FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF 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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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *   Tai Pin 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 05/16/2013 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [CATY] (Last) (First) (Middle) CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP, 9650 FLAIR DRIVE 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP, Deputy CLO, Cathay Bank 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) (Street) EL MONTE, CA 91731 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(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 Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5) Common Stock 1,664 D Â

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option	11/20/2004(1)	11/20/2013	Common Stock	16,180	$ 24.8	D	Â
Stock Option	02/19/2005(1)	02/19/2014	Common Stock	8,000	$ 28.695	D	Â
Stock Option	02/17/2006(1)	02/17/2015	Common Stock	14,710	$ 37	D	Â
Stock Option	01/19/2007(1)	01/19/2016	Common Stock	13,750	$ 36.9	D	Â
Stock Option	02/21/2009(1)	02/21/2018	Common Stock	25,000	$ 23.37	D	Â
Restricted Stock Units	  (2)	  (2)	Common Stock	4,938	$ (3)	D	Â
Restricted Stock Units	  (4)	  (4)	Common Stock	3,084	$ (3)	D	Â
Restricted Stock Units	  (5)	  (5)	Common Stock	3,981	$ (3)	D	Â
Restricted Stock Units	  (6)	  (6)	Common Stock	3,973	$ (3)	D	Â

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Tai Pin CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP 9650 FLAIR DRIVE EL MONTE, CA 91731	Â	Â	  EVP, Deputy CLO, Cathay Bank	Â

Signatures

Monica Chen, attorney-in-fact		05/21/2013
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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)	The option is fully exercisable.
(2)	These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on December 15, 2013, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.
(3)	Consists of long term restricted stock units within the meaning of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder ("EESA"). Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of CATY Common Stock.
(4)	These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on May 8, 2014, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.
(5)	These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on March 14, 2015, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.
(6)	These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on April 15, 2015, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.

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