Note 22 - Regulatory Matters (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Notes Tables

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

	Cathay General Bancorp								Cathay Bank
	December 31, 2018				December 31, 2017				December 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		%		Balance		%		Balance		%		Balance		%
Common equity Tier 1 capital ( to risk-weighted assets)	$	1,736,854		12.43	$	1,572,025		12.19	$	1,904,820		13.66	$	1,734,719		13.46
Common equity Tier 1 capital minimum requirement		628,393		4.50		580,552		4.50		627,800		4.50		579,921		4.50
Excess	$	1,108,461		7.93	$	991,473		7.69	$	1,277,020		9.16	$	1,154,798		8.96
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)	$	1,736,854		12.43	$	1,572,025		12.19	$	1,904,820		13.66	$	1,734,719		13.46
Tier 1 capital minimum requirement		838,258		6.00		774,070		6.00		837,067		6.00		773,229		6.00
Excess	$	898,596		6.43	$	797,955		6.19	$	1,067,753		7.66	$	961,490		7.46
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)	$	1,976,995		14.15	$	1,820,860		14.11	$	2,029,462		14.55	$	1,862,806		14.45
Total capital minimum requirement		1,117,677		8.00		1,032,093		8.00		1,116,089		8.00		1,030,971		8.00
Excess	$	859,318		6.15	$	788,767		6.11	$	913,373		6.55	$	831,835		6.45
Tier 1 capital (to average assets) – Leverage ratio	$	1,736,854		10.83	$	1,572,025		10.35	$	1,904,820		11.89	$	1,734,719		11.82
Minimum leverage requirement		641,755		4.00		607,349		4.00		640,807		4.00		586,959		4.00
Excess	$	1,095,099		6.83	$	964,676		6.35	$	1,264,013		7.89	$	1,147,760		7.82
Risk-weighted assets	$	13,969,004			$	12,901,161			$	13,949,605			$	12,887,142
Total average assets (1)	$	16,042,924			$	15,183,720			$	16,019,658			$	14,673,981