Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations And Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME
Loans receivable, including loan fees	$ 89,792	$ 95,083	$ 180,350	$ 190,822
Investment securities-taxable	23,116	28,751	44,970	59,039
Investment securities-nontaxable	1,055	99	2,111	176
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	49	46	96	94
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell	7		48
Deposits with banks	320	308	541	625
Total interest and dividend income	114,339	124,287	228,116	250,756
INTEREST EXPENSE
Time deposits of $100,000 or more	10,894	14,281	21,619	29,664
Other deposits	5,374	7,985	11,094	17,086
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	14,892	16,490	31,063	32,802
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank	3,642	9,981	8,491	20,020
Long-term debt	1,216	943	2,422	1,856
Short-term borrowings	6		7
Total interest expense	36,024	49,680	74,696	101,428
Net interest income before provision for credit losses	78,315	74,607	153,420	149,328
Provision for credit losses	10,000	45,000	16,000	129,000
Net interest income after provision for credit losses	68,315	29,607	137,420	20,328
NON-INTEREST INCOME
Securities gains, net	5,178	5,189	11,410	8,628
Letters of credit commissions	1,395	1,068	2,673	2,027
Depository service fees	1,399	1,236	2,760	2,593
Other operating income/(loss)	4,481	(81)	8,236	(1,052)
Total non-interest income	12,453	7,412	25,079	12,196
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and employee benefits	17,659	14,783	35,930	30,009
Occupancy expense	3,457	3,793	6,995	7,631
Computer and equipment expense	2,115	2,108	4,298	4,121
Professional services expense	4,959	5,000	8,688	9,639
FDIC and State assessments	2,905	5,784	7,222	10,928
Marketing expense	817	821	1,512	1,720
Other real estate owned expense	2,262	1,598	2,483	4,893
Operations of affordable housing investments , net	1,977	2,112	3,953	4,225
Amortization of core deposit intangibles	1,460	1,485	2,941	2,992
Cost associated with debt redemption	5,176		13,987	909
Other operating expense	2,623	2,835	5,184	7,415
Total non-interest expense	45,410	40,319	93,193	84,482
Income/(loss) before income tax benefit	35,358	(3,300)	69,306	(51,958)
Income tax expense/(benefit)	10,906	(5,373)	22,640	(28,441)
Net income/(loss)	24,452	2,073	46,666	(23,517)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(150)	(150)	(301)	(301)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Cathay General Bancorp	24,302	1,923	46,365	(23,818)
Dividends on preferred stock	(4,107)	(4,096)	(8,212)	(8,188)
Net income/(loss) attributable to common stockholders	20,195	(2,173)	38,153	(32,006)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Unrealized holding gain arising during the period	11,974	20,065	12,017	30,107
Less: reclassification adjustments included in net income	3,001	3,008	6,613	5,001
Total other comprehensive gain, net of tax	8,973	17,057	5,404	25,106
Total comprehensive income	$ 33,275	$ 18,980	$ 51,769	$ 1,288
Net income/(loss) per common share:
Basic	$ 0.26	$ (0.03)	$ 0.49	$ (0.42)
Diluted	$ 0.26	$ (0.03)	$ 0.49	$ (0.42)
Cash dividends paid per common share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.02	$ 0.02
Average common shares outstanding
Basic	78,635,324	78,513,577	78,622,464	75,599,854
Diluted	78,637,108	78,513,577	78,636,369	75,599,854