Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$ 153,747	$ 144,909
Short-term investments and interest bearing deposits	516,938	411,983
Securities held-to-maturity (market value of $823,906 in 2012		773,768
Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $1,637,965 in 2013 and $1,290,676 in 2012)	1,586,668	1,291,480
Trading securities	4,936	4,703
Loans	8,084,563	7,429,147
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(173,889)	(183,322)
Unamortized deferred loan fees, net	(13,487)	(10,238)
Loans, net	7,897,187	7,235,587
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	25,000	41,272
Other real estate owned, net	52,985	46,384
Affordable housing investments, net	84,108	85,037
Premises and equipment, net	102,045	102,613
Customers’ liability on acceptances	32,194	41,271
Accrued interest receivable	24,274	26,015
Goodwill	316,340	316,340
Other intangible assets, net	2,230	6,132
Other assets	190,634	166,595
Total assets	10,989,286	10,694,089
Deposits
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,441,858	1,269,455
Interest-bearing deposits:
NOW deposits	683,873	593,133
Money market deposits	1,286,338	1,186,771
Savings deposits	499,520	473,805
Time deposits under $100,000	931,204	644,191
Time deposits of $100,000 or more	3,138,512	3,215,870
Total deposits	7,981,305	7,383,225
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	800,000	1,250,000
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank	521,200	146,200
Other borrowings for affordable housing investments	19,062	18,713
Long-term debt	121,136	171,136
Acceptances outstanding	32,194	41,271
Other liabilities	55,418	54,040
Total liabilities	9,530,315	9,064,585
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013, 258,000 issued and outstanding in 2012		254,580
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 83,797,434 issued and 79,589,869 outstanding at December 31, 2013, and 82,985,853 issued and 78,778,288 outstanding at December 31, 2012	838	830
Additional paid-in-capital	784,489	768,925
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net	(29,729)	465
Retained earnings	829,109	721,993
Treasury stock, at cost (4,207,565 shares at December 31, 2013, and at December 31, 2012)	(125,736)	(125,736)
Total Cathay General Bancorp stockholders' equity	1,458,971	1,621,057
Noncontrolling interest		8,447
Total equity	1,458,971	1,629,504
Total liabilities and equity	$ 10,989,286	$ 10,694,089