchase program under which it was authorized to repurchase up to 2,000,000 shares of its common stock, all of which have since been repurchased.

ABOUT CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

Cathay General Bancorp is the holding company for Cathay Bank, a California state-chartered bank. Founded in 1962, Cathay Bank offers a wide range of financial services. Cathay Bank currently operates 33 branches in California, 12 branches in New York State, three in the Chicago, Illinois area, three in Washington State, two in Texas, one in Maryland, one in Massachusetts, one in Nevada, one in New Jersey, one in Hong Kong, and a representative office in Taipei and in Shanghai. Cathay Bank's website is found at http://www.cathaybank.com/.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding management's beliefs, projections, and assumptions concerning future results and events. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates, beliefs, projections, and assumptions of management and are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Some of these risks are described in the Cathay General Bancorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Item 1A in particular), other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and other filings Cathay General Bancorp makes with the SEC from time to time. Cathay General Bancorp has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to publicly announce any revision of any forward-looking statement to reflect future developments or events, except as required by law.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140822/138939

CONTACT: Heng W. Chen, (626) 279-3652