-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VvTiXkXzA/ejZ6oW/lYGfVF1CxWY+ZLUeq9RADHZEG3D9r3FqNZUy01JBPp4I496
 XWh601eY8ZgnhmlovyPAOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>9999999995-09-003250.txt : 20091120
<SEC-HEADER>9999999995-09-003250.hdr.sgml : 20091120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091120001516
ACCESSION NUMBER:		9999999995-09-003250
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	EFFECT
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091119
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091120
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20091119

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000861842
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				954274680
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		EFFECT
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-163070
		FILM NUMBER:		091197152

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 N BROADWAY
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90012
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2136254700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 NORTH BROADWAY
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90012

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CATHAY BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EFFECT
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<edgarSubmission>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <submissionType>EFFECT</submissionType>

    <act>33</act>

    <testOrLive>LIVE</testOrLive>

    <effectiveData>
        <finalEffectivenessDispDate>2009-11-19</finalEffectivenessDispDate>
        <finalEffectivenessDispTime>10:00:00</finalEffectivenessDispTime>
        <form>S-3</form>
        <filer>
            <cik>0000861842</cik>
            <entityName>CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP</entityName>
            <fileNumber>333-163070</fileNumber>
        </filer>
    </effectiveData>
</edgarSubmission>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----