Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On December 20, 2012, the boards of directors of both Cathay General Bancorp and Cathay Bank increased the number of their directors from eleven to twelve and elected Felix Fernandez as a director. He will serve as a Class III director of Cathay General Bancorp effective January 2, 2013. The Class III directors will hold office until the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders and their successors are elected and qualified.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated December 21, 2012.*

*This exhibit shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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