Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$ 144,909	$ 117,888
Short-term investments and interest bearing deposits	411,983	294,956
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	0	0
Securities held-to-maturity (market value of $823,906 in 2012 and $1,203,977 in 2011	773,768	1,153,504
Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $1,290,676 in 2012 and $1,309,521 in 2011	1,291,480	1,294,478
Trading securities	4,703	4,542
Loans held for sale		760
Loans	7,429,147	7,059,212
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(183,322)	(206,280)
Unamortized deferred loan fees, net	(10,238)	(8,449)
Loans, net	7,235,587	6,844,483
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	41,272	52,989
Other real estate owned, net	46,384	92,713
Affordable housing investments, net	85,037	78,358
Premises and equipment, net	102,613	105,961
Customers’ liability on acceptances	41,271	37,300
Accrued interest receivable	26,015	32,226
Goodwill	316,340	316,340
Other intangible assets, net	6,132	11,598
Other assets	166,595	206,768
Total assets	10,694,089	10,644,864
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,269,455	1,074,718
NOW deposits	593,133	451,541
Money market deposits	1,186,771	951,516
Savings deposits	473,805	420,030
Time deposits under $100,000	644,191	832,997
Time deposits of $100,000 or more	3,215,870	3,498,329
Total deposits	7,383,225	7,229,131
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	1,250,000	1,400,000
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank	146,200	225,000
Other borrowings from financial institutions		880
Other borrowings for affordable housing investments	18,713	18,920
Long-term debt	171,136	171,136
Acceptances outstanding	41,271	37,300
Other liabilities	54,040	46,864
Total liabilities	9,064,585	9,129,231
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 258,000 issued and outstanding in 2012 and 2011	254,580	250,992
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 82,985,853 issued and 78,778,288 outstanding at December 31, 2012, and 82,860,122 issued and 78,652,557 outstanding at December 31, 2011	830	829
Additional paid-in-capital	768,925	765,641
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net	465	(8,732)
Retained earnings	721,993	624,192
Treasury stock, at cost (4,207,565 shares at December 31, 2012, and at December 31, 2011	(125,736)	(125,736)
Total Cathay General Bancorp stockholders' equity	1,621,057	1,507,186
Noncontrolling interest	8,447	8,447
Total equity	1,629,504	1,515,633
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,694,089	$ 10,644,864