Note 21 - Regulatory Matters (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Notes Tables

Schedule of Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Table Text Block]

	Cathay General Bancorp								Cathay Bank
	December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015				December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		%		Balance		%		Balance		%		Balance		%
Common equity Tier 1 capital ( to risk-weighted assets)	$	1,459,351		12.84	$	1,383,377		12.95	$	1,515,096		13.35	$	1,443,159		13.54
Common equity Tier 1 capital minimum requirement		511,590		4.50		480,830		4.50		510,582		4.50		479,801		4.50
Excess	$	947,761		8.34	$	902,547		8.45	$	1,004,514		8.85	$	963,358		9.04
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)	$	1,574,806		13.85	$	1,498,810		14.03	$	1,515,096		13.35	$	1,443,159		13.54
Tier 1 capital minimum requirement		682,120		6.00		641,107		6.00		680,776		6.00		639,735		6.00
Excess	$	892,686		7.85	$	857,703		8.03	$	834,320		7.35	$	803,424		7.54
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)	$	1,702,144		14.97	$	1,634,631		15.30	$	1,637,286		14.43	$	1,576,525		14.79
Total capital minimum requirement		909,493		8.00		854,809		8.00		907,701		8.00		852,980		8.00
Excess	$	792,651		6.97	$	779,822		7.30	$	729,585		6.43	$	723,545		6.79
Tier 1 capital (to average assets) – Leverage ratio	$	1,574,806		11.57	$	1,498,810		11.95	$	1,515,096		11.16	$	1,443,159		11.53
Minimum leverage requirement		544,614		4.00		501,875		4.00		543,059		4.00		500,455		4.00
Excess	$	1,030,192		7.57	$	996,935		7.95	$	972,037		7.16	$	942,704		7.53
Risk-weighted assets	$	11,368,663			$	10,685,115			$	11,346,260			$	10,662,248
Total average assets (1)	$	13,615,348			$	12,546,879			$	13,576,477			$	12,511,382