Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
TANG ANTHONY M
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [CATY] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Senior EVP
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

777 NORTH BROADWAY		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2009
(Street)


LOS ANGELES, CA 90012		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock             350,584 D  
Common Stock 12/31/2009   J(1) 1,405 A $ 11.8101 88,185 I By ESOP
Common Stock 01/21/2009   J(2) 1,452.864 A $ 18.5984 328,721.88 I By spouse
Common Stock 05/14/2009   J(2) 1,783.519 A $ 11.6083 328,721.88 I By spouse
Common Stock 08/20/2009   J(2) 273.344 A $ 9.533 328,721.88 I By spouse
Common Stock 12/08/2009   J(2) 347.779 A $ 7.5 328,721.88 I By spouse

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option $ 15.0475           01/18/2002(3) 01/18/2011 Common Stock
26,360
  26,360
D
 
Stock Option $ 16.275           02/21/2003(3) 02/21/2012 Common Stock
26,000
  52,360
D
 
Stock Option $ 19.925           01/16/2004(3) 01/16/2013 Common Stock
47,500
  99,860
D
 
Stock Option $ 24.8           11/20/2004(3) 11/20/2013 Common Stock
105,140
  205,000
D
 
Stock Option $ 37           02/17/2006(4) 02/17/2015 Common Stock
39,820
  244,820
D
 
Stock Option $ 36.24           01/25/2007(5) 01/25/2016 Common Stock
42,690
  287,510
D
 
Stock Option $ 23.37           02/21/2009(6) 02/21/2018 Common Stock
44,000
  331,510
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
TANG ANTHONY M
777 NORTH BROADWAY
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012		   X     Senior EVP  

Signatures

Anthony M. Tang 02/12/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) ESOP Earning Allocation.
(2) Dividend Reinvestment.
(3) The option is fully exercisable.
(4) The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/17/06.
(5) The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/25/07.
(6) The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/09.
 
Remarks:
The reporting person no longer has a reportable beneficial interest in 80,322 shares transferred from the UGMA custodian to beneficiary since the reporting person's last report.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space provided is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.