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 25, 2018

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))

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On February 28, 2018, Cathay General Bancorp announced, in a press release, the death of Dr. Thomas C.T. Chiu. Dr. Chiu served as a director on the Boards of Directors of Cathay General Bancorp and Cathay Bank since 2003. He was also a member of the Cathay General Bancorp Board’s Compensation Committee and Investment Committee and the Cathay Bank Board’s Investment Committee and the Credit Committee. That press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated February 28, 2018

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 28, 2018
	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 February 28, 2018

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Cathay General Bancorp and Cathay Bank Director Thomas C.T. Chiu Passes Away

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cathay General Bancorp (the "Company," NASDAQ: CATY), the holding company for Cathay Bank (the "Bank"), announced today that Dr. Thomas C.T. Chiu, a director of the Company, passed away on February 25, 2018. He was 70. Dr. Chiu joined the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank in 2003 following the Company's merger with GBC Bancorp and General Bank. He was a member of the Company Board's Compensation Committee and the Investment Committee, and the Bank Board's Investment Committee and Credit Committee.

"We are saddened to announce the news of Dr. Chiu's passing," says Mr. Dunson K. Cheng, Executive Chairman of the Company. "Dr. Chiu joined the Company in 2003. Prior to his tenure, he had been a director of General Bank and its publicly-held bank holding company, GBC Bancorp, for 10 years. Dr. Chiu was an esteemed colleague, a well-respected medical doctor in Southern California, and a dear friend. He will be missed."

ABOUT CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
Cathay General Bancorp is the holding company for Cathay Bank, a California state-chartered bank. Cathay General Bancorp's website is found at www.cathaygeneralbancorp.com. Founded in 1962, Cathay Bank offers a wide range of financial services. Cathay Bank currently operates 41 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 www.cathaybank.com.

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