Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 119,106	$ 117,888
Short-term investments and interest bearing deposits	275,056	294,956
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	50,000
Securities held-to-maturity (market value of $1,131,524 in 2012 and $1,203,977 in 2011)	1,084,708	1,153,504
Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $1,361,571 in 2012 and $1,309,521 in 2011)	1,353,742	1,294,478
Trading securities	104,453	4,542
Loans held for sale	3,709	760
Loans	6,908,544	7,059,212
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(194,743)	(206,280)
Unamortized deferred loan fees	(7,921)	(8,449)
Loans, net	6,705,880	6,844,483
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	50,456	52,989
Other real estate owned, net	87,806	92,713
Investments in affordable housing partnerships, net	80,789	78,358
Premises and equipment, net	105,157	105,961
Customers' liability on acceptances	29,790	37,300
Accrued interest receivable	31,544	32,226
Goodwill	316,340	316,340
Other intangible assets	10,314	11,598
Other assets	164,586	206,768
Total assets	10,573,436	10,644,864
Deposits
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,080,209	1,074,718
Interest-bearing accounts:
NOW accounts	490,173	451,541
Money market accounts	981,237	951,516
Savings accounts	434,899	420,030
Time deposits under $100,000	901,768	832,997
Time deposits of $100,000 or more	3,471,488	3,498,329
Total deposits	7,359,774	7,229,131
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	1,400,000	1,400,000
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank		225,000
Other borrowings from financial institutions		880
Other borrowings for affordable housing investments	18,868	18,920
Long-term debt	171,136	171,136
Acceptances outstanding	29,790	37,300
Other liabilities	48,345	46,864
Total liabilities	9,027,913	9,129,231
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 258,000 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012, and at December 31, 2011	251,884	250,992
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 82,915,962 issued and 78,708,397 outstanding at March 31, 2012, and 82,860,122 issued and 78,652,557 outstanding at December 31, 2011	829	829
Additional paid-in-capital	766,435	765,641
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(4,537)	(8,732)
Retained earnings	648,201	624,192
Treasury stock, at cost (4,207,565 shares at March 31, 2012, and at December 31, 2011)	(125,736)	(125,736)
Total Cathay General Bancorp stockholders' equity	1,537,076	1,507,186
Noncontrolling interest	8,447	8,447
Total equity	1,545,523	1,515,633
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,573,436	$ 10,644,864