Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$ 155,525	$ 144,909
Short-term investments and interest bearing deposits	215,794	411,983
Securities held-to-maturity (market value of $823,906 in 2012)	773,768	773,768
Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $2,149,786 in 2013 and $1,290,676 in 2012)	2,190,296	1,291,480
Trading securities	4,758	4,703
Loans	7,364,340	7,429,147
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(178,692)	(183,322)
Unamortized deferred loan fees, net	(10,186)	(10,238)
Loans, net	7,175,462	7,235,587
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	37,130	41,272
Other real estate owned, net	45,316	46,384
Affordable housing investments, net	83,868	85,037
Premises and equipment, net	102,067	102,613
Customers’ liability on acceptances	22,334	41,271
Accrued interest receivable	26,992	26,015
Goodwill	316,340	316,340
Other intangible assets, net	4,883	6,132
Other assets	139,950	166,595
Total assets	10,520,715	10,694,089
Deposits
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,279,986	1,269,455
Interest-bearing deposits:
NOW deposits	622,454	593,133
Money market deposits	1,124,240	1,186,771
Savings deposits	472,122	473,805
Time deposits under $100,000	685,758	644,191
Time deposits of $100,000 or more	3,241,114	3,215,870
Total deposits	7,425,674	7,383,225
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	1,150,000	1,250,000
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank	126,200	146,200
Other borrowings for affordable housing investments	19,232	18,713
Long-term debt	171,136	171,136
Acceptances outstanding	22,334	41,271
Other liabilities	56,574	54,040
Total liabilities	8,971,150	9,064,585
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 129,000 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013, and 258,000 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012	127,724	254,580
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 83,066,773 issued and 78,859,208 outstanding at March 31, 2013, and 82,985,853 issued and 78,778,288 outstanding at December 31, 2012	831	830
Additional paid-in-capital	769,955	768,925
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net	23,477	465
Retained earnings	744,867	721,993
Treasury stock, at cost (4,207,565 shares at March 31, 2013, and at December 31, 2012)	(125,736)	(125,736)
Total Cathay General Bancorp stockholders' equity	1,541,118	1,621,057
Noncontrolling interest	8,447	8,447
Total equity	1,549,565	1,629,504
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,520,715	$ 10,694,089