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

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Lee Mark Hakjoon
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [CATY] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP, Chief Credit Officer
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
777 NORTH BROADWAY		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/09/2018
(Street)

LOS ANGELES, CA 90012		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units (1) 03/09/2018   A   263     (2)   (2) Common Stock 263 $ 0 263 D  
Restricted Stock Units (1) 03/09/2018   A   4,566     (3)   (3) Common Stock 4,566 $ 0 4,566 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Lee Mark Hakjoon
777 NORTH BROADWAY
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012		       EVP, Chief Credit Officer  

Signatures

 /s/ Georgia Lo, attorney-in-fact   03/13/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Common Stock upon vesting.
(2) On March 9, 2018, the Issuer granted to the Reporting Person 263 restricted stock units that will vest, in full, on March 9, 2019, or immediately upon the death, disability or retirement of the Reporting Person, or a change in control of the Issuer.
(3) On March 9, 2018, the Issuer granted the Reporting Person an additional 4,566 restricted stock units. These restricted stock units will vest, in full, in a single installment on March 9, 2021, subject to the Reporting Person's continued employment with the Issuer or its bank subsidiary at the time of vesting; provided that, if the Reporting Person dies, suffers a permanent disability or terminates his employment on account of retirement prior to the vesting date, then the number of common stock otherwise issuable upon vesting of the restricted stock units shall be prorated to reflect the period from the grant date to the date of any such termination of employment of the Reporting Person.

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