SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

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

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

LEE PATRICK

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

777 NORTH BROADWAY

(Street)

LOS ANGELES

90012

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [ CATY ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/25/2006

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock								258,394⁽¹⁾	I	Family Trust

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Stock Option	$10.625							01/20/2001⁽²⁾	01/20/2010	Common Stock	2,000		2,000	D
Stock Option	$15.0475							01/18/2002⁽³⁾	01/18/2011	Common Stock	2,000		4,000	D
Stock Option	$16.275							02/21/2003⁽⁴⁾	02/21/2012	Common Stock	2,000		6,000	D
Stock Option	$19.925							01/16/2004⁽⁵⁾	01/16/2013	Common Stock	3,800		9,800	D
Stock Option	$24.8							11/20/2004⁽⁶⁾	11/20/2013	Common Stock	11,000		20,800	D
Stock Option	$37							02/17/2006⁽⁷⁾	02/17/2015	Common Stock	3,500		24,300	D
Stock Option	$36.24	01/25/2006		A		3,500		01/25/2007⁽⁸⁾	01/25/2016	Common Stock	3,500	$0	27,800	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Since the reporting person's last report, 2,000 shares under his name were transferred to the Family Trust.

2. The option is fully exercisable.

3. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/18/02.

4. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/03.

5. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/16/04.

6. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 11/20/04.

7. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/17/06.

8. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/25/07.

Remarks:

	Patrick S.D. Lee	01/27/2006
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.