Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Interest and Dividend Income
Loans receivable, including loan fees	$ 97,454	$ 87,879	$ 190,186	$ 176,719
Investment securities- taxable	6,708	12,332	14,284	24,118
Investment securities- nontaxable		28		995
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	421	342	871	592
Deposits with banks	479	281	928	489
Total interest and dividend income	105,062	100,862	206,269	202,913
Interest Expense
Time deposits of $100,000 or more	6,748	6,822	13,412	13,579
Other deposits	4,429	2,993	8,457	5,759
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	6,943	9,984	13,873	21,376
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank	497	145	696	225
Long-term debt	828	924	1,556	1,848
Total interest expense	19,445	20,868	37,994	42,787
Net interest income before provision for credit losses	85,617	79,994	168,275	160,126
Provision/(credit) for loan losses	(3,700)		(3,700)
Net interest income after provision/(credit) for loan losses	89,317	79,994	171,975	160,126
Non-Interest Income
Securities gains, net	506	12,177	6,466	18,469
Letters of credit commissions	1,520	1,449	2,988	2,910
Depository service fees	1,306	1,485	2,669	2,959
Other operating income	5,689	5,250	11,457	10,904
Total non-interest income	9,021	20,361	23,580	35,242
Non-interest Expense
Salaries and employee benefits	23,391	21,588	46,842	44,441
Occupancy expense	3,896	3,510	7,758	7,154
Computer and equipment expense	2,534	2,366	4,836	5,042
Professional services expense	5,263	6,854	10,419	12,671
FDIC and State assessments	2,277	1,981	4,431	3,719
Marketing expense	1,519	1,169	2,083	1,606
Other real estate owned (income)/expense	(377)	(264)	382	359
Operations of affordable housing investments, net	1,018	2,023	3,454	3,718
Amortization of core deposit intangibles	124	1,338	296	2,734
(Income)/Costs associated with debt redemption	(555)	10,051	2,821	15,696
Other operating expense	3,423	3,100	7,259	5,704
Total non-interest expense	42,513	53,716	90,581	102,844
Income before income tax expense	55,825	46,639	104,974	92,524
Income tax expense	20,741	16,573	38,631	33,460
Net income	35,084	30,066	66,343	59,064
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		150		301
Net income attributable to Cathay General Bancorp	35,084	29,916	66,343	58,763
Dividends on preferred stock and noncash charge from repayment		(2,067)		(7,251)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	35,084	27,849	66,343	51,512
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax
Unrealized holding gain/(loss) on securities available-for-sale	13,750	(31,492)	24,844	(4,833)
Less: reclassification adjustments included in net income	293	7,058	3,748	10,705
Unrealized holding losses on cash flow hedge derivatives	(263)		(263)
Less: reclassification adjustments included in net income	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive gain/(loss), net of tax	13,194	(38,550)	20,833	(15,538)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	$ 48,278	$ (8,634)	$ 87,176	$ 43,225
Net income per common share:
Basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.35	$ 0.83	$ 0.65
Diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.35	$ 0.83	$ 0.65
Cash dividends paid per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.01	$ 0.12	$ 0.02
Average common shares outstanding
Basic (in Shares)	79,642,993	78,869,089	79,619,506	78,832,530
Diluted (in Shares)	80,046,471	78,899,906	80,042,946	78,857,758