Edgar Filing: CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

2004 Notice & Proxy Statement

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14A-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

Check the appropriate box:


¨	Preliminary Proxy Statement	¨	Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x	Definitive Proxy Statement

¨	Definitive Additional Materials

¨	Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12.

Cathay General Bancorp

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

x	No fee required.

¨	Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

(5)

Total fee paid:

¨	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

(3)

Filing Party:

(4)

Date Filed:

LOGO

777 NORTH BROADWAY

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012

To Our Stockholders:

We are pleased to invite you to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of Cathay General Bancorp. The meeting will be held on Monday, April 19, 2004, at 5:00 p.m., local time, at 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012.

At the meeting, you will be asked to elect four Class II directors to serve until 2007.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Michael M.Y. Chang

Michael M.Y. Chang

Secretary

March 18, 2004

Los Angeles, California

LOGO

777 NORTH BROADWAY

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

to be Held on April 19, 2004

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of stockholders of Cathay General Bancorp will be held on Monday, April 19, 2004, at 5:00 p.m., local time, at 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012, for the following purposes:

To elect four Class II directors to serve until the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders and their successors have been elected and qualified; and

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

The Board of Directors has fixed March 5, 2004, as the record date for the meeting. Only holders of record of common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting.

Please vote, sign, and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the accompanying envelope. If you mail the envelope in the United States, it does not require postage. It is important that you return the proxy card promptly even if you plan to attend the meeting.

We invite you to attend the meeting in person. If you attend, you may choose to revoke your proxy and vote in person at the meeting. If you do so, your proxy card will be disregarded.

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Michael M.Y. Chang

Michael M.Y. Chang

Secretary

March 18, 2004

Los Angeles, California

LOGO

777 NORTH BROADWAY

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012

Proxy Statement

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

April 19, 2004

The Board of Directors of Cathay General Bancorp is furnishing this proxy statement to the holders of record of Bancorp’s common stock to solicit proxies, including the proxy granted by the enclosed proxy card, for use at the 2004 annual meeting of stockholders of Bancorp and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting. In this proxy statement, “Bancorp,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Cathay General Bancorp.

At the meeting, our stockholders will be asked to:

Elect four Class II directors to serve until the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders and their successors have been elected and qualified; and

Transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

Please vote by completing the enclosed proxy card and returning it signed and dated in the enclosed postage-prepaid envelope. If you properly complete the proxy card and Bancorp receives it before the voting, the proxy holders named in the proxy card will vote your shares of common stock as you direct on the proxy card. If you give no direction on the proxy card, the proxy holders will vote your shares in favor of the election of Kelly L. Chan, Dunson K. Cheng, Thomas C.T. Chiu, and Joseph C.H. Poon as directors. Under Delaware law, the inspector of elections for the meeting may consider evidence deemed to be reliable to reconcile proxies and ballots submitted by banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons that represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record holder to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record.

The Board of Directors knows of no other proposal to be presented for consideration at the meeting. The proxy holders named in the enclosed proxy card reserve the right to vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment on any proposal that does properly come before the meeting or to vote your shares for other persons if any nominee for director becomes unavailable to serve.

You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by filing a written notice of revocation with Bancorp’s Secretary or delivering to Bancorp’s Secretary a later signed and dated proxy card. You may also revoke your proxy if you are present at the meeting and vote in person. This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card were first mailed to stockholders on or about March 18, 2004.

QUORUM AND VOTING

The Board of Directors has fixed March 5, 2004, as the record date for the meeting. Only holders of record of Bancorp’s common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. On the record date, 24,857,133 shares of Bancorp’s common stock were outstanding. Each stockholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock registered in the stockholder’s name. Cumulative voting is not available for the election of directors.

It is important that stockholders be represented in person or by proxy at the meeting. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If the shares represented at the meeting are not sufficient to constitute a quorum or to elect the nominees for director, we may adjourn or postpone the meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies.

Persons receiving a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting will be elected directors. Plurality means that the persons who receive the largest number of votes cast are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the meeting.

Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. However, they are not counted and have no effect in determining whether a nominee or the nominees have been elected. The term “broker non-votes” refers to shares held by a broker in street name that are present by proxy but are not voted on the matter pursuant to rules prohibiting brokers from voting on non-routine matters without instructions from the beneficial owners.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Based on the contents of reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the entity listed below is the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our common stock as of December 31, 2003.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership of

Common Stock

Percentage of Common
Stock Beneficially

Owned^1/

Capital Research and Management Company

333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071

1,271,400^2/

5.12%

^1/	The ownership percentage is determined by dividing the number of shares shown in this table by 24,833,124, which is the number of shares of Bancorp common stock issued and outstanding as of February 18, 2004.

^2/

The number of shares in this table and the information in this footnote is derived from the Schedule 13G dated as of February 10, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Capital Research and Management Company. According to this Schedule 13G filing, Capital Research and Management Company, an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is deemed to be beneficial owner of 1,271,400 shares or 5.1% of the outstanding common stock of Bancorp as of December 31, 2003, as a result of acting as investment adviser to various investment companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

As of February 18, 2004, our directors and executive officers named in this proxy statement, and their affiliates, including the Cathay Bank Employee Stock Ownership Trust (the ESOPT), were entitled to vote approximately 3,697,792 shares of our common stock. These shares represent approximately 14.89% of the outstanding shares of our common stock as of February 18, 2004. If shares held by the ESOPT that have been allocated to persons other than our directors and executive officers named in this proxy statement are excluded from this total, as of February 18, 2004, our directors and named executive officers were entitled to vote approximately 2,826,428 shares of our common stock. These shares represent approximately 11.38% of the outstanding shares of our common stock

as of February 18, 2004. The individual security ownership of our directors and executive officers can be found in the section of this proxy statement entitled Security Ownership of Nominees, Continuing Directors, and Named Executive Officers. Our directors and executive officers have informed us that they intend to vote for the election of Kelly L. Chan, Dunson K. Cheng, Joseph C.H. Poon, and Thomas C.T. Chiu.

Shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the ESOPT have been allocated among the participants of the Cathay Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Each participant has the power to direct the vote of his or her allocated shares. The ESOPT Committee has the sole power to vote and dispose of all unallocated shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the ESOPT. As of February 18, 2004, the ESOPT held approximately 978,262 shares of Bancorp common stock, of which approximately 2,545 shares are unallocated. Dunson K. Cheng, Peter Wu, Kelly L. Chan, George T.M. Ching, Joseph C.H. Poon, and Anthony M. Tang are members of the ESOPT Committee.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Under our certificate of incorporation, the Board of Directors may consist of between 3 and 25 directors. Our Board currently consists of thirteen directors, each of whom is also a director of Cathay Bank, a California-chartered bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Bancorp. Our Board has three classes of directors. The term of office of each class of directors is three years. The current term of the Class II directors will expire at the 2004 annual meeting of stockholders. The current term of the Class III directors will expire at the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders. The current term of the Class I directors will expire at the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.

Stockholders are being asked to elect four Class II directors. The Class II directors will hold office until the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders and their successors have been elected and qualified. Our Board has nominated Kelly L. Chan, Dunson K. Cheng, Thomas C.T. Chiu, and Joseph C.H. Poon to serve as Class II directors. All of the nominees are currently directors of Bancorp and Cathay Bank, and have served continuously in these capacities since the dates indicated below. If any nominee named in this proxy statement becomes unavailable for any reason, or if any vacancy on the Board of Directors occurs before the election, the shares represented by any proxy voting for that nominee will be voted for the person that may be designated by the Board of Directors to replace that nominee or to fill that vacancy on the Board. However, the Board of Directors does not believe that any nominee will be unavailable or that any vacancy will occur.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of Kelly L. Chan, Dunson K. Cheng, Thomas C.T. Chiu, and Joseph C.H. Poon as Class II directors.

Security Ownership of Nominees, Continuing Directors, and Named Executive Officers

The following table sets forth:

The periods each nominee and director have served as a director of Bancorp.

Information on the beneficial ownership, as that term is defined under Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, of shares of our common stock held as of February 18, 2004, for the meeting by each nominee and director, by the chief executive and the other four highest paid executive officers, and all the directors and named executive officers as a group.

Each nominee, director, and named executive officer has furnished the information on his or her own beneficial ownership set forth in the following table.


Name	Age	Director of Bancorp Since	Common Stock Beneficially Owned as of February 18, 2004	Percentage Ownership as of February 18, 2004
Nominees for Election at the Meeting for the Term Ending in 2007 (Class II):

Kelly L. Chan 1/	57	1990	209,281^2/	0.84%^2/
Dunson K. Cheng	59	1990	437,605^3/	1.76%^3/
Thomas C.T. Chiu	56	2003	123,392^4/	0.50%^4/
Joseph C.H. Poon	57	1990	28,945^5/	0.12%^5/

Directors Currently Serving Term Ending in 2005 (Class III):

George T.M. Ching	89	1990	178,873^6/	0.72%^6/
Wing K. Fat 7/	77	1990	263,116^7/	1.06%^7/
Ting Y. Liu	67	2003	202,894^8/	0.82%^8/
Wilbur K. Woo	88	1990	273,429^9/	1.10%^9/

Directors Currently Serving Term Ending in 2006 (Class I):

Michael M.Y. Chang	67	1990	292,216^10/	1.18%^10/
Patrick S.D. Lee	69	1990	132,752^11/	0.53%^11/
Anthony M. Tang	50	1990	420,633^12/	1.69%^12/
Thomas G. Tartaglia	80	1990	40,321^13/	0.16%^13/
Peter Wu	55	2003	565,505^14/	2.28%^14/

Other Named Executive Officers:

Heng W. Chen	51	—	0	0.00%
Irwin Wong	55	—	31,290^15/	0.13%^15/
James R. Brewer	51	—	0	0.00%
All directors and named officers as a group (16 persons)			3,200,252^16/	12.89%^16/

^1/	Kelly L. Chan is the nephew, by marriage, of Wing K. Fat.

^2/

Includes approximately 29,144 shares held by the Kelly and Barbara Chan Living Trust, 3,900 shares held by Mr. Chan’s spouse, approximately 9,830 shares held by Mr. Chan as custodian for his children, approximately 15,342 shares held by Chansons Properties, 100,000 shares held as Trustee of the WHFC Chan Grandchildren Sprinkling Trust, 3,180 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004, and approximately 2,545 shares held as unallocated shares by the ESOPT. Mr. Chan is a member of the ESOPT Committee and, as such, may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of unallocated ESOPT shares.

^3/

Includes approximately 119,082 shares held by the Dunson Cheng and Cynthia Cheng Trust, approximately 46,476 shares held by the ESOPT which have been allocated to Mr. Cheng’s account, 117,746 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004, and approximately 2,545 shares held as unallocated shares by the ESOPT. Mr. Cheng is a member of the ESOPT Committee and, as such, may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of unallocated ESOPT shares.

^4/	Includes approximately 60,570 shares held jointly by Dr. Chiu and his spouse, approximately 14,455 shares held by Dr. Chiu’s spouse, approximately 29,867 shares by Dr. Chiu’s Pension Plan, and 10,240 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004.

^5/

Consists of 23,220 shares held by the Poon Family Trust, 3,180 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004, and approximately 2,545 shares held as unallocated shares by the ESOPT. Mr. Poon is a member of the ESOPT Committee and, as such, may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of unallocated ESOPT shares.

^6/

Includes 155,186 shares held by the Ching Family Trust, approximately 6,814 shares held by Mr. Ching’s spouse, 1,180 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004, and approximately 2,545 shares held as unallocated shares by the ESOPT. Mr. Ching is a member of the ESOPT Committee and, as such, may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of unallocated ESOPT shares.

^7/	Includes approximately 117,744 shares held by the Fat Family Trust, approximately 132,262 shares held by Frank Fat, Inc., approximately 10,030 shares held by Frank Fat Properties, and 1,680 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004.

^8/	Includes 189,832 shares held by the Liu Family Inter Vivos Trust, and 10,240 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004.

^9/	Consists of 266,179 shares held by Mr. Woo as trustee of a living trust established by Mr. Woo and his spouse, 4,070 shares held by Mr. Woo as custodian for his daughter, and 3,180 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004.

^10/

Consists of approximately 50,158 shares held jointly by Mr. Chang and his spouse, approximately 66,472 shares held by Mr. Chang as custodian for his children, approximately 68,000 shares held by Mr. Chang’s spouse, as custodian for their children, 104,406 shares held by the Michael and Judy Chang Family Trust, and 3,180 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004.

^11/	Consists of 129,572 shares held by Mr. Lee as trustee of the Lee Trust, and 3,180 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004.

^12/

Includes 44,139 shares held by Mr. Tang as custodian for his children, approximately 120,431 shares held by Mr. Tang’s spouse, approximately 40,348 shares held by the ESOPT which have been allocated to Mr. Tang’s account, approximately 37,878 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004, and approximately 2,545 shares held as unallocated shares by the ESOPT. Mr. Tang is a member of the ESOPT Committee and, as such, may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of unallocated ESOPT shares.

^13/	Consists of 30,682 shares held by the Thomas G. Tartaglia Trust, approximately 7,459 shares held by the ESOPT which have been allocated to Mr. Tartaglia’s account, and 2,180 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004.

^14/	Includes 392,828 shares held by the Wu Trust, 25,063 shares held by Mr. Wu’s spouse as custodian for his children, 145,069 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004, and 2,545 shares held as unallocated shares by the ESOPT.

^15/	Includes approximately 10,070 shares held by the ESOPT which have been allocated to Mr. Wong’s account, and 18,986 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004.

^16/

Includes a total of 104,353 shares held by the ESOPT that have been allocated to the directors and named executive officers, 2,545 shares held as unallocated shares by the ESOPT and attributed to each of the six members of the ESOPT Committee (resulting in a total of 15,270 shares included in the 3,200,252 share total) and 361,099 shares issuable under options exercisable within 60 days of February 18, 2004. If the 2,545 unallocated ESOPT shares are counted once instead of being counted six times by being attributed to each ESOPT Committee member, the total shares of common stock beneficially owned by all directors and named officers as a group would be 3,187,527.

Security Ownership in Subsidiary

In December 2003 and January 2004, Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”), a subsidiary of Cathay Bank, sold in a private placement 332,200 shares of its 7.0% Series A Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares (the “Series A Shares”) for $100 per share, of which Cathay Bank purchased 265,760 shares. The Series A Shares vote on a share for share basis with the common shares of REIT and are not convertible into common stock of the REIT or common stock of Cathay Bank or Bancorp. The REIT intends to continue to operate as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by investing primarily in participation interests in a portion of Cathay Bank’s portfolio of loans secured, in whole or in part, by real estate and leasehold improvements which generate net income.

The information below sets forth the number of Series A Shares beneficially owned as of February 18, 2004, by each of the current directors, the nominees recommended by the Board of Directors for election as directors, each of the individuals included in the “Summary Compensation Table” below, and all current directors, nominees, and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise noted in the footnotes below, each of these persons had sole voting and investment power with respect to the Series A Shares owned by him or her.


Name	Series A Shares Beneficially Owned	Series A Percent of Class
Michael M.Y. Chang	2,500^1/	0.75%
Heng W. Chen	250	0.08%
Dunson K. Cheng	5,000^2/	1.51%
George T.M. Ching	2,500^3/	0.75%
Wing K. Fat	2,000^4/	0.60%
Thomas G. Tartaglia	1,000^5/	0.30%
Wilbur K. Woo	1,500^6/	0.45%
All directors and named executive officers as a group (7 persons)	14,750	4.44%

^1/	The shares are jointly owned by Michael M.Y. Chang and Mr. Chang’s spouse.

^2/	Includes 2,500 shares held by Mr. Cheng’s spouse.

^3/	The shares are jointly owned by George T.M. Ching and Mr. Ching’s spouse.

^4/	The shares are held by the Fat Family Trust.

^5/	The shares are held by the Thomas G. Tartaglia Trust.

^6/	The shares are held by the Beth & Wilbur Woo Family Foundation.

Nominees, Continuing Directors, and Named Executive Officers

The principal occupations for at least the past five years of each nominee, director, and named executive officer is set forth as follows:

Nominees (Class II)

Kelly L. Chan, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Director of Cathay Bank since 1981. Certified Public Accountant. Owner of interest in and Vice President of Phoenix Bakery, Inc., a retail bakery in Los Angeles, California, since 1984.

Dunson K. Cheng, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bancorp, Cathay Bank, and Cathay Investment Company since 1994. President of Bancorp since 1990. President of Cathay Bank since 1985 and Director of Cathay Bank since 1982. President of Cathay Investment Company since 1999. Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Investment Company since 1995 and Director of Cathay Investment Company since 1984. Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of Cathay Securities Fund, Inc. from July, 2000 to January 2003. Trustee and President of Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust since February, 2003.

Thomas C.T. Chiu, Director of Bancorp and Cathay Bank since October 20, 2003. Medical doctor. Director of GBC Bancorp and General Bank from 1983 to October, 2003.

Joseph C.H. Poon, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Director of Cathay Bank since 1981. Director of Cathay Investment Company since 1984. Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of Cathay Investment Company from 1994 to 1998. President of Edward Properties since 1981 (real estate development).

Continuing Directors (Class III)

George T.M. Ching, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bancorp since 1990. Director of Cathay Bank since 1962. Vice Chairman of the Board of Cathay Investment Company since May, 1999. President of Cathay Investment Company from 1985 until 1999 and Director of Cathay Investment Company since 1984.

Wing K. Fat, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Director of Cathay Bank since 1972. Owner of interest in and the President of Frank Fat Inc., a restaurant and real estate company, for over 40 years. Owner of interest in and Vice President of Fat City Inc., a restaurant company, since 1973. Director of River City Bank since 1973.

Ting Y. Liu, Director of Bancorp and Cathay Bank since October 20, 2003. Chairman of HITO Corporation since 1987. Director of GBC Bancorp and General Bank from 1981 to 2003.

Wilbur K. Woo, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bancorp and Cathay Bank since November, 2001. Secretary of Bancorp from 1990 to November, 2001. Secretary of Cathay Bank from 1980 to November, 2001, and Director of Cathay Bank since 1978. Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Cathay Investment Company since 1998 and Director of Cathay Investment Company since 1987.

Continuing Directors (Class I)

Michael M.Y. Chang, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Secretary of Bancorp and Cathay Bank since November, 2001. Director of Cathay Bank since 1983. Assistant Secretary of Bancorp and Cathay Bank from April, 2001 to November, 2001. Retired attorney at law.

Patrick S.D. Lee, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Director of Cathay Bank since 1983. Director of Cathay Investment Company since 1984; Vice President of T.C. Realty, Inc. (property management) until retirement in March, 2001. Trustee of Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust since February, 2003.

Anthony M. Tang, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Executive Vice President of Bancorp since 1994; Assistant Secretary of Bancorp from 1991 to April, 2001; and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Bancorp from 1990 until June, 2003. Chief Lending Officer of Cathay Bank since 1985; Director of Cathay Bank since 1986; Assistant Secretary of Cathay Bank from 1994 to April, 2001; Senior Executive Vice President of Cathay Bank since December, 1998. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Cathay Securities Fund, Inc. from July, 2000 to January, 2003. Trustee and Vice President of Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust since February, 2003.

Thomas G. Tartaglia, Director of Bancorp since 1990. Director of Cathay Bank since 1986. Formerly Executive Vice President of Cathay Bank from 1984 until 1990.

Peter Wu , Director, Executive Vice Chairman, and Chief Operating Officer of Bancorp and Cathay Bank since October 20, 2003. Director of GBC Bancorp and General Bank from 1981 to October, 2003. Chairman of the Board of GBC Bancorp and General Bank from January, 2003 to October, 2003. President and Chief Executive Officer of GBC Bancorp and General Bank from January, 2001 to October, 2003. President and Chief Operating Officer of GBC Bancorp and General Bank from 1998 to December, 2000. Secretary of GBC Bancorp and General Bank from 1979 to January, 2001. Executive Vice President of GBC Bancorp from 1981 to March, 1998. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of General Bank from January, 1995 to March, 1998.

Other Named Executive Officers

Heng W. Chen, Executive Vice President of Bancorp and Cathay Bank since June, 2003. Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Bancorp since June, 2003. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust since December, 2003. Chief Financial Officer of Cathay Bank since January 1, 2004. Assistant Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Treasurer at City National Corporation from 1998 to June, 2003, Executive Vice President-Finance at City National Bank from 1984 to June, 2003.

Irwin Wong, Executive Vice President-Branch Administration for Cathay Bank since 1999. Senior Vice President-Branch Administration of Cathay Bank from 1989 until 1999. Treasurer of Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust from February, 2003 until December, 2003.

James R. Brewer, Executive Vice President-Credit Administration for Cathay Bank since August, 2003. Senior Vice President-Credit Administration for Cathay Bank from February, 2002 to August, 2003. President and Chief Executive Officer for First Charter Bank from September, 1996 to October, 2001. Consultant for First Charter Bank from October, 2001 to February, 2002.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Bancorp Board of Directors generally holds regular meetings on a monthly basis. Special meetings are called when necessary. During 2003, the Bancorp Board of Directors held 13 meetings and each director attended at least 75% of these meetings. The Bancorp Board of Directors has six standing committees: the Executive Committee, the ESOPT Committee, the Equity Incentive Plan Committee, the Audit Committee, the Nomination Committee, and the Investment Committee. It is the policy of Bancorp to invite and encourage all members of the Board of Directors to attend Bancorp’s annual meeting of stockholders. In 2003, all but one of Bancorp’s Directors attended the annual meeting.

Peter Wu, Thomas C.T. Chiu, and Ting Y. Liu joined the Board of Directors on October 20, 2003, upon completion of Bancorp’s merger with GBC Bancorp. Effective as of November 18, 2003, Ralph Roy Buon-Cristiani resigned as a director due to personal health reasons.

Executive Committee

During 2003, the Executive Committee consisted of Dunson K. Cheng (Chairman), Peter Wu (beginning November 20, 2003), George T.M. Ching, Anthony M. Tang, and Thomas G. Tartaglia. This committee exercises all powers of the Bancorp Board of Directors in the intervals between Board meetings, except for those powers that the Board has delegated to other committees or that are reserved to the full Board of Directors by statute, charter, or bylaws. The Executive Committee met 13 times during 2003, and each committee member attended all meetings of this committee while he was a member.

ESOPT Committee

During 2003, the ESOPT Committee consisted of Dunson K. Cheng (Chairman), Peter Wu (beginning November 20, 2003), Kelly L. Chan, George T.M. Ching, Joseph C.H. Poon, and Anthony M. Tang. This committee administers the ESOPT according to plan provisions and applicable governmental regulations. It is responsible for, among other things, the investment and management of the ESOPT’s assets. The ESOPT Committee met two times during 2003. Each committee member attended all of the meetings of this committee that were held while he was a member.

Equity Incentive Plan Committee

During 2003, the Equity Incentive Plan Committee consisted of Joseph C.H. Poon (Chairman), Thomas C.T. Chiu (beginning November 20, 2003), Ralph Roy Buon-Cristiani (until November 18, 2003), Michael M.Y. Chang, and Wing K. Fat. This committee selects participants, including executive officers and directors, of Bancorp and its subsidiary Cathay Bank to receive awards under Bancorp’s Equity Incentive Plan. It has broad discretion to determine the amount and types of awards, and the terms and conditions of individual awards. The Equity Incentive Plan Committee met two times during 2003, and each committee member attended all meetings of this committee that were held while he was a member.

Audit Committee

During 2003, the Audit Committee consisted of Kelly L. Chan (Chairman), Ralph Roy Buon-Cristiani (until November 18, 2003), Ting Y. Liu (beginning November 20, 2003), and Thomas G. Tartaglia. This committee oversees Bancorp’s financial reporting on behalf of its Board of Directors. It recommends to the Board and evaluates Bancorp’s independent auditors, and reviews with the independent auditors the proposed scope of, fees for, and results of the annual audit. It reviews the system of internal accounting controls and the scope and results of internal audits with the independent auditors, the internal auditors, and Bancorp management. It considers the audit and non-audit services provided by the independent auditors, the proposed fees to be charged for each type of service, and the effect of non-audit services on the independence of the independent auditors. It also performs any other tasks assigned to it by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee met 14 times during 2003. Each committee member attended all of the meetings of this committee that were held while he was a member.

The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which was revised and restated to reflect changes determined necessary and appropriate in response to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and its related regulations and to amendments to the Nasdaq listing standards established by the National Association of Securities Dealers. A copy of that revised Audit Committee charter is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix A.

The Audit Committee does not have a policy for pre-approving services to be provided by the Bancorp’s independent auditor without review by the Audit Committee. All services to be provided to Bancorp by its independent auditor are subject to review and approval by the Audit Committee in advance of the performance of the services, provided that the Audit Committee will not approve any non-audit services proscribed by Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act in the absence of an applicable exemption. The Audit Committee may delegate to a designated member or members of the Audit Committee the authority to approve such services so long as any such approval is reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

The Board of Directors conducted a review regarding whether each member of the Audit Committee qualifies as independent and determined that, during 2003, Messrs. Buon-Cristiani, Chan, Liu, and Tartaglia were each “independent” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards of the National Association of Securities Dealers in effect during their membership on the Audit Committee. Bancorp’s Board of Directors also conducted a review regarding whether any members of the Audit Committee meet the criteria to be considered an “audit committee financial expert” and determined that at least one of the three members of the Audit Committee, Kelly L. Chan, its Chairman, qualifies as an “audit committee finanical expert” as defined in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Nomination Committee

During 2003, the Nomination Committee consisted of George T.M. Ching (Chairman), Kelly L. Chan, and Joseph C.H. Poon. All members of the committee are independent except Mr. Ching, because he holds the title of Vice Chairman of Bancorp and Cathay Bank and is an officer of Cathay Investment Company. The Board believes it has been in the best interest of Bancorp and its stockholders to include Mr. Ching as a member of the Nomination Committee because, as one of the founders of Cathay Bank, his experience and wisdom accumulated from over 40 years with Cathay Bank and the community that it serves is of value to the Bancorp. Nevertheless, Mr. Ching will be replaced on this committee with an independent director. This committee identifies and evaluates candidates qualified to serve as members of the Board and makes recommendations to the Board regarding such candidates. Nominees for this 2004 annual meeting of stockholders were made and approved by a majority of the independent directors of the Board, with the nominees abstaining. The Nomination Committee met four times during 2003. Each committee member attended all of the meetings of this committee. The Nomination Committee has a charter, a current copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix B.

The policy of our Nomination Committee is to consider candidates properly recommended by our stockholders. In evaluating any such candidates, our Nomination Committee will consider the criteria described below. Any such recommendations should include the nominee’s name and qualifications for membership on our Board of Directors and should be directed to our Secretary, Cathay General Bancorp, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. In addition, our bylaws permit stockholders to nominate directors for election at stockholder meetings. To nominate a director, stockholders must give timely notice to our Secretary in accordance with our bylaws, which require that the notice be received by our Secretary within the time periods described under “Stockholder Proposals” on page 25.

The Board and Nomination Committee consider potential nominees based on such criteria as depth and breadth of relevant experience, intelligence, personal character, integrity, commitment to the community and to Bancorp, knowledge of the business of banking, compatibility with the current Board culture, and prominence — all in the context of the perceived needs of the Board at the point in time of the consideration. Nominees must also be acceptable to banking regulators. Bancorp seeks to insure that at least a majority of the directors are independent under the NASDAQ listing rules and that members of Bancorp’s audit committee meet NASDAQ and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation requirements and that at least one of them qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The process for identifying and evaluating candidates is commenced by the Board upon its determination of a need to fill a new position or vacancy. At the request of the Board, the Nomination Committee then seeks to identify potential candidates who meet the specific criteria given by the Board at the time of the request based on input from members of the Board and, if the Board deems appropriate, a third-party search firm. The process begins with conducting inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of such candidates. If the Nomination Committee determines that a candidate is qualified to serve as a director and that he or she should be recommended to the Board, the Board will then review the recommendation and the accompanying information. If the Board is interested in a proposed candidate, it will designate a member to contact the candidate to discuss the proposed nomination, and determine if the candidate is interested in the nomination and if there is any reason why the Board should not proceed with the nomination. Depending on the outcome, the next step in the process is for the candidate to meet with all members of the Board. Following these meetings, and using the input from such interviews and the information obtained by the Nomination Committee, the Nomination Committee will evaluate whether the candidate meets the requisite qualifications and criteria and should be recommended to the Board. Candidates recommended by the Nomination Committee are then presented to the Board for selection as nominees for election by the stockholders or by the Board to fill a vacancy. The Nomination Committee expects that a similar process will be used to evaluate nominees recommended by stockholders.

Investment Committee

During 2003, the Investment Committee consisted of Dunson K. Cheng (Chairman), Peter Wu (beginning November 20, 2003), Joseph C.H. Poon, George T.M. Ching, and Kelly L. Chan. This committee oversees Bancorp’s investment and funds management policies at the holding company level. This committee exists along side the Investment Committee at Bancorp’s subsidiary, Cathay Bank. The Bancorp Investment Committee met three times during 2003. Each committee member attended all of the meetings of this committee while he was a member except for Mr. Chan, who was absent for one meeting.

Compensation of Directors

The current directors of Bancorp are also the current directors of Cathay Bank. As a result, the current policy for compensation of directors is that Cathay Bank pays each Cathay Bank director who is not also a full-time officer of Bancorp, Cathay Bank, or Cathay Investment Company a monthly fee of $1,500 plus $300 for each Cathay Bank Board committee meeting (other than loan committee meetings) and $350 for each Cathay Bank Board loan committee meeting attended by the director. In 2003, Cathay Bank also paid each Cathay Bank non-employee director $8,400 as a bonus. Cathay Investment Company currently pays each of its directors who is not a full-time officer of Bancorp, Cathay Bank, or Cathay Investment Company a fee of $200 for each of its Board of Directors meetings attended. Bancorp, Cathay Bank, and Cathay Investment Company reimburse directors for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Boards of Directors and Board committees and in traveling on company business. Cathay Bank pays Mr. Chang $1,500 per month for his services as Secretary of Bancorp and Cathay Bank. In addition to director fees paid to such persons, in 2003, Cathay Bank paid $22,425 to Mr. Woo for his service as an officer, and Cathay Investment Company paid $33,635 to Mr. Ching for his service as an officer.

Directors are also eligible to receive stock option grants and restricted stock awards under the Bancorp’s Equity Incentive Plan. On January 16, 2003, each non-employee director was granted nonqualified stock options to purchase 1,900 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $39.85 per share (which was the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant). In addition, on November 20, 2003, each non-employee director was granted nonqualified stock options to purchase an additional 5,500 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $49.60 per share (which was the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant). Both sets of option grants become exercisable in 20% increments over a five-year period. They terminate ten years from the date of grant, subject to early termination in the event of termination of directorship, disability, or death.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

As part of its ongoing activities, the Audit Committee has:

Reviewed and discussed with management and Bancorp’s independent auditors Bancorp’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003;

Discussed with Bancorp’s independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU § 380), as may be modified or supplemented; and

Received the written disclosures and the letter from Bancorp’s independent auditors required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, “Independence Discussions with Audit Committees,” and has discussed with such independent auditors their independence.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited annual consolidated financial statements be included in Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

The Audit Committee:

Kelly L. Chan

Ting Y. Liu

Thomas G. Tartaglia

Professional Services Provided by Independent Auditors

KPMG LLP was Bancorp’s independent auditor during 2003. The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by KPMG LLP for the audits of Bancorp’s annual financial statements for 2003 and 2002, and fees billed or to be billed for other services rendered by KPMG LLP.


	2003			2002
Audit fees	$	361,500	^1/	$	186,000
Audit related fees		140,155	^2/		20,000
Tax fees		240,445	^3/		205,000
All other fees		0			0

Total fees	$	742,100		$	411,000

^1/

Audit fees consist of the aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP in connection with the audit of Bancorp’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003, and for the required review of Bancorp’s financial information included in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for 2003 and in its registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission during 2003.

^2/

Audit related fees consisted of fees for audits of financial statements of certain employee benefit plans and due diligence services. After considering the matter, the Audit Committee does not believe the rendering of these services by KPMG LLP to be incompatible with maintaining the independence of KPMG LLP as Bancorp’s external auditor.

^3/	Tax fees consisted of fees for tax consultation and tax compliance services. After considering the matter, the Audit Committee does not believe the rendering of these services by KPMG LLP to be incompatible with maintaining the independence of KPMG LLP as Bancorp’s external auditor.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Remuneration of Executive Officers

The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation for services in all capacities paid or accrued for 2003 by Bancorp or Cathay Bank to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Bancorp and the four most highly compensated executive officers of either Bancorp or Cathay Bank.

Summary Compensation Table


		Annual Compensation									Long Term Compensation
Name and Principal Position	Year	Salary^1/ ($)			Bonus ($)			Other Annual Compen- sation ^2/ ($)			Restricted Stock Award ($)	Securities Underlying Options (#)		LTIP ($)	All Other Compen- sation ^3/ ($)
Dunson K. Cheng, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Bancorp and Cathay Bank	2003 2002 2001	$	700,000 660,540 606,000		$ $	700,000 600,000 530,000		$	4,852 4,868 5,768		N/A N/A N/A	395,865 39,660 37,080		N/A N/A N/A	$	21,372 19,120 16,905	^4/

Peter Wu, Executive Vice Chairman, and Chief Operating Officer of Bancorp and Cathay Bank	2003 2002 2001	$	72,425 * *	^5/	$	74,554 * *	^6/		2,222 * *	^7/	N/A * *	0 * *	^8/	N/A * *	$	730 * *	^9/

Anthony M. Tang, Executive Vice President of Bancorp and Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Cathay Bank	2003 2002 2001	$	243,918 235,670 227,700		$	225,000 234,771 227,850			0 0 0		N/A N/A N/A	76,320 13,000 13,180		N/A N/A N/A	$	20,402 18,057 16,463	^10/

Heng W. Chen, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bancorp and Cathay Bank	2003 2002 2001	$	118,793 * *	^11/	$	165,000 * *			0 * *		N/A * *	24,870 * *		N/A * *	$	2,398 * *	^12/

Irwin Wong, Executive Vice President for Branch Administration of Cathay Bank	2003 2002 2001	$	185,536 175,536 165,600		$	178,000 150,000 154,375		$	570 487 763		N/A N/A N/A	90,310 9,240 8,060		N/A N/A N/A	$	19,302 17,788 16,147	^13/

James R. Brewer, Executive Vice President for Credit Administration	2003 2002 2001	$	155,000 103,672 *	^15/		85,000 43,200 *			0 0 *		N/A N/A *	25,480 0 *		N/A N/A *	$	5,075 2,392 *	^14/

*	Was not employed by Cathay General Bancorp or Cathay Bank during this period of time.

¹^/	Includes amounts deferred by the named officers under Bancorp’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan.

²^/	The amounts reported in this column reflect the incremental cost to Bancorp of automobiles provided to the named officers. The amounts exclude other perquisites and personal benefits paid to each named officer as such

other perquisites and personal benefits, in each instance, were less than the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the total annual salary and bonus set forth above.

³^/	The amounts in this column consist of group life insurance premiums, health insurance premiums, employer contributions to the ESOPT and employer contributions under the 401(k) Plan.

⁴^/	This amount consists of $468 in group life insurance premiums, $3,245 in health insurance premiums, approximately $10,659 in employer contribution to the ESOPT and $7,000 in employer contribution under the 401(k) Plan.

⁵^/

The amount shown represents salary paid for 2003 by Cathay Bank to Mr. Wu following the merger of GBC Bancorp and General Bank (collectively “GBC”) with and into Bancorp and Cathay Bank on October 20, 2003, and does not include salary paid by GBC to Mr. Wu for the 2003 service rendered prior to the merger, i.e., $246,358. Effective October 21, 2003, Mr. Wu’s annual salary from Cathay Bank is $350,000.

⁶^/	The amount shown represents bonus accrued for 2003 by Cathay Bank to Mr. Wu, and does not include the profit sharing award and the gross-up payment related thereto, in a total sum of $214,099, received by Mr. Wu for his services rendered to GBC in 2003 prior to the merger.

⁷^/

Does not include other annual compensation received by Mr. Wu for services rendered to GBC in 2003 prior to the merger or as benefits received from the merger, including $26,400 in director fees paid by GBC, $506 incremental cost of automobile, $13,462 accrued vacation, $140,178 termination fee received by Mr. Wu under his employment agreement with GBC, $383,580 in income associated with the pre-closing exercise of the stock options held by Mr. Wu under the GBC 1988 stock option plan, and $3,013,162 in income associated with the pre-closing exercise of the contingency options held by Mr. Wu.

⁸^/

Bancorp did not make any option grants to Mr. Wu during 2003; however, as part of the GBC merger, Bancorp assumed Mr. Wu’s options to purchase shares of GBC common stock held under the GBC 1999 employee stock incentive plan that were converted into options to purchase 230,403 shares of Bancorp common stock.

⁹^/

This amount consists of $78 in group life insurance premiums and $652 in health insurance premiums. Does not include $360 in group life insurance premiums, $3,559 in health insurance premiums, and $10,000 in employer contributions under the General Bank 401(k) Plan contributed by General Bank prior to the merger.

¹⁰^/	This amount consists of $468 in group life insurance premiums, $4,530 in health insurance premiums, $10,685 in employer contribution to the ESOPT and $4,719 in employer contribution under the 401(k) Plan.

¹¹^/	Prorated amount actually paid (based on annual salary of $235,000) because employment commenced effective June 30, 2003.

¹²^/	This amount consists of $117 in group life insurance premiums, $1,106 in health insurance premiums, and $1,175 in employer contribution under the 401(k) Plan.

¹³^/	This amount consists of $468 in group life insurance premiums, $4,530 in health insurance premiums, $10,643 in employer contribution to the ESOPT and $3,661 in employer contribution under the 401(k) Plan.

¹⁴^/	This amount consists of $468 in group life insurance premiums, $3,245 in health insurance premiums, and $1,362 in employer contribution under the 401(k) Plan.

¹⁵^/	Prorated amount actually paid (based on annual salary of $120,000) because employment commenced effective February 14, 2002.

Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

In 2003, the following individuals named in the above Summary Compensation Table were granted options to purchase shares of our common stock under the Equity Incentive Plan. In 2003, Bancorp did not have any outstanding stock appreciation rights.

Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year


	Individual Grants
Name	Number of Securities Underlying Options Granted (#)^1/	% of Total Options Granted to Employees in Fiscal Year^2/		Exercise or Base Price ($/Sh)		Expiration Date	Grant Date Present Value ($)
Dunson K. Cheng	76,530	7.63	%	$	39.85	01/16/2013	$	689,535	^3/
	319,335	31.84	%		49.60	11/20/2013		3,733,026	^4/
Peter Wu	0	0.00	%		N/A	N/A		0
Anthony M. Tang	23,750	2.37	%	$	39.85	01/16/2013		213,988	^3/
	52,570	5.24	%		49.60	11/20/2013		614,543	^4/
Heng W. Chen	24,870	2.48	%		49.60	11/20/2013		290,730	^4/
Irwin Wong	18,790	1.87	%	$	39.85	01/16/2013		169,298	^3/
	71,520	7.13	%		49.60	11/20/2013		836,069	^4/
James R. Brewer	25,480	2.54	%	$	49.60	11/20/2013		297,861	^4/

^1/	The options become exercisable in 20% increments over a five-year period, subject to early termination in the event of termination of employment, disability, or death.

^2/	Based on total options to purchase 1,003,000 shares of Bancorp common stock granted in 2003 under Bancorp’s Equity Incentive Plan, including options granted to non-employee directors to purchase 61,100 shares.

^3/

The grant date present values are estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model assuming (a) a four-year expected life of the option; (b) a stock price volatility of 28.55%, based on daily market prices for the preceding four-year period; (c) an expected dividend yield of 1.41% per share per annum; and (d) a risk-free interest rate of 2.33%. The grant date present values are provided in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not represent Bancorp’s estimate or projection of the future value or market price of Bancorp common stock. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises are dependent, among other things, on Bancorp’s future financial performance, overall market conditions, and the option holder’s continued employment through the vesting period.

^4/

The grant date present values are estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model assuming (a) a four-year expected life of the option; (b) a stock price volatility of 28.06%, based on daily market prices for the preceding four-year period; (c) an expected dividend yield of 1.13% per share per annum; and (d) a risk-free interest rate of 2.76%. The grant date present values are provided in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not represent Bancorp’s estimate or projection of the future value or market price of Bancorp common stock. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises are dependent, among other things, on Bancorp’s future financial performance, overall market conditions, and the option holder’s continued employment through the vesting period.

The following table summarizes options exercises during 2003, and the number of all options and the value of all in-the-money options held at the end of 2003, by the individuals named in the above Summary Compensation Table.

Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values


Name	Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)	Value Realized ($)^1/	Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at End of Fiscal 2003 (#)	Value of Unexercised In- the-Money Options at End of Fiscal 2003 ($)^2/
Name	Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)	Value Realized ($)^1/	Exercisable/Unexercisable	Exercisable/Unexercisable
Dunson K. Cheng	0	0	79,760 / 464,505	$ 2,717,887 /5,114,279
Peter Wu	0	0	98,986 / 131,417^3/	1,477,267 / 1,648,865
Anthony M. Tang	0	0	25,592 / 99,228	864,962 / 1,329,590
Heng W. Chen	0	0	0 / 24,870	0 / 159,417
Irwin Wong	0	0	9,980 / 106,114	312,326 / 1,185,133
James R. Brewer	0	0	0 / 25,480	0 / 163,327

^1/	Based on the closing price of the underlying securities at the exercise date, less the exercise price.

^2/	Based on the closing price of the underlying securities at year-end, less the exercise price.

^3/

Bancorp did not make any option grants to Mr. Wu during the year 2003; however, as part of the GBC Bancorp merger, Bancorp assumed Mr. Wu’s options to purchase shares of GBC Bancorp common stock held under the GBC Bancorp 1999 Employee Stock Incentive Plan. Pursuant to the terms of the GBC Bancorp plan, the unexercisable options become exercisable if Mr. Wu’s employment is terminated for any reason, or for no reason (other than as the result of malfeasance or gross misfeasance in the performance of duties, or conviction of illegal activity in connection therewith or conviction of a felony) within one year after October 20, 2003.

Profit Sharing Plan

Salaried employees of Bancorp’s subsidiary, Cathay Bank, who have completed three months of service and have attained the age of 21 are eligible to participate in Bancorp’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. Enrollment dates are on January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st of each year. In 2003, participants were allowed to contribute up to 75% of their compensation for the year, not to exceed the dollar limit set by the Internal Revenue Code. Participants may change their contribution election on the enrollment dates. In 2003, after a participant has completed one year of service, Cathay Bank matched 50% of the participants’ contribution up to 4% of their compensation. Commencing in 2004, Cathay Bank will match 100% of a participants’ contribution up to 5% of their compensation. The vesting schedule for the matching contribution is 0% for less than two years of service, 25% after two years of service and from then on, at an increment of 25% each year until 100% is vested after five years of service. In 2003, Cathay Bank’s contribution amounted to approximately $287,529. The 401(k) Plan allows participants to withdraw all or part of their vested amount due to certain financial hardships set forth in the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations. Participants may also borrow up to 50% of the vested amount, up to a maximum of $50,000. The minimum loan amount is $1,000.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Bancorp’s Amended and Restated Cathay Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) provides that Bancorp can make annual contributions to a trust in the form of either cash or common stock of Bancorp for the benefit of eligible employees and to pay administration expenses for this plan and trust. Employees of Cathay Bank are eligible to participate in the ESOP after completing two years of service for salaried full-time employees or 1,000 hours for each of two consecutive years for salaried part-time employees.

The amount of the annual contribution is discretionary except that it must be sufficient to enable the trust to meet its current obligations. Each participant’s share of the annual contribution to the trust, including the share of each participating executive officer, is calculated by dividing the participant’s total “units” by the total “units” of all ESOP participants for that year. Each ESOP participant is granted one “unit” for each year of service and one “unit” for each one hundred dollars of eligible compensation.

Bancorp does not plan to make any contributions to the trust in 2004. In prior years, the Board of Directors determined the amount of the annual contribution to the trust in light of Bancorp’s earnings in the prior plan year. To date, such contributions have been made in cash. The cash contributed to the trust is invested by its trustees in shares of Bancorp’s common stock. Each participant’s benefits under the ESOP consist of the cash (or cash equivalents) and shares of Bancorp’s common stock allocated to the participant’s ESOP account in accordance with the above-described formula. Under the ESOP, each participant’s benefits are fully vested and without risk of forfeiture. Benefits under the ESOP are distributed to the participant in accordance with the rules of the ESOP and generally begin when the participant attains the age of 65 (or upon death or disability) or after the lapse of three years following termination of employment.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2003, with respect to compensation plans under which equity securities of Bancorp are authorized for issuance.


Plan Category	(a) Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights	(b) Weighted-average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights	(c) Number of Securities Remaining Available For Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans [Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)]
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders	2,011,540^1/	$40.07	2,156,972
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders	0	0	0
Total	2,011,540^1/	$40.07	2,156,972

^1/

Includes options granted under the GBC Bancorp 1999 Employee Stock Incentive Plan. On October 20, 2003, pursuant to the terms of its merger with GBC Bancorp, Bancorp assumed an obligation to issue up to 708,260 shares of Bancorp’s common stock for outstanding options under the GBC Bancorp 1999 Employee Stock Incentive Plan. No further grants will be made under this GBC Bancorp plan.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

The Bancorp Board of Directors has a committee administering the Equity Incentive Plan, but did not have a compensation committee in 2003. No executive officer is separately compensated for services rendered to Bancorp. Messrs. Cheng, Wu, Tang, and Chen hold positions with both Bancorp and Cathay Bank. Accordingly, in 2003, recommendations regarding the compensation of certain executive officers, including the President and Chief Executive Officer, other than the grant of awards under the Equity Incentive Plan, were made by the Compensation Committee of the Cathay Bank Board of Directors, subject to the review and approval of the Cathay Bank Board of Directors. Beginning in 2004, the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and all other executive officers will be recommended to the Board of Directors for determination by a newly created Bancorp Executive Compensation Committee comprised solely of independent directors.

The Bancorp Equity Incentive Plan Committee makes decisions regarding the grant of awards under the Equity Incentive Plan to executive officers, including the President and Chief Executive Officer. In 2003, the members of the Equity Incentive Plan Committee were Joseph C.H. Poon (Chairman), Ralph Roy Buon-Cristiani (until November 18, 2003), Michael M.Y. Chang, and Wing K. Fat. Each of these individuals is also a director of Bancorp.

The members of the Cathay Bank Compensation Committee were Dunson K. Cheng (Chairman), George T.M. Ching, Joseph C.H. Poon, Thomas G. Tartaglia, and Kelly L. Chan. Each of these individuals is also a Director of Bancorp. Mr. Cheng does not participate in, and excuses himself from, those portions of any meeting of the Cathay Bank Board of Directors or Compensation Committee in which his compensation is discussed or established. All members of the committee are independent except Mr. Cheng, who is the Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Bank and Bancorp and Mr. Ching, who holds the title of Vice Chairman of Bancorp and Cathay Bank and is a paid officer of Cathay Investment Company. Beginning in 2004, the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and all other executive officers will be recommended to the Board of Directors for determination by a newly created Bancorp Executive Compensation Committee comprised solely of independent directors.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

In 2003, the Cathay Bank Compensation Committee established general policies on executive compensation as well as the actual salary, bonus, and discretionary benefits of the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bancorp and Cathay Bank and all other executive officers of the Bancorp including the executive officers named in this proxy statement. Decisions of the Cathay Bank Compensation Committee are subject to the review and approval of the entire Cathay Bank Board of Directors. Beginning in 2004, the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and all other executive officers will be recommended to the Board of Directors for determination by a newly created Bancorp Executive Compensation Committee comprised solely of independent directors.

The Bancorp Equity Incentive Plan Committee selects participants, including the executive officers, of Bancorp and its subsidiary, Cathay Bank, to receive awards under the Equity Incentive Plan and has broad discretion to determine the amounts and types of awards and the terms and conditions of individual awards.

The compensation program for executive officers, including the President and Chief Executive Officer, currently consists of base salary, annual cash bonus, participation in Bancorp’s ESOP, certain matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan, life insurance in an amount equal to three times base salary (with a $300,000 cap), and the same medical, dental, and disability benefits as provided to other Cathay Bank employees. Such officers are also eligible to participate in the Equity Incentive Plan.

The Cathay Bank Compensation Committee and the Bancorp Equity Incentive Plan Committee believe that to reward, provide incentives to, and retain capable management, each of the executive officers should receive compensation that is both competitive and reflective of Cathay Bank’s and Bancorp’s performance. In addition, the Compensation Committee and the Equity Incentive Plan Committee believe that individual compensation should reflect the experience, performance, and responsibility level of that individual.

Publicly held corporations generally are not permitted a Federal income tax deduction for compensation paid to certain officers to the extent that such an officer’s compensation exceeds $1 million in a taxable year. An exception may apply to performance-based compensation that meets certain requirements, including approval of the material terms by the stockholders in advance of payment. The newly created Bancorp Executive Compensation Committee will review the application of the Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) limitation on tax deductions and intends to structure Bancorp’s compensation programs to qualify certain compensation payments for tax deduction to the extent possible while reserving the discretion to make payments which are not tax deductible as circumstances warrant.

Base Compensation

As part of the process of establishing base salaries, the Compensation Committee reviews the performance of each executive officer in relation to the overall performance of Cathay Bank, and considers factors such as the experience and responsibility of each individual, including performance of special projects and assignments. Because the Committee believes that the evaluation of performance should not be reduced to a formula, the Committee considers a wide range of performance criteria. These criteria include objective factors, such as earnings and profits, and subjective factors, such as individual performance.

In establishing each executive officer’s base salary, the Compensation Committee generally gives the most weight to the subjective evaluation of the performance of the individual in relation to the performance of Cathay Bank, followed by a consideration of the officer’s level of responsibility and experience, and then an evaluation of objective performance factors, without any particular magnitude being assigned to these factors. The size of the base salary for each executive officer is determined by the above-mentioned subjective evaluation of the individual’s performance, a comparison of the compensation levels paid to the individual in past years in relation to the individual’s performance in those years, and Bancorp’s and Cathay Bank’s general financial condition, profitability, and results of operations. Consideration is also given to changes in the cost of living.

In 2002, Bancorp’s total assets increased by approximately 12% over 2001 levels, deposits increased by approximately 9%, stockholders’ equity increased by approximately 17% over 2001 levels, return on average assets increased from 1.82% in 2001 to 1.88% in 2002, net income increased approximately 14%, from $42.6 million in 2001 to $48.7 million in 2002, and earnings per diluted share increased from $2.35 in 2001 to $2.69 in 2002. The Compensation Committee considered this financial performance data and each executive officer’s level of responsibilities in giving executive officers an increase in base salaries of approximately 3.5% to 29% in 2003. The Compensation Committee further notes the substantial growth of the Bancorp, and the increased responsibilities of its executive officers, as a result of the merger with GBC Bancorp. At year-end 2003, due in part to Bancorp’s merger with GBC Bancorp, total assets increased by 101.2%, deposits at Cathay Bank increased by approximately 91% and gross loans increased by 76%, and stockholders’ equity increased by approximately 115% over 2002 levels. In addition, return on average stockholders’ equity, at 15.13%, and return on average assets, at 1.58%, continue to be strong while net income increased approximately 14%, from $48.7 million in 2002 to $55.6 million in 2003, and earnings per diluted share increased from $2.69 in 2002 to $2.85 in 2003.

The Compensation Committee reviews objective data on the financial condition, profitability, and results from operations of Bancorp and Cathay Bank in light of the financial performance of other similar banks, Bancorp’s and Cathay Bank’s relative advantages and disadvantages in the banking industry, and the obstacles and challenges presented to the particular executive in attempting to achieve the goals of Bancorp and Cathay Bank. The Compensation Committee also reviews the base compensation of executive officers in equivalent positions paid by banks considered competitive with Cathay Bank and by other banks of similar size across the United States.

In addition to these surveys, the Compensation Committee considers data comparing the percentage change in cumulative total stockholder return on Bancorp’s common stock with the percentage change in cumulative total stockholder return on the Standard & Poor’s 500 and the SNL Western Bank Index. See “Comparative Stock Performance” below for a graph comparing cumulative stockholder return data for Bancorp, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, and the SNL Western Bank Index. The SNL Western Bank Index is a market-weighted index including every publicly traded bank located in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

Annual Cash Bonus

The annual cash bonus paid to each executive officer, including the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, is determined, in the discretion of the Compensation Committee, on the basis of the overall performance and profitability of Cathay Bank and Bancorp in the fiscal year then ending, and the Committee’s subjective evaluation of the individual officer’s performance and responsibility in relation to company performance. Overall performance and profitability is determined with reference to the following factors listed in order of importance: net income, return on average assets, return on stockholders’ equity, and percentage increase or decrease in total assets, loans, and deposits.

The size of the annual bonus for each officer is determined by the above-mentioned evaluation of the performance of Bancorp and Cathay Bank in relation to the contributions, as perceived by the Compensation Committee, made by the officer to achieve the overall level of financial performance of Bancorp and Cathay Bank, and by a comparison of the size of annual bonuses paid to the officer in past years with respect to the individual’s performance in those years, the base salaries of the executives and the length of employment with Bancorp and Cathay Bank, and the overall performance and profitability of Bancorp and Cathay Bank in those years. Based on these factors, the Compensation Committee increased the bonuses paid to three named executive officers by between 18.7% to 96.8% and reduced the bonus of one by approximately 4.2%. Two of the named officers joined

Bancorp in 2003 and as such a year-over-year comparisons are not available for these officers. See also “CEO Compensation” below.

The Equity Incentive Plan

Bancorp’s Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 3,500,000 shares of Bancorp’s common stock under awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan. Awards may be granted in the form of stock options or restricted stock. The Equity Incentive Plan is intended to strengthen Bancorp by providing selected employees and directors of Bancorp and its subsidiaries, including Cathay Bank, an opportunity to participate in Bancorp’s future by offering them an opportunity to acquire common stock in Bancorp so as to retain, attract, and motivate them.

As of February 18, 2004, there are 45 participants in the Equity Incentive Plan. The Equity Incentive Plan Committee has the discretion to determine the number and type of awards granted, and awards generally increase as a function of higher positions of responsibility in Bancorp or its subsidiaries. Awards are generally based on a subjective analysis of the individual’s performance, the general performance of Bancorp and Cathay Bank, and a review of option grants made at other banks of comparable size and complexity. Consideration is also given to the estimated dilutive effect of such awards on Bancorp’s stockholders.

In 2003, the Equity Incentive Plan Committee granted nonqualified options to purchase 1,003,000 shares of our common stock under the Equity Incentive Plan. Of these options, it granted options to purchase 395,865 shares of our common stock to the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. Options granted to the other officers named in this proxy statement for the same period ranged from options to purchase 24,870 shares to 90,310 shares. The options granted in January have an exercise price of $39.85 per share. The options granted in November have an exercise price of $49.60. The exercise prices for both sets of options were based on the closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. Options become exercisable in 20% increments over a five-year period, and they terminate ten years from the date of the grant, subject to early termination in the event of termination of employment, disability, or death.

On October 20, 2003, pursuant to the terms of its merger with GBC Bancorp, Bancorp assumed an obligation to issue up to 708,260 shares of Bancorp’s common stock for outstanding options under the GBC Bancorp 1999 Employee Stock Incentive Plan. No further grants will be made under this GBC Bancorp plan.

CEO Compensation

The Compensation Committee increased Mr. Cheng’s annual base salary by approximately 5.97% to $700,000 in 2003. The Committee also awarded him a $700,000 cash bonus (an increase of approximately 16.66% from the bonus paid for 2002). Mr. Cheng’s total base salary and bonus for 2003 was $1,400,000, up from $1,260,540 in 2002. Generally, the Compensation Committee sets Mr. Cheng’s base salary primarily on the basis of its subjective evaluation of his performance in the immediately preceding year, the percentage increase or decrease in total assets, loans, and deposits in the immediately preceding year, the percentage increase or decrease in net income in the immediately preceding year, and a comparison of his level of compensation with chief executive officers at other banks of a similar size operating in California, particularly those banks that operate in the same markets as Cathay Bank. In 2002, Bancorp’s total assets increased by approximately 12% over 2001 levels, deposits increased by approximately 9%, stockholders’ equity increased by approximately 17% over 2001 levels, return on average assets increased from 1.82% in 2001 to 1.88% in 2002, net income increased approximately 14%, from $42.6 million in 2001 to $48.7 million in 2002, and earnings per diluted share increased from $2.35 in 2001 to $2.69 in 2002.

The bonus paid to Mr. Cheng is based generally on the performance of Bancorp and Cathay Bank and on an evaluation of Mr. Cheng’s management abilities. In particular, in determining Mr. Cheng’s bonus, the Compensation Committee considers the percentage increase or decrease in net income occurring during the year in which the bonus is paid and any growth in total assets, loans, and deposits occurring during that year. In 2003, primarily due to Bancorp’s merger with GBC Bancorp, total assets increased by approximately 101.2%, deposits at Cathay Bank increased by approximately 91% and gross loans increased by 76%, and stockholders’ equity increased by approximately 115% over 2002 levels. In addition, return on average stockholders’ equity, at 15.13%, and return on

average assets, at 1.58%, continue to be strong while net income increased approximately 14%, from $48.7 million in 2002 to $55.6 million in 2003, and earnings per diluted share increased from $2.69 in 2002 to $2.85 in 2003. In determining Mr. Cheng’s bonus, the Compensation Committee considered Mr. Cheng’s efforts related to the merger with GBC Bancorp and his increased responsibilities as result of the greater size of the company following the merger. The Compensation Committee also considered Mr. Cheng’s management abilities as reflected in Bancorp’s rankings for efficiency relative to other bank holding companies. According to a recent survey published in a well-known banking newspaper, Bancorp’s efficiency ratio continues to rank among the top bank holding companies, and was the second best among California institutions included in the survey. This survey rates efficiency based on the ratio of non-interest expense to total income minus interest expense.

The number of options granted to Mr. Cheng in 2003 was based on a subjective analysis of his performance, the general performance of Bancorp and Cathay Bank, and a review of option grants made at other banks of comparable size and complexity, with consideration also given to the estimated dilutive effect of such options on Bancorp’s existing stockholders.

Although Mr. Cheng is a member of Cathay Bank’s Compensation Committee, he does not participate in, and excuses himself from, those portions of any meeting in which his compensation is discussed or established. Mr. Cheng is not a member of the Equity Incentive Plan Committee.

The Compensation Committee:

The Equity Incentive Plan Committee:

George T.M. Ching

Thomas G. Tartaglia

Dunson K. Cheng

Joseph C.H. Poon

Kelly L. Chan

Thomas C.T. Chiu (beginning November 20, 2003)

Ralph Roy Buon-Cristiani (until November 18, 2003)

Michael M.Y. Chang

Wing K. Fat

Joseph C.H. Poon

Thomas C.T. Chiu (beginning November 20, 2003)

COMPARATIVE STOCK PERFORMANCE

The graph below compares the percentage change in the cumulative total stockholder return on Bancorp’s common stock from December 31, 1998, through December 31, 2003, with the percentage change in the cumulative total return on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (the S&P 500 Index) and the SNL Western Bank Index for the same period. The SNL Western Bank Index is a market-weighted index including every publicly traded bank located in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Bancorp will furnish, without charge, on the written request of any person who is a stockholder of record as of March 5, 2004, a list of the companies included in the SNL Western Bank Index. Requests for this information should be addressed to Michael M.Y. Chang, Secretary, Cathay General Bancorp, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. This graph assumes the investment of $100 in Bancorp’s common stock on December 31, 1998, and an investment of $100 in each of the S&P 500 Index and the SNL Western Bank Index on that date.

NOTE: The comparisons in the graph below are based upon historical data and are not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, the future performance or returns of Bancorp’s common stock.

LOGO


	Period Ending
Index	12/31/98	12/31/99	12/31/00	12/31/01	12/31/02	12/31/03
Cathay General Bancorp	100.00	102.14	149.87	165.70	199.62	298.16
S&P 500*	100.00	121.11	110.34	97.32	75.75	97.40
SNL Western Bank Index	100.00	103.35	136.83	119.65	130.91	177.34

*	Source: CRSP, Center for Research in Security Prices, Graduate School of Business, the University of Chicago 2004. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION

The information contained in this proxy statement under the captions “Audit Committee Report,” “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” “Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation” and “Comparative Stock Performance” shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement, or any part of this proxy statement, into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that Bancorp expressly incorporates such information in such filing by reference. The information contained in this proxy statement under the captions “Audit Committee Report,” “Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation” and “Comparative Stock Performance” shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or otherwise be deemed to be filed under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act, except to the extent that Bancorp requests that such information be treated as soliciting material or expressly incorporates such information in any such filing by reference.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act requires that Bancorp’s executive officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent of its common stock timely file initial reports of ownership of common stock and other equity securities, and reports of changes in such ownership, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with Nasdaq. Bancorp has instituted procedures to receive and review these insider reports. After a review of the insider reports, Bancorp believes that all required reports were timely filed during 2003, except as follows: Mr. Buon-Cristiani, a director, was late in filing a Report on Form 4 relating to the sale of 485 shares of Bancorp common stock in January, 2003; Irwin Wong, an executive officer, was late in filing a Report on Form 4 relating to the receipt of a gift of 490 shares of Bancorp common stock in May, 2003; Ting Y. Liu, a director, inadvertently omitted 2,822 shares of Bancorp common stock from a Report on Form 3 filed in October, 2003, which has since been corrected.

CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

Banking Transactions

Some of the directors and officers of Bancorp or Cathay Bank, members of their families, and the companies with which they are associated have been customers of, and have had banking transactions with, Cathay Bank in the ordinary course of Cathay Bank’s business since Cathay Bank began operations. Cathay Bank expects to continue such banking transactions in the future. All loans and commitments to lend included in these transactions were made in compliance with applicable laws and on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at Cathay Bank at the time for comparable transactions with other persons of similar creditworthiness and, in the opinion of the management of Cathay Bank, did not involve more than a normal risk of collectibility or present any other unfavorable features.

Office Lease

Under a three-year lease entered into in February, 1998, Cathay Bank leases approximately 8,912 square feet of office space in downtown Los Angeles from T.C. Realty, Inc., a California corporation owned by director Patrick S.D. Lee’s spouse, acting as agent for 929 College LLC, a limited liability company jointly owned by Mr. Lee and his spouse. In January, 2001, the lease was extended for an additional three years. In January, 2004, subject to regulatory approval, the lease was extended again for a further three years and modified to permit Cathay Bank to terminate the lease as to two units within the leased premises on thirty (30) days’ prior written notice. During 2003, Cathay Bank paid T.C. Realty, Inc. approximately $107,000 to lease this space. Annual lease payments under this lease in 2004 are expected to be approximately $107,000.

Indemnity Agreements

Bancorp’s bylaws provide for the indemnification by Bancorp of its agents, including its directors and officers, to the maximum extent permitted under Delaware law. Bancorp also has indemnity agreements with its directors and certain of its officers. These indemnity agreements permit Bancorp to indemnify an officer or director to the maximum extent permitted under Delaware law and prohibit Bancorp from terminating its indemnification obligations as to acts of any officer or director that occur before the termination. Bancorp believes the indemnity agreements assist it in attracting and retaining qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers of Bancorp. Bancorp’s certificate of incorporation also provides for certain limitations on the liability of directors, as permitted by Delaware law. The indemnification and limitations on liability permitted by the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and the indemnity agreements are subject to the limitations set forth by Delaware law.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

KPMG LLP, independent auditors, audited Bancorp’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. Representatives of KPMG LLP are expected to attend the meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they wish to do so. They may also respond to appropriate questions from stockholders or their representatives. In the ordinary course of its duties, the Audit Committee of Bancorp’s Board of Directors is in the process of considering the selection of Bancorp’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2004.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

On the written request of any stockholder of record as of March 5, 2004, Bancorp will furnish, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, including financial statements and financial statement schedules. Requests should be addressed to Monica Chen, Assistant Secretary, Cathay General Bancorp, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012, telephone number, (213) 625-4700, Ext. 4749. The Annual Report on Form 10-K will also be available on Bancorp’s website at www.cathaybank.com.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bancorp’s Board of Directors has an established process for stockholder communications. Stockholders may send communications to the Board of Directors or any individual Director by mail addressed to: Board of Directors, Cathay General Bancorp, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. Communications addressed to the Board of Directors will be reviewed by the Assistant Secretary of Bancorp and directed to either the Secretary or Chairman of the Board for further review and distribution to certain or all members of the Board of Directors, if and as appropriate. Communications addressed to individual Directors will be forwarded directly to the office of the named Director. In the past year, the Board of Director did not take any material action as a result of any stockholder communications that it received.

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

Bancorp will pay the cost of this solicitation of proxies. In addition to use of the mail, officers, directors, and employees of Bancorp and its subsidiaries may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, facsimile, or telegraph. These individuals will not be specially compensated for these solicitation activities. Arrangements will also be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for forwarding solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by these persons, and Bancorp will reimburse these persons for their reasonable expenses incurred in forwarding the materials.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Under Bancorp’s bylaws, nominations for election to the Bancorp Board of Directors and proposals for other business to be transacted by Bancorp stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made by a stockholder (as distinct from Bancorp) only if the stockholder is entitled to vote at the meeting and has given Bancorp’s Secretary timely written notice that complies with the notice requirements of the bylaws. In addition, business other than a nomination for election to the Board must be a proper matter for action under Delaware law and Bancorp’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws. Among other requirements, the written notice must be delivered to Bancorp’s Secretary at Bancorp’s principal executive offices by no later than February 17, 2005, or earlier than January 18, 2005. However, if less than 70 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the scheduled annual meeting is given or made, the notice, to be timely, must be so delivered by the close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the scheduled annual meeting was mailed or the day on which such public disclosure was made.

Separate and apart from the required notice described in the preceding paragraph, rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act entitle a stockholder in certain instances to require Bancorp to include that stockholder’s proposal (but not that stockholder’s nominees for director) in the proxy materials distributed by Bancorp for its next annual meeting of stockholders. Any stockholder of Bancorp who wishes to present a proposal for inclusion in Bancorp’s 2005 proxy solicitation materials must set forth the proposal in writing, file it with Bancorp’s Secretary on or before November 18, 2004 or if the date for the 2005 annual meeting is before March 20, 2005, or after May 19, 2005, then such stockholder must file it with Bancorp’s Secretary at a reasonable time before the printing and mailing of the proxy statement for the 2005 meeting, and meet the other requirements for inclusion contained in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s stockholder proposal rules.

OTHER MATTERS

As of the date of this proxy statement, the Bancorp Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be brought before the meeting other than the proposals specifically listed in the notice of annual meeting of stockholders. Nevertheless, if further business is properly presented, the proxy holders named in the enclosed proxy card will vote the shares in their discretion in accordance with their best judgment.

Whether or not you currently plan to attend the meeting in person, please mark your vote on the accompanying proxy card, then sign, date, and return the proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope as soon as possible.

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Michael M. Y. Chang

Michael M. Y. Chang

Secretary

March 18, 2004

Los Angeles, California

APPENDIX A

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

Adopted by the Board of Directors of Cathay General Bancorp as amended January 15, 2004

Purpose

The purpose of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Cathay General Bancorp (the “Company”) is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of its financial statements. The Committee is not responsible, however, for planning or conducting audits, or determining whether the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate or in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Composition

The Committee shall be composed of three or more directors, as determined by the Board, each of whom shall be “independent” as defined in Section 10A(m) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Rules and Regulations (the “Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Exchange Act, shall meet the requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”), and shall meet with the requirements of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. At least one member of the Committee shall be a “financial expert” as defined in the Regulations and Nasdaq requirements.

Responsibilities

The Committee is charged by the Board with the responsibility to:

Appoint and provide for the compensation of the Company’s outside auditor, oversee the work of the outside auditor (including resolution of any disagreements between management and the outside auditor regarding financial reporting), evaluate the performance of the outside auditor and, if so determined by the Committee, replace the outside auditor; it being acknowledged that the outside auditor is ultimately accountable to the Board and the Committee, as representatives of the stockholders.

Ensure that, as soon as practicable after adoption of registration guidelines or rules by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and at all times thereafter, the Company’s outside auditor is a “registered public accounting firm” (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).

Receive and evaluate the written disclosures and the letter that the outside auditor is required to deliver to the Committee regarding the outside auditor’s independence in accordance with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, discuss with the auditor its independence, and, if determined by the Committee as part of its evaluation of such written disclosures and letter, take appropriate action concerning independence of the outside auditor.

Meet and discuss with management and the outside auditor the Company’s Form 10-Q (including the matters described in SAS 61 with the Company’s outside auditor) prior to the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q.

Instruct the outside auditor and the internal auditor to advise the Committee if there are any subjects that require special attention.

A-1

Instruct the outside auditor to report to the Committee on all critical accounting policies of the Company, all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments and the treatment preferred by the auditors, and other material written communications between the auditors and management.

Meet with management and the outside auditor to discuss the annual financial statements and the report of the outside auditor thereon, and to discuss significant issues encountered in the course of the audit work, including: restrictions on the scope of activities; access to required information; the adequacy of internal financial controls; the adequacy of the disclosure of off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations and relationships in reports filed with the Commission; and the appropriateness of the presentation of any non-GAAP financial measures (as defined in the Regulations) included in any report filed with the Commission or in any public disclosure or release.

Review the management letter delivered by the outside auditor in connection with the audit.

Following such review and discussions, if so determined by the Committee, recommend to the Board that the annual financial statements be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K.

10.

Meet at least once each year in separate executive sessions with management, the internal auditor and the outside auditor to discuss matters that any of them or the Committee believes could significantly affect the financial statements and should be discussed privately.

11.

Have such meetings with management, the outside auditor and the internal auditor as the Committee deems appropriate to discuss the concept and design of the Company’s information and reporting systems and the steps management has taken to address significant issues concerning those matters, and to discuss significant financial risk exposures facing the Company and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures.

12.

Review significant changes to the Company’s accounting principles and practices proposed by the outside auditor, the internal auditor or management.

13.

Review the scope and results of internal audits, internal audit department budget, audit plan, plan changes, activities, organizational structure, staffing and department qualifications, as needed.

14.

Evaluate the performance of the internal auditor and, if so determined by the Committee, recommend replacement of the internal auditor.

15.

Conduct or authorize such inquiries into matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibility as the Committee deems appropriate.

16.

Prepare the Committee report required by the Regulations to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.

17.

Establish a procedure for receipt, retention and treatment of any complaints received by the Company about its accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

18.

Approve, in advance of their performance, all services to be provided to the Company by its outside auditor, provided that the Committee shall not approve any non-audit services proscribed by Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act in the absence of an applicable exemption. The Committee may delegate to a designated member or members of the Committee the authority to approve such services so long as any such approval is presented to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

19.

Review and approve all related party transactions.

A-2

20.

Provide minutes of Committee meetings to the Board, and report to the Board on any significant matters arising from the Committee’s work.

21.

At least annually, evaluate the performance of the Committee, review and reassess this Charter and, if appropriate, recommend changes to the Board.

Authority

By adopting this Charter, the Board delegates to the Committee full and exclusive authority to:

Perform each of the responsibilities of the Committee described above.

Appoint a chair of the Committee, unless a chair is designated by the Board.

Engage outside counsel and other advisors as the Committee determines necessary to carry out its responsibilities.

Cause the officers of the Company to provide such funding as the Committee shall determine to be appropriate for payment of compensation to the Company’s outside auditor and any legal counsel or other advisers engaged by the Committee, and payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.

Obtain advice and assistance from internal legal or other advisors.

A-3

APPENDIX B

NOMINATION COMMITTEE CHARTER

Adopted by the Board of Directors of Cathay General Bancorp on February 19, 2004

Purpose

The purpose of the Nomination Committee (the “Committee”) of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Cathay General Bancorp (the “Company”) is to identify individuals qualified to serve as members of the Board of the Company, and recommend nominees for election as directors of the Company.

Composition

The Committee shall be composed of three or more directors, as determined by the board of directors, each of whom shall satisfy the requirements of Nasdaq.

Responsibilities

The Committee is charged by the Board with the responsibility to:

Identify and evaluate individuals qualified to serve as members of the Board, and recommend for determination by the independent directors of the Company nominees for election as directors of the Company at the next annual or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, and identify, evaluate, and recommend to the Board individuals to fill any vacancies or newly created directorships that may occur between such meetings.

Provide minutes of Committee meetings to the Board, and report to the Board on any significant matters arising from the Committee’s work.

Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to the Committee by the Board.

Authority

By adopting this Charter, the Board delegates to the Committee full authority in its discretion to:

Perform each of the responsibilities of the Committee described above.

Delegate such of its authority and responsibilities as the Committee deems proper to members of the Committee.

Appoint a chair of the Committee, unless a chair is designated by the Board.

B-1

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

Proxy for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, April 19, 2004

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OF CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

Dunson K. Cheng, Peter Wu, George T.M. Ching, and Wilbur K. Woo, or any of them, with full power of substitution, are hereby appointed as Proxies and authorized to represent and to vote as designated on the reverse the undersigned’s shares of Cathay General Bancorp common stock at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012, at 5:00 p.m., local time, on April 19, 2004, and at any and all adjournments thereof.

(Continued and to be signed on other side.)

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

April 19, 2004

Please date, sign and mail

your proxy card in the

envelope provided as soon

as possible.

ê Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. ê

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x


1. ELECTION OF CLASS II DIRECTORS OF CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP.				2. OTHER BUSINESS. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof. This Proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is given, this Proxy will be voted FOR the election of the nominees listed in Proposal 1 as Class II Directors of Cathay General Bancorp. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Kelly L. Chan, Dunson K. Cheng, Thomas C.T. Chiu, and Joseph C.H. Poon as directors. The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement dated March 18, 2004. Please sign and return this Proxy even if you intend to be present at the Annual Meeting. This Proxy may be revoked as set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement, and the shares may be voted by the holder at the Annual Meeting. PLEASE MARK ABOVE, THEN DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY BELOW AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

¨	FOR ALL NOMINEES	NOMINEES: ¨ Kelly L. Chan ¨ Dunson K. Cheng ¨ Thomas C.T. Chiu ¨ Joseph C.H. Poon

¨	WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES

¨	FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below)

INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: n



To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.			¨

Signature of Stockholder Date: Signature of Stockholder Date:

Note:

Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.