Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 134,744	$ 117,888
Short-term investments and interest bearing deposits	513,636	294,956
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	10,000
Securities held-to-maturity (market value of $1,073,077 in 2012 and $1,203,977 in 2011)	1,019,977	1,153,504
Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $1,173,146 in 2012 and $1,309,521 in 2011)	1,166,783	1,294,478
Trading securities	104,465	4,542
Loans held for sale	500	760
Loans	7,043,683	7,059,212
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(192,274)	(206,280)
Unamortized deferred loan fees	(8,855)	(8,449)
Loans, net	6,842,554	6,844,483
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	47,966	52,989
Other real estate owned, net	74,463	92,713
Investments in affordable housing partnerships, net	83,835	78,358
Premises and equipment, net	104,255	105,961
Customers' liability on acceptances	40,714	37,300
Accrued interest receivable	29,547	32,226
Goodwill	316,340	316,340
Other intangible assets	9,147	11,598
Other assets	162,257	206,768
Total assets .	10,661,183	10,644,864
Deposits
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,172,622	1,074,718
Interest-bearing accounts:
NOW accounts	500,220	451,541
Money market accounts	1,020,304	951,516
Savings accounts	444,083	420,030
Time deposits under $100,000	886,176	832,997
Time deposits of $100,000 or more	3,360,828	3,498,329
Total deposits	7,384,233	7,229,131
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	1,400,000	1,400,000
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank	21,200	225,000
Other borrowings from financial institutions		880
Other borrowings for affordable housing investments	18,834	18,920
Long-term debt	171,136	171,136
Acceptances outstanding	40,714	37,300
Other liabilities	52,062	46,864
Total liabilities	9,088,179	9,129,231
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 258,000 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2012, and at December 31, 2011	252,780	250,992
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 82,927,085 issued and 78,719,520 outstanding at June 30, 2012, and 82,860,122 issued and 78,652,557 outstanding at December 31, 2011	829	829
Additional paid-in-capital	767,218	765,641
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(3,688)	(8,732)
Retained earnings	673,154	624,192
Treasury stock, at cost (4,207,565 shares at June 30, 2012, and at December 31, 2011)	(125,736)	(125,736)
Total Cathay General Bancorp stockholders' equity	1,564,557	1,507,186
Noncontrolling interest	8,447	8,447
Total equity	1,573,004	1,515,633
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,661,183	$ 10,644,864