Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$ 117,888	$ 87,347
Short-term investments and interest bearing deposits	294,956	206,321
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		110,000
Securities held-to-maturity (market value of $1,203,977 in 2011 and $837,359 in 2010)	1,153,504	840,102
Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $1,309,521 in 2011 and $2,005,330 in 2010)	1,294,478	2,003,567
Trading securities	4,542	3,818
Loans held for sale	760	2,873
Loans	7,059,212	6,868,621
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(206,280)	(245,231)
Unamortized deferred loan fees, net	(8,449)	(7,621)
Loans, net	6,844,483	6,615,769
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	52,989	63,873
Other real estate owned, net	92,713	77,740
Affordable housing investments, net	78,358	88,472
Premises and equipment, net	105,961	109,456
Customers' liability on acceptances	37,300	14,014
Accrued interest receivable	32,226	35,382
Goodwill	316,340	316,340
Other intangible assets, net	11,598	17,044
Other assets	206,768	209,868
Total assets	10,644,864	10,801,986
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,074,718	930,300
Interest-bearing deposits:
NOW deposits	451,541	418,703
Money market deposits	951,516	982,617
Savings deposits	420,030	385,245
Time deposits under $100,000	832,997	1,081,266
Time deposits of $100,000 or more	3,498,329	3,193,715
Total deposits	7,229,131	6,991,846
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	1,400,000	1,561,000
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank	225,000	550,000
Other borrowings from financial institutions	880	8,465
Other borrowings for affordable housing investments	18,920	19,111
Long-term debt	171,136	171,136
Acceptances outstanding	37,300	14,014
Other liabilities	46,864	50,309
Total liabilities	9,129,231	9,365,881
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 258,000 issued and outstanding in 2011 and 2010	250,992	247,455
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 82,860,122 issued and 78,652,557 outstanding at December 31, 2011, and 82,739,348 issued and 78,531,783 outstanding at December 31, 2010	829	827
Additional paid-in-capital	765,641	762,509
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net	(8,732)	(1,022)
Retained earnings	624,192	543,625
Treasury stock, at cost (4,207,565 shares at December 31, 2011, and at December 31, 2010)	(125,736)	(125,736)
Total Cathay General Bancorp stockholders' equity	1,507,186	1,427,658
Noncontrolling interest	8,447	8,447
Total equity	1,515,633	1,436,105
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,644,864	$ 10,801,986