Cathay General Bancorp 10Q 2007 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________________to ____________________

Commission file number 0-18630

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		95-4274680
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California		90012
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (213) 625-4700

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes R No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer R

Accelerated filer ¨

Non-accelerated filer ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ¨ No R

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common stock, $.01 par value, 49,816,286 shares outstanding as of October 31, 2007.

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

3RD QUARTER 2007 REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION	4

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)	4
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)	7
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS	17
Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.	40
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	41

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION	41

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	41
Item 1A.RISK FACTORS	42
Item 2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS	42
Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES	43
Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS	43
Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION	43
Item 6. EXHIBITS	44

SIGNATURES	45

Forward-Looking Statements

In this quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the term “Bancorp” refers to Cathay General Bancorp and the term “Bank” refers to Cathay Bank. The terms “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Bancorp and the Bank collectively. The statements in this report include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding management’s beliefs, projections, and assumptions concerning future results and events. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, such words as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "could," "predicts," "potential," "continue," or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to adverse developments or conditions related to or arising from:

expansion into new market areas;

acquisitions of other banks, if any;

fluctuations in interest rates;

demographic changes;

earthquake or other natural disasters;

competitive pressures;

deterioration in asset or credit quality;

legislative and regulatory developments;

changes in business strategy; and

general economic or business conditions in California and other regions where the Bank has operations.

These and other factors are further described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, (at Item 1A in particular) its reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and other filings it makes in the future with the SEC from time to time. Actual results in any future period may also vary from the past results discussed in this report. Given these risks and uncertainties, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak as of the date of this report. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to publicly announce the results of any revision of any forward-looking statement to reflect future developments or events.

The Company’s filings with the SEC are available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by requests directed to Cathay General Bancorp, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012, Attn: Investor Relations (213) 625-4749.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited).

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

	September 30, 2007			December 31, 2006			% change
	(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	83,276		$	114,798			(27	)
Federal funds sold		-			18,000			(100	)
Cash and cash equivalents		83,276			132,798			(37	)
Short-term investments		17,152			16,379			5
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		360,000			-			100
Long-term certificates of deposit		50,000			-			100
Securities available-for sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $2,060,542 at September 30, 2007 and $1,543,667 at December 31, 2006)		2,043,529			1,522,223			34
Trading securities		10,171			5,309			92
Loans		6,439,407			5,747,546			12
Less: Allowance for loan losses		(66,277	)		(64,689	)		2
Unamortized deferred loan fees, net		(11,054	)		(11,984	)		(8	)
Loans, net		6,362,076			5,670,873			12
Federal Home Loan Bank stock		51,620			34,348			50
Other real estate owned, net		374			5,259			(93	)
Affordable housing investments, net		94,669			87,289			8
Premises and equipment, net		74,905			72,934			3
Customers’ liability on acceptances		32,685			27,040			21
Accrued interest receivable		54,313			39,267			38
Goodwill		319,873			316,752			1
Other intangible assets, net		37,883			42,987			(12	)
Other assets		35,854			53,050			(32	)

Total assets	$	9,628,380		$	8,026,508			20

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Deposits
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	$	778,690		$	781,492			(0	)
Interest-bearing deposits:
NOW deposits		228,659			239,589			(5	)
Money market deposits		697,721			657,689			6
Savings deposits		336,743			358,827			(6	)
Time deposits under $100,000		1,095,348			1,007,637			9
Time deposits of $100,000 or more		2,933,645			2,630,072			12
Total deposits		6,070,806			5,675,306			7

Federal funds purchased		98,000			50,000			96
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase		1,108,710			400,000			177
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank		1,089,680			714,680			52
Other borrowings		3,351			10,000			(66	)
Other borrowings for affordable housing investments		19,670			19,981			(2	)
Long-term debt		171,136			104,125			64
Acceptances outstanding		32,685			27,040			21
Minority interest in consolidated subsidiary		8,500			8,500			-
Other liabilities		76,923			73,802			4
Total liabilities		8,679,461			7,083,434			23
Commitments and contingencies		-			-			-
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued		-			-			-
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 53,471,096 issued and 49,813,181 outstanding at September 30, 2007 and 53,309,317 issued and 51,930,955 outstanding at December 31, 2006		535			533			0
Additional paid-in-capital		477,039			467,591			2
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net		(9,860	)		(12,428	)		(21	)
Retained earnings		591,424			520,689			14
Treasury stock, at cost (3,657,915 shares at September 30, 2007 and 1,378,362 shares at December 31, 2006)		(110,219	)		(33,311	)		231
Total stockholders’ equity		948,919			943,074			1
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	9,628,380		$	8,026,508			20

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2007			2006			2007			2006
	(In thousands, except share and per share data)
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME
Loan receivable, including loan fees	$	123,925		$	110,321		$	356,841		$	304,566
Investment securities- taxable		25,127			17,779			71,381			46,305
Investment securities- nontaxable		443			687			1,625			2,116
Federal Home Loan Bank stock		639			383			1,689			1,100
Agency preferred stock		174			295			512			799
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell		7,615			30			15,382			160
Deposits with banks		1,248			105			3,288			259

Total interest and dividend income		159,171			129,600			450,718			355,305

INTEREST EXPENSE
Time deposits of $100,000 or more		34,475			27,983			97,527			73,810
Other deposits		20,068			15,376			56,739			37,983
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		9,865			4,658			23,126			11,183
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank		11,472			8,621			34,930			19,315
Long-term debt		3,182			1,207			8,057			3,359
Short-term borrowings		282			1,072			1,263			2,780

Total interest expense		79,344			58,917			221,642			148,430

Net interest income before provision for loan losses		79,827			70,683			229,076			206,875
Provision/(Reversal) for loan losses		2,200			(1,000	)		5,300			2,000

Net interest income after provision for loan losses		77,627			71,683			223,776			204,875

NON-INTEREST INCOME
Securities gains, net		88			206			268			236
Letters of credit commissions		1,622			1,441			4,349			4,046
Depository service fees		1,146			1,138			3,529			3,630
Gains from sale of premises and equipment		2,705			-			2,714			-
Other operating income		3,298			2,619			10,045			8,317

Total non-interest income		8,859			5,404			20,905			16,229

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and employee benefits		16,893			15,949			50,756			46,060
Occupancy expense		3,159			2,637			9,035			7,444
Computer and equipment expense		2,432			1,876			7,209			5,544
Professional services expense		2,388			2,176			6,659			5,396
FDIC and State assessments		284			259			804			761
Marketing expense		608			723			2,413			2,328
Other real estate owned expense		23			16			284			513
Operations of affordable housing investments		2,540			1,429			4,928			4,027
Amortization of core deposit intangibles		1,767			1,801			5,298			4,778
Other operating expense		3,128			2,517			8,350			6,928

Total non-interest expense		33,222			29,383			95,736			83,779

Income before income tax expense		53,264			47,704			148,945			137,325
Income tax expense		19,258			17,046			54,392			50,279
Net income		34,006			30,658			94,553			87,046
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Unrealized holding gains arising during the period		5,968			12,181			2,358			1,040
Less: reclassification adjustments included in net income		(10	)		133			(210	)		109
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax		5,978			12,048			2,568			931
Total comprehensive income	$	39,984		$	42,706		$	97,121		$	87,977

Net income per common share:
Basic	$	0.68		$	0.60		$	1.87		$	1.71
Diluted	$	0.67		$	0.59		$	1.84		$	1.69

Cash dividends paid per common share	$	0.105		$	0.090		$	0.300		$	0.270
Basic average common shares outstanding		49,828,379			51,507,434			50,683,650			51,046,270
Diluted average common shares outstanding		50,417,332			52,111,032			51,283,317			51,637,975

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended September 30
	2007			2006
	(In thousands)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$	94,553		$	87,046
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for loan losses		5,300			2,000
Provision for losses on other real estate owned		210			283
Deferred tax benefit		(3,162	)		(1,938	)
Depreciation		3,183			2,698
Net gains on sale of other real estate owned		(29	)		-
Net gains on sale of loans held for sale		(125	)		(213	)
Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale		2,532			4,232
Originations of loans held for sale		(2,375	)		(3,934	)
Purchase of trading securities		(5,000	)		-
Write-downs on venture capital investments		630			876
Gain on sales and calls of securities		(268	)		(236	)
Decrease / (increase) in fair value of warrants		90			(909	)
Other non-cash interest		190			860
Amortization of security premiums, net		1,310			2,806
Amortization of intangibles		5,474			4,865
Excess tax benefit from stock options		(503	)		(411	)
Stock based compensation expense		5,694			6,016
Gain on sale of premises and equipment		(2,714	)		-
Increase in accrued interest receivable		(14,775	)		(8,074	)
Decrease in other assets, net		2,238			3,618
Increase in other liabilities		10,447			7,504

Net cash provided by operating activities		102,900			107,089

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Increase in short-term investments		(773	)		-
Increase in long-term certificates of deposit		(50,000	)		-
Increase in securities purchased under agreements to resell		(360,000	)		-
Purchase of investment securities available-for-sale		(944,144	)		(388,101	)
Proceeds from maturity and call of investment securities available-for-sale		231,465			78,175
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available-for-sale		101,169			5,408
Proceeds from repayment and sale of mortgage-backed securities available-for-sale		107,909			124,167
Exercise of warrants to acquire common stock		-			(2,209	)
Proceeds from sale of common stock acquired from exercise of warrants		-			3,679
Purchase of Federal Home Loan Bank stock		(15,248	)		(5,312	)
Redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock		1,093			1,295
Net increase in loans		(654,072	)		(660,002	)
Purchase of premises and equipment		(6,907	)		(17,208	)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment		6,948			-
Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned		1,717			-
Net increase in investment in affordable housing		(10,873	)		(5,668	)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(3,655	)		(25,810	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(1,595,371	)		(891,586	)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net decrease in demand deposits, NOW accounts, money market and saving deposits		(10,769	)		(64,210	)
Net increase in time deposits		352,103			321,401
Net increase in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase		756,710			91,000
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank		2,668,000			2,097,230
Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		(2,293,000	)		(1,717,050	)
Cash dividends		(15,294	)		(13,786	)
Proceeds from other borrowings		22,351			15,000
Repayment of other borrowings		(29,000	)		-
Issuance of long term debt		65,000			50,000
Proceeds from shares issued to Dividend Reinvestment Plan		1,837			2,002
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		1,416			1,873
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements		503			411
Purchases of treasury stock		(76,908	)		-

Net cash provided by financing activities		1,442,949			783,871

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(49,522	)		(626	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period		132,798			109,275

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year	$	83,276		$	108,649


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period:
Interest	$	217,353		$	138,921
Income taxes	$	51,679		$	53,134
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Net change in unrealized holding loss on securities available-for-sale, net of tax	$	2,568		$	931
Cumulative effect adjustment as result of adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes	$	(8,524	)	$	-
Transfers to other real estate owned	$	373		$	3,087
Loans to facilitate the sale of other real estate owned	$	3,360		$	-
Loans to facilitate the sale of fixed assets	$	1,940		$	-

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1. Business

Cathay General Bancorp (the “Bancorp”) is the holding company for Cathay Bank (the “Bank”), six limited partnerships investing in affordable housing investments in which the Bank is the sole limited partner, and GBC Venture Capital, Inc., (together the “Company” or “we”, “us,” or “our”). The Bancorp also owns 100% of the common stock of five statutory business trusts created for the purpose of issuing capital securities. The Bank was founded in 1962 and offers a wide range of financial services. As of October 31, 2007, the Bank operates twenty one branches in Southern California, ten branches in Northern California, three branches in Washington State, nine branches in New York State, one branch in Massachusetts, two branches in Texas, three branches in Illinois, one branch in New Jersey, one branch in Hong Kong, and representative offices in Taipei and Shanghai.

2. Acquisitions and Investments

We continue to look for opportunities to expand the Bank’s branch network by seeking new branch locations and/or by acquiring other financial institutions to diversify our customer base in order to compete for new deposits and loans, and to be able to serve our customers more effectively. At the close of business on March 30, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of New Jersey-based United Heritage Bank (“UHB”) for cash of $9.4 million. As of March 30, 2007, UHB had $58.9 million in assets and $4.3 million in stockholders’ equity.

The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations.” The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded by the Company at their fair values as of March 31, 2007:

	United Heritage Bank
Assets acquired:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	5,745
Securities available-for-sale		14,305
Loans, net		37,681
Premises and equipment, net		432
Goodwill		3,878
Core deposit intangible		341
Other assets		2,371

Total assets acquired		64,753

Liabilities assumed:
Deposits		54,166
Accrued interest payable		9
Other liabilities		1,178
Total liabilities assumed		55,353
Net assets acquired and cash paid	$	9,400

No loans acquired as part of the acquisition of UHB were determined to be impaired and therefore no loans were within the scope of Statement of Position (SOP) 03-3, “Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer”. In addition, the estimated other costs related to the acquisition were recorded as a liability at closing when allocating the related purchase price. The purchase price allocation is still subject to final determination and valuation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

For each acquisition, we developed an integration plan for the consolidated company that addressed, among other things, requirements for staffing, systems platforms, branch locations and other facilities. The established plans are evaluated regularly during the integration process and modified as required. Merger and integration expenses are summarized in the following primary categories: (i) severance and employee-related charges; (ii) system conversion and integration costs, including contract termination charges; (iii) asset write-downs, lease termination costs for abandoned space and other facilities-related costs; and (iv) other charges. Other charges include investment banking fees, legal fees, other professional fees relating to due diligence activities and expenses associated with preparation of securities filings, as appropriate. Costs associated with exiting activities and without future economic benefit were included in the allocation of the purchase price at the acquisition date based on our formal integration plans. Goodwill increased by $3.1 million to $319.9 million at September 30, 2007 from $316.8 million at December 30, 2006, primarily due to the UHB acquisition.

The following table presents the activity in the merger-related liability account that was allocated to the purchase price as of September 30, 2007:

	Severance and			Asset			Legal and			Lease
(Dollar in thousands)	Employee-related			Write-downs			Professional Fees			Liability			Total
Balance at December 31, 2006	$	37		$	-		$	5		$	778		$	820
United Heritage Bank acquisition		300			17			421			-			738
Non-cash write-downs and other		-			(17	)		-			-			(17	)
Cash outlays		(49	)		-			(426	)		(118	)		(593	)
Balance at September 30, 2007	$	288		$	-		$	-		$	660		$	948

3. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2007. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimate subject to change relates to the allowance for loan losses.

4. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140." (“SFAS 155”) amends SFAS 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" and SFAS 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities." SFAS 155 (i) permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation, (ii) clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only strips are not subject to the requirements of SFAS 133, (iii) establishes a requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets to identify interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation, (iv) clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded derivatives, and (v) amends SFAS 140 to eliminate the prohibition on a qualifying special purpose entity from holding a derivative financial instrument that pertains to a beneficial interest other than another derivative financial instrument. SFAS 155 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2007. There was no material impact on the Company's financial statements from adoption of this standard.

SFAS No. 156, "Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets - an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140" (“SFAS 156”) amends SFAS 140. "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities - a replacement of FASB Statement No. 125," by requiring, in certain situations, an entity to recognize a servicing asset or servicing liability each time it undertakes an obligation to service a financial asset by entering into a servicing contract. All separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities are required to be initially measured at fair value. Subsequent measurement methods include the amortization method, whereby servicing assets or servicing liabilities are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income or net servicing loss or the fair value method, whereby servicing assets or servicing liabilities are measured at fair value at each reporting date and changes in fair value are reported in earnings in the period in which they occur. If the amortization method is used, an entity must assess servicing assets or servicing liabilities for impairment or increased obligation based on the fair value at each reporting date. SFAS 156 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2007. There was no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements from adoption of this standard.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 clarifies the definition of fair value, together with a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement and requires a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Market participant assumptions include assumptions about the risk, the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset, and the effect of a nonperformance risk for a liability. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has not completed its analysis to determine the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements from adoption of SFAS 157.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits a business entity to choose to measure financial instruments and certain other items at fair value to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring financial instruments differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. The fair value option may be applied instrument by instrument, is irrevocable and is applied only to entire instruments. Following the initial fair value measurement date, a business entity shall report unrealized gains and losses on financial instruments for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has not completed its analysis to elect the fair value option on the Company’s consolidated financial statements at the date of adoption of SFAS 159.

5. Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock and resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in earnings.

Outstanding stock options with anti-dilutive effect were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share. The following table sets forth the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations and the average shares of stock options with anti-dilutive effect:

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)	2007		2006		2007		2006
Net income	$	34,006	$	30,658	$	94,553	$	87,046

Weighted-average shares:
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding		49,828,379		51,507,434		50,683,650		51,046,270
Dilutive effect of weighted-average outstanding common shares equivalents
Stock Options		580,602		597,959		593,503		586,044
Restricted Stock		8,351		5,639		6,164		5,661
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding		50,417,332		52,111,032		51,283,317		51,637,975

Average shares of stock options with anti-dilutive effect		1,438,436		1,481,394		1,446,152		1,526,181
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.68	$	0.60	$	1.87	$	1.71
Diluted	$	0.67	$	0.59	$	1.84	$	1.69

6. Stock-Based Compensation

In 1998, the Board adopted the Cathay Bancorp, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan. Under the Equity Incentive Plan, as amended in September, 2003, directors and eligible employees may be granted incentive or non-statutory stock options, or awarded non-vested stock, for up to 7,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on a split adjusted basis. In May 2005, the stockholders of the Company approved the 2005 Incentive Plan which provides that 3,131,854 shares of the Company’s common stock may be granted as incentive or non-statutory stock options, or as non-vested stock. In conjunction with the approval of the 2005 Incentive Plan, Bancorp agreed to cease granting awards under the Equity Incentive Plan. As of September 30, 2007, the only options granted by the Company under the 2005 Incentive Plan were non-statutory stock options to selected bank officers and non-employee directors at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Such options have a maximum ten-year term and vest in 20% annual increments (subject to early termination in certain events) except for 245,060 shares granted to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer on March 22, 2005 of which 30% vested immediately, 10% vested on November 20, 2005 and an additional 20% would vest on November 20, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, and 264,694 shares granted to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer on May 22, 2005 of which 40% vested on November 20, 2005 and an additional 20% would vest on November 20, 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively. If such options expire or terminate without having been exercised, any shares not purchased will again be available for future grants or awards. Stock options are typically granted in the first quarter of the year. The Company has not yet awarded stock options in 2007 because it is considering changes to its stock option program. The Company expects to issue new shares to satisfy stock option exercises.

Stock-based compensation expense for stock options is calculated based on the fair value of the award at the grant date for those options expected to vest, and is recognized as an expense over the vesting period of the grant. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the value of granted options. This model takes into account the option exercise price, the expected life, the current price of the underlying stock, the expected volatility of the Company’s stock, expected dividends on the stock and a risk-free interest rate. The Company estimates the expected volatility based on the Company’s historical stock prices for the period corresponding to the expected life of the stock options. Option compensation expense totaled $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and $5.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. For the three months ended September 30, option compensation expense totaled $1.7 million for 2007 and $2.0 million for 2006. Stock-based compensation is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for all awards. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options totaled $14.8 million at September 30, 2007 and is expected to be recognized over the next 2.6 years.

The weighted average per share fair value on the date of grant of the options granted was $13.46 during the first nine months of 2006. There were no options granted during the first nine months of 2007 and during the third quarter of 2006. The Company estimated the expected life of the options based on the average of the contractual period and the vesting period. The fair value of stock options has been determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

	Nine months ended
	September 30, 2006
Expected life- number of years		6.50
Risk-free interest rate		4.39	%
Volatility		33.17	%
Dividend yield		1.20	%

During the nine months period, exercised option shares were 84,236 shares in 2007 and 89,776 shares in 2006. Exercised options shares were 6,000 shares for the third quarter of 2007 and 18,694 shares for the third quarter of 2006. The table below summarizes cash received and aggregate intrinsic value from options exercised:

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands, except shares)	2007		2006		2007		2006
Shares of option exercised		6,000		18,694		84,236		89,776
Cash received from option exercised	$	75	$	377	$	1,416	$	1,873
Aggregate intrinsic value for option exercised	$	132	$	315	$	1,420	$	1,442

The following table presents the fair value of stock options vested for the period indicated:

	2007				2006
(In thousands, except shares)	Vested Shares		Fair Value		Vested Shares		Fair Value
1st Quarter		504,539	$	5,079		514,398	$	4,393
2nd Quarter		11,000	$	108		9,200	$	73
3rd Quarter		-	$	-		-	$	-

The table below summarizes stock option activity for the periods indicated:

						Weighted-Average		Aggregate
				Weighted-Average		Remaining Contractual		Intrinsic
	Shares			Exercise Price		Life (in years)		Value (in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2006		4,783,027		$	28.09		7.0	$	34,011

Granted		-			-
Forfeited		(9,706	)		36.19
Exercised		(63,522	)		16.22

Balance at March 31, 2007		4,709,799		$	28.24		6.8	$	31,114

Granted		-			-
Forfeited		(17,642	)		32.67
Exercised		(14,714	)		21.06

Balance at June 30, 2007		4,677,443		$	28.24		6.5	$	30,869

Granted		-			-
Forfeited		(11,026	)		36.42
Exercised		(6,000	)		12.56

Balance at September 30, 2007		4,660,417		$	28.24		6.3	$	29,160

Exercisable at September 30, 2007		2,761,629		$	25.42		5.6	$	20,978

At September 30, 2007, 2,247,433 shares were available under the Company’s 2005 Incentive Plan for future grants.

The Company has granted non-vested stock to its Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer. The shares vest ratably over certain years if certain annual performance criteria are met. The following table presents information relating to the non-vested stock grants as of September 30, 2007:

	Grant date		Grant date
	January 25, 2006		January 31, 2007
Grant shares		30,000		20,000
Vested ratably over		3 years		2 years
Price per share at grant	$	36.24	$	34.66
Vested shares		10,000		-
Unvested shares		20,000		20,000

The stock compensation expense recorded related to non-vested stock above was $503,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and $242,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. For the three months ended September 30, non-vested stock compensation expense was $177,000 for 2007 and $91,000 for 2006. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards was $945,000 at September 30, 2007, and is expected to be recognized over the next 1.3 years.

Prior to 2006, the Company presented the entire amount of the tax benefit on options exercised as operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. After adoption of SFAS No. 123R in January 2006, the Company reports only the benefits of tax deductions in excess of grant-date fair value as cash flows from financing activity. The following table summarizes the tax benefit from options exercised:

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2007		2006		2007		2006

Benefit of tax deductions in excess of grant-date fair value	$	53	$	48	$	503	$	411
Benefit of tax deductions on
grant-date fair value		3		84		94		195
Total benefit of tax deductions	$	56	$	132	$	597	$	606

7. Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell

For the first nine months in 2007, the Company entered into seven long-term resale agreements totaling $350.0 million. The agreements have terms of ten years with interest rates ranging from 8.10%, to 9.12%. The counterparty has the right to a quarterly call. Among these agreements, $150.0 million are callable after the first year and $200.0 million are callable after the first three months anniversary. When the callable term starts if certain conditions are met, there may be no interest earned for those days when the certain conditions are met. The collateral for these resale agreements consists of U.S. Government agency securities. In addition to long-term agreements, in July 2007, the Company entered into a $10 million 180-day short term resale agreement at a rate of 5.20%.

As of September 30, 2007, securities purchased under agreements to resell totaled $360.0 million at a weighted average interest rate of 8.43%. In October 2007, $150.0 million of these securities purchased under agreements to resell were called.

8. Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company becomes a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit in the form of loans, or through commercial or standby letters of credit, and financial guarantees. Those instruments represent varying degrees of exposure to risk in excess of the amounts included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The contractual or notional amount of these instruments indicates a level of activity associated with a particular class of financial instrument and is not a reflection of the level of expected losses, if any.

The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The following table summarizes the outstanding commitments as of the dates indicated:

(In thousands)	At September 30, 2007		At December 31, 2006
Commitments to extend credit	$	2,330,514	$	2,178,640
Standby letters of credit		69,085		81,292
Other letters of credit		86,017		79,803
Bill of lading guarantees		646		223
Total	$	2,486,262	$	2,339,958

As of September 30, 2007, $23.7 million unfunded commitments for affordable housing limited partnerships were recorded under other liabilities.

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the commitment agreement. These commitments generally have fixed expiration dates and the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit is based on management's credit evaluation of the borrowers. Letters of credit, including standby letters of credit and bill of lading guarantees, are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing these types of instrument is essentially the same as that involved in making loans to customers.

9. Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

The Company has entered into long-term transactions involving the sale of securities under repurchase agreements which total $1.1 billion at September 30, 2007, and $400.0 million at December 31, 2006. Seventeen agreements totaling $900.0 million are with initial floating rates for a period of time ranging from six months to one year, with the floating rates ranging from the three-month LIBOR minus 100 basis points to the three-month LIBOR minus 340 basis points. Thereafter, the rates are fixed for the remainder of the term, with interest rates ranging from 4.29% to 5.07%. After the initial floating rate term, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the fixed rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. Two agreements of $50.0 million each are with initial fixed rates of 3.33% and 3.50%, respectively, for six months. For the remainder of the seven year term, the rates float at 8% minus the three-month LIBOR rate with a maximum rate of 3.75% and minimum rate of 0.0%. After the initial fixed rate term, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the floating rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. The Company may be required to provide additional collateral for the repurchase agreements. In addition, there were three short term repurchase agreements totaling $108.7 million which will mature in the fourth quarter of 2007 with a weighted average interest rate of 5.45% at September 30, 2007.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase total $1.1 billion at a weighted average interest rate of 3.74% at September 30, 2007 compared to $400.0 million at a weighted average interest rate of 4.40% at December 31, 2006.

At September 30, 2007, seven repurchase agreements totaling $350.0 million were callable but had not been called. Two repurchase agreements for $50.0 million each bear fixed interest rates of 4.75% and 4.79%, respectively, until their final maturities in March 2011. Five repurchase agreements of $50.0 million each bear fixed interest rates ranging from 4.29% to 4.61%, until their final maturities in the first half of 2014.

10. Line of Credit and Subordinated Note

On May 31, 2005, the Bancorp entered into a $30.0 million 364-day unsecured revolving loan agreement with a commercial bank bearing an interest rate of LIBOR plus 90 basis points and a commitment fee of 12.5 basis points on unused commitments. This loan was paid off in April 2007.

On September 29, 2006, the Bank issued $50.0 million in subordinated debt in a private placement transaction. This instrument matures on September 29, 2016 and bears interest at a per annum rate based on the three month LIBOR plus 110 basis points, payable on a quarterly basis. At September 30, 2007, the per annum interest rate on the subordinated debt was 6.30%. The subordinated debt was issued through the Bank and qualifies as Tier 2 capital for regulatory reporting purposes and is included in long-term debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial condition.

11. Junior Subordinated Debt

The Bancorp issued junior subordinated debt securities of $46.4 million on March 30, 2007, and $20.6 million on May 31, 2007, in connection with pooled offerings of trust preferred securities by two newly formed and wholly-owned subsidiaries, Cathay Capital Trust III and Cathay Capital Trust IV, both of which are Delaware statutory business trusts.

On March 30, 2007, Cathay Capital Trust III issued and sold $45.0 million of trust preferred securities in a private placement to institutional investors and $1.4 million of common securities to the Bancorp. Similarly, on May 31, 2007, Cathay Capital Trust IV issued and sold $20.0 million of trust preferred securities in a private placement to institutional investors and $619,000 of common securities to the Bancorp.

The trust preferred securities issued by Cathay Capital Trust III have a scheduled maturity of June 15, 2037, and bear interest at a per annum rate based on the three-month LIBOR plus 148 basis points, payable on a quarterly basis. The trust preferred securities issued by Cathay Capital Trust IV have a scheduled maturity of September 6, 2037, and bear interest at a per annum rate based on the three-month LIBOR plus 140 basis points, payable on a quarterly basis. The Bancorp acts as a guarantor on the payment of certain obligations associated with these trust preferred securities.

Cathay Capital Trust III and Cathay Capital Trust IV used the proceeds from the sale of these trust preferred and common securities to purchase junior subordinated debt securities of the Bancorp that have identical maturity and payment terms as the respective trust preferred securities issued by these trusts.

Interest on the Bancorp's junior subordinated debt securities may be deferred at any time or from time-to-time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarterly payments, provided there is no event of default and the deferral does not extend beyond maturity. If the Bancorp elects to defer interest on the junior subordinated debt securities, or if a default occurs, the Bancorp will generally not be able to declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Bancorp's common stock. The entire principal of the junior subordinated debt securities may become due and payable immediately if an event of default occurs.

At September 30, 2007, junior subordinated debt securities totaled $121.1 million with a weighted average interest rate of 7.73%. The junior subordinated debt issued qualifies as Tier 1 capital for regulatory reporting purposes.

12. Implementation of FASB Interpretation No. 48

As previously disclosed, on December 31, 2003, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced its intent to list certain transactions that in its view constitute potentially abusive tax shelters. Included in the transactions subject to this listing were transactions utilizing regulated investment companies (RICs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). While the Company continues to believe that the tax benefits recorded in 2000, 2001, and 2002 with respect to its regulated investment company were appropriate and fully defensible under California law, the Company participated in Option 2 of the Voluntary Compliance Initiative of the Franchise Tax Board, and paid all California taxes and interest on these disputed 2000 through 2002 tax benefits, and at the same time filed a claim for refund for these years while avoiding certain potential penalties. The Company retains potential exposure for assertion of an accuracy-related penalty should the FTB prevail in its position in addition to the risk of not being successful in its refund claims.

The FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”) which requires that the amount of recognized tax benefit should be the maximum amount which is more-likely-than-not to be realized and that amounts previously recorded that do not meet the requirements of FIN 48 be charged as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. As of December 31, 2006, the Company reflected a $12.1 million net state tax receivable related to payments it made in April 2004 under the Voluntary Compliance Initiative program for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002, after giving effect to reserves for loss contingencies on the refund claims. The Company has determined that its refund claim related to its regulated investment company is not more-likely-than-not to be realized and consequently, charged a total of $8.5 million, comprised of the $7.9 million after tax amount related to its refund claims as well as a $0.6 million after tax amount related to California Net Operating Losses generated in 2001 as a result of its regulated investment company, to the balance of retained earnings as of the January 1, 2007, effective date of FIN 48.

At the January 1, 2007 adoption date of FIN 48, the total amount of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits was $5.5 million, of which $1.7 million, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The Company recognized interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. At January 1, 2007, the adoption date of FIN 48, the total amount of accrued interest and penalties was $1.7 million.

The Company’s tax returns are open for audits by the Internal Revenue Service back to 2003 and by the Franchise Tax Board of the State of California back to 2000. The Company is currently under audit by the California Franchise Tax Board for the years 2000 to 2002. During the second quarter of 2007, the Internal Revenue Service completed an examination of the Company’s 2004 and 2005 tax returns and did not propose any adjustments deemed to be material.

13. Stock Repurchase Program

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company repurchased 175,500 shares of its common stock for $5.4 million, or $30.77 average cost per share. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company repurchased 2,279,553 shares of its common stock for $76.9 million, or $33.74 average cost per share. At September 30, 2007, 172,150 shares remain under the Company’s May 8, 2007, repurchase program.

From October 30, 2007 to November 2, 2007, the Company repurchased 172,150 shares of its common stock for $5.1 million, or $29.66 average cost per share and thereby completed its May 2007 repurchase program. From January 1, 2007 to November 2, 2007, the Company repurchased 2,451,703 shares of its common stock for $82.0 million, or $33.45 average cost per share.

14. Premises and Equipment

On September 27, 2007, the Company sold the $3.6 million bank owned property that formerly housed a Bank branch and recognized a gain on sale of $2.7 million. This property was transferred from premises and equipment when management decided to sell this property.

Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The following discussion is given based on the assumption that the reader has access to and has read the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, of Cathay General Bancorp (“Bancorp”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Cathay Bank (the “Bank” and, together, the “Company” or “we”, “us,” or “our”).

Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and results of operations are based upon its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Accounting for the allowance for loan losses involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the carrying value of net loans; management considers this accounting policy to be a critical accounting policy. The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and other factors, which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances as described under the heading “Accounting for the allowance for loan losses” under Item 7 to Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Accounting for investment securities involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the carrying value of securities and the recognition of any “other-than-temporary” impairment to our investment securities. The judgments and assumptions used by management are described under the heading “Investment Securities” under Item 7 to Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Accounting for income taxes involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the amount of taxes currently payable and the income tax expense recorded in the financial statements. The judgments and assumptions used by management are described under the heading “Income Taxes” under Item 7 to Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

HIGHLIGHTS

·	Third quarter earnings increased $3.3 million, or 10.9%, compared to the same quarter a year ago.

·	Third quarter diluted earnings per share reached $0.67, increasing 13.6%, compared to $0.59 per share the same quarter a year ago.

·	Return on average assets was 1.46% for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, compared to 1.40% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 and compared to 1.60% for the same quarter a year ago.

·	Return on average stockholders’ equity was 14.45% for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, compared to 13.13% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, and compared to 13.76% for the same quarter a year ago.

·	Gross loans increased by $264.6 million, or 4.3%, from $6.2 billion at June 30, 2007, to $6.4 billion at September 30, 2007.

·	Deposits totaled $6.1 billion at September 30, 2007, which increased by $228.8 million, or 3.9%, from $5.8 billion at June 30.

Income Statement Review

Net Income

Net income was $34.0 million, or $0.67, per diluted share for the third quarter of 2007, a $3.3 million, or 10.9%, increase compared with net income of $30.7 million, or $0.59, per diluted share for the same quarter a year ago. Return on average assets was 1.46% and return on average stockholders’ equity was 14.45% for the third quarter of 2007 compared with a return on average assets of 1.60% and a return on average stockholders’ equity of 13.76% for the three months ended September 30, 2006.

Financial Performance

	Third Quarter 2007			Third Quarter 2006

Net income	$	34.0 million		$	30.7 million
Basic earnings per share	$	0.68		$	0.60
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.67		$	0.59
Return on average assets		1.46	%		1.60	%
Return on average stockholders’ equity		14.45	%		13.76	%
Efficiency ratio		37.46	%		38.62	%

Net Interest Income Before Provision for Loan Losses

The comparability of financial information is affected by our acquisitions. Operating results included the operations of acquired entities from the date of acquisition.

Net interest income before provision for loan losses increased $9.1 million, or 12.9%, to $79.8 million during the third quarter of 2007 from $70.7 million during the same quarter a year ago. The increase was due primarily to the strong growth in loans and securities.

The net interest margin, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, was 3.69% for the third quarter of 2007. The net interest margin decreased 9 basis points from 3.78% in the second quarter of 2007 and decreased 37 basis points from 4.06% in the third quarter of 2006. The decrease in the net interest margin from the same quarter a year ago was primarily a result of the repricing of time deposits to reflect higher market interest rates, and increased reliance on more expensive wholesale deposits and borrowings.

For the third quarter of 2007, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 7.34% on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, and the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities equaled 4.24%. In comparison, for the third quarter of 2006, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 7.42% and cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities equaled 4.01%. The interest spread, defined as the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities, decreased to 3.10% for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 from 3.41% for the same quarter a year ago primarily due to the reasons discussed above.

Average daily balances, together with the total dollar amounts, on a taxable-equivalent basis, of interest income and interest expense, and the weighted-average interest rate and net interest margin for the periods indicated are as follows:

Interest-Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities

Three months ended September 30,	2007								2006
				Interest		Average						Interest		Average
Taxable-equivalent basis	Average			Income/		Yield/			Average			Income/		Yield/
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance			Expense		Rate (1)(2)			Balance			Expense		Rate (1)(2)
Interest Earning Assets
Commercial loans	$	1,320,611		$	27,110		8.14	%	$	1,126,348		$	23,755		8.37	%
Residential mortgage		622,793			9,769		6.27			499,690			7,454		5.97
Commercial mortgage		3,560,243			68,869		7.67			3,165,728			62,608		7.85
Real estate construction loans		768,117			17,801		9.19			656,995			16,242		9.81
Other loans and leases		26,688			376		5.59			30,195			262		3.44
Total loans and leases (1)		6,298,452			123,925		7.81			5,478,956			110,321		7.99
Taxable securities		1,769,245			25,127		5.63			1,345,854			17,779		5.24
Tax-exempt securities (3)		55,217			921		6.62			83,368			1,463		6.96
FHLB & FRB Stock		50,297			639		5.04			34,974			383		4.34
Interest bearing deposits		71,843			1,248		6.89			10,837			105		3.84
Federal funds sold & securities purchased
under agreements to resell		371,413			7,615		8.13			2,293			30		5.19
Total interest-earning assets		8,616,467			159,475		7.34			6,956,282			130,081		7.42
Non-interest earning assets
Cash and due from banks		84,176								100,869
Other non-earning assets		639,999								601,042
Total non-interest earning assets		724,175								701,911
Less: Allowance for loan losses		(65,902	)							(65,743	)
Deferred loan fees		(11,584	)							(13,385	)
Total assets	$	9,263,156							$	7,579,065

Interest bearing liabilities:
Interest bearing demand accounts	$	233,116		$	755		1.28		$	228,854		$	726		1.26
Money market accounts		699,679			5,610		3.18			606,914			4,352		2.84
Savings accounts		342,971			873		1.01			375,043			904		0.96
Time deposits		3,935,125			47,305		4.77			3,409,894			37,377		4.35
Total interest-bearing deposits		5,210,891			54,543		4.15			4,620,705			43,359		3.72

Federal funds purchased		22,863			279		4.84			39,359			531		5.35
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase		1,041,577			9,865		3.76			415,652			4,658		4.45
Other borrowings		978,759			11,475		4.65			695,321			9,162		5.23
Long-term debt		171,136			3,182		7.38			55,101			1,207		8.69
Total interest-bearing liabilities		7,425,226			79,344		4.24			5,826,138			58,917		4.01
Non-interest bearing liabilities
Demand deposits		774,513								767,217
Other liabilities		129,855								101,888
Stockholders' equity		933,562								883,822
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	9,263,156							$	7,579,065
Net interest spread (4)							3.10	%							3.41	%
Net interest income (4)				$	80,131							$	71,164
Net interest margin (4)							3.69	%							4.06	%

(1)	Yields and amounts of interest earned include loan fees. Non-accrual loans are included in the average balance.

(2)	Calculated by dividing net interest income by average outstanding interest-earning assets.

(3)	The average yield has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis for certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.

(4)	Net interest income, net interest spread, and net interest margin on interest-earning assets have been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.

The following table summarizes the changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in volume and changes in interest rates for the periods indicated:

Taxable-Equivalent Net Interest Income — Changes Due to Rate and Volume(1)

	Three months ended September 30,
	2007-2006
	Increase (Decrease) in
	Net Interest Income Due to:
(Dollars in thousands)	Changes in Volume			Changes in Rate			Total Change

Interest-Earning Assets:
Loans and leases		16,138			(2,534	)		13,604
Taxable securities		5,932			1,416			7,348
Tax-exempt securities (2)		(473	)		(69	)		(542	)
FHLB and FRB stocks		187			69			256
Deposits with other banks		1,002			141			1,143
Federal funds sold and securities purchased
under agreements to resell		7,558			27			7,585

Total increase in interest income		30,344			(950	)		29,394

Interest-Bearing Liabilities:
Interest bearing demand accounts		14			15			29
Money market accounts		710			548			1,258
Savings accounts		(79	)		48			(31	)
Time deposits		6,099			3,829			9,928
Federal funds purchased		(205	)		(47	)		(252	)
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase		6,019			(812	)		5,207
Other borrowed funds		3,398			(1,085	)		2,313
Long-term debt		2,180			(205	)		1,975
Total increase in interest expense		18,136			2,291			20,427
Changes in net interest income	$	12,208		$	(3,241	)	$	8,967

(1)	Changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to changes due to volume and changes due to rate.

(2)	The amount of interest earned on certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis, using a statutory federal income tax rate of 35%.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses was $2.2 million for the third quarter of 2007 compared to negative $1.0 million provision for loan losses for the third quarter of 2006 and a $2.1 million provision for loan losses for the second quarter of 2007. The provision for loan losses was $5.3 million for the first nine months of 2007 and $2.0 million for same period of 2006. The provision for loan losses was based on the review of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2007. The provision for loan losses represents the charge or credit against current earnings that is determined by management, through a credit review process, as the amount needed to establish an allowance that management believes to be sufficient to absorb loan losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio. The following table summarizes the charge-offs and recoveries for the periods as indicated:

	For the three months ended September 30,					For the nine months ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2007		2006			2007		2006

Charge-offs:
Commercial loans	$	511	$	33		$	6,253	$	838
Construction loans		-		-			190		-
Real estate loans		912		3			1,030		3
Installment and other loans		-		-			1		4
Total charge-offs		1,423		36			7,474		845
Recoveries:
Commercial loans		138		300			2,911		944
Construction loans				-			190		-
Real estate loans		-		1			202		4
Installment and other loans		2		9			27		25
Total recoveries		140		310			3,330		973
Net Charge-offs / (Recoveries)	$	1,283	$	(274	)	$	4,144	$	(128	)

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income, which includes revenues from depository service fees, letters of credit commissions, securities gains (losses), gains (losses) on loan sales, wire transfer fees, gains from sales of premises and equipment and other sources of fee income, was $8.9 million for the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $3.5 million, or 63.9%, compared to the non-interest income of $5.4 million for the third quarter of 2006.

In the third quarter of 2007, the Company recorded a gain of $2.7 million from sale of a property housing a former branch. In the third quarter of 2007, wealth management commissions increased $356,000, or 110%, to $681,000, venture capital income increased $319,000 as a result of partnership distributions, and letter of credit commissions increased by $181,000, or 12.6%, compared to the same quarter a year ago.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense increased $3.8 million, or 13.1%, to $33.2 million in the third quarter of 2007 compared to $29.4 million in the same quarter a year ago. The efficiency ratio was 37.46% for the third quarter of 2007 compared to 38.62% in the year ago quarter and 39.06% for the second quarter of 2007.

The increase of non-interest expense in the third quarter of 2007 compared to the same period a year ago was primarily due to the following:

Salaries and employee benefits increased $944,000, or 5.9%, due primarily to the Company’s acquisitions and the hiring of additional staff.

Occupancy expense increased $522,000, or 19.8%, primarily due to the additions of new branches through acquisitions and new branch openings.

Computer and equipment expense increased $556,000, or 29.6%, primarily due to a $474,000 increase in software license fees under new data processing contracts.

Professional services expense increased $212,000, or 9.7%, due primarily to increases of $146,000 in consulting expenses related to a new telephone system.

Expense from operations of affordable housing investments increased $1.1 million, or 77.7%, to $2.5 million compared to $1.4 million in the same quarter a year ago as a result of a $752,000 adjustment for additional prior year’s operating losses and additional investments in affordable housing projects.

Other operating expense increased $611,000, or 24.3%, primarily due to increases in training expenses of $165,000 related to the new Hong Kong branch, increases in postage expenses of $164,000, and a write-off of $295,000 of previously capitalized due diligence costs related to the proposed investment in First Sino Bank which the Company is no longer pursuing.

Income taxes

The effective tax rate was 36.2% for the third quarter of 2007, compared to 35.7% for the same quarter a year ago and 36.4% for the full year 2006.

The FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”) which requires that the amount of recognized tax benefit should be the maximum amount which is more-likely-than-not to be realized and that amounts previously recorded that do not meet the requirements of FIN 48 be charged as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. As of December 31, 2006, the Company reflected a $12.1 million net state tax receivable related to payments it made in April 2004 under the Voluntary Compliance Initiative program for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002, after giving effect to reserves for loss contingencies on the refund claims. The Company has determined that its refund claim related to its regulated investment company is not more-likely-than-not to be realized and consequently, charged a total of $8.5 million, comprised of the $7.9 million after tax amount related to its refund claims as well as a $0.6 million after tax amount related to California Net Operating Losses generated in 2001 as a result of its regulated investment company, to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the January 1, 2007, effective date of FIN 48.

Year-to-Date Income Statement Review

Net income was $94.5 million, or $1.84 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, an increase of $7.5 million, or 8.6%, in net income over the $87.0 million, or $1.69 per diluted share for the same period a year ago due primarily to increases in net interest income. The net interest margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, decreased 46 basis points to 3.76% compared to 4.22% for the same period a year ago.

Return on average stockholders’ equity was 13.49% and return on average assets was 1.43% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to a return on average stockholders’ equity of 13.83% and a return on average assets of 1.62% for the same period of 2006. The efficiency ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was 38.30% compared to 37.55% for the same period a year ago.

The average daily balances, together with the total dollar amounts, on a taxable-equivalent basis, of interest income and interest expense, and the weighted-average interest rates, the net interest spread and the net interest margins for the periods indicated are as follows:

Interest-Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities

Nine months ended September 30,	2007								2006
				Interest		Average						Interest		Average
Taxable-equivalent basis	Average			Income/		Yield/			Average			Income/		Yield/
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance			Expense		Rate (1)(2)			Balance			Expense		Rate (1)(2)
Interest Earning Assets
Commercial loans	$	1,274,468		$	77,969		8.18	%	$	1,094,120		$	65,421		7.99	%
Residential mortgage		598,438			27,931		6.22			462,411			20,627		5.95
Commercial mortgage		3,404,720			198,193		7.78			3,007,743			173,997		7.73
Real estate construction loans		729,250			51,739		9.49			608,320			43,789		9.62
Other loans and leases		27,450			1,009		4.91			30,699			732		3.19
Total loans and leases (1)		6,034,326			356,841		7.91			5,203,293			304,566		7.83
Taxable securities		1,694,897			71,381		5.63			1,257,303			46,305		4.92
Tax-exempt securities (3)		65,583			3,205		6.54			85,160			4,356		6.84
FHLB and FRB stocks		48,493			1,689		4.66			31,653			1,100		4.64
Interest bearing deposits		62,702			3,288		7.01			15,773			259		2.20
Federal funds sold & securities purchased
under agreements to resell		269,137			15,382		7.64			4,878			160		4.39
Total interest-earning assets		8,175,138			451,786		7.39			6,598,060			356,746		7.23
Non-interest earning assets
Cash and due from banks		88,915								100,107
Other non-earning assets		630,396								555,039
Total non-interest earning assets		719,311								655,146
Less: Allowance for loan losses		(65,877	)							(63,469	)
Deferred loan fees		(11,890	)							(12,948	)
Total assets	$	8,816,682							$	7,176,789

Interest bearing liabilities:
Interest bearing demand accounts	$	233,012		$	2,230		1.28		$	239,033		$	2,057		1.15
Money market accounts		680,751			15,882		3.12			586,764			11,430		2.60
Savings accounts		346,951			2,606		1.00			379,516			2,517		0.89
Time deposits		3,758,715			133,548		4.75			3,255,741			95,789		3.93
Total interest-bearing deposits		5,019,429			154,266		4.11			4,461,054			111,793		3.35

Federal funds purchased		27,621			1,075		5.20			43,227			1,597		4.94
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase		831,430			23,126		3.72			365,714			11,183		4.09
Other borrowings		961,589			35,118		4.88			558,969			20,498		4.90
Junior subordinated notes		144,853			8,057		7.44			54,364			3,359		8.26
Total interest-bearing liabilities		6,984,922			221,642		4.24			5,483,328			148,430		3.62
Non-interest bearing liabilities
Demand deposits		776,946								753,855
Other liabilities		117,457								98,181
Stockholders' equity		937,357								841,425
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	8,816,682							$	7,176,789
Net interest spread (4)							3.15	%							3.61	%
Net interest income (4)				$	230,144							$	208,316
Net interest margin (4)							3.76	%							4.22	%

(1)	Yields and amounts of interest earned include loan fees. Non-accrual loans are included in the average balance.

(2)	Calculated by dividing net interest income by average outstanding interest-earning assets.

(3)	The average yield has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis for certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.

(4)	Net interest income, net interest spread, and net interest margin on interest-earning assets have been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.

The following table summarizes the changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in volume and changes in interest rates for the periods indicated:

Taxable-Equivalent Net Interest Income — Changes Due to Rate and Volume(1)

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2007-2006
	Increase (Decrease) in
	Net Interest Income Due to:
(Dollars in thousands)	Changes in Volume			Changes in Rate			Total Change

Interest-Earning Assets:
Loans and leases		49,113			3,162			52,275
Taxable securities		17,754			7,322			25,076
Tax-exempt securities (2)		(969	)		(182	)		(1,151	)
FHLB and FRB stocks		584			5			589
Deposits with other banks		1,744			1,285			3,029
Federal funds sold and securities purchased uncer agreements to resell		15,016			206			15,222

Total increase in interest income		83,242			11,798			95,040

Interest-Bearing Liabilities:
Interest bearing demand accounts		(53	)		226			173
Money market accounts		1,993			2,459			4,452
Savings accounts		(228	)		317			89
Time deposits		16,109			21,650			37,759
Federal funds purchased		(604	)		82			(522	)
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase		13,044			(1,101	)		11,943
Other borrowed funds		14,705			(85	)		14,620
Long-term debt		5,066			(368	)		4,698
Total increase in interest expense		50,032			23,180			73,212
Changes in net interest income	$	33,210		$	(11,382	)	$	21,828

(1)	Changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to changes due to volume and changes due to rate.

(2)	The amount of interest earned on certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis, using a statutory federal income tax rate of 35%.

Balance Sheet Review

Assets

Total assets increased by $1.6 billion, or 20.0%, to $9.6 billion at September 30, 2007, from year-end 2006 assets of $8.0 billion. The increase in total assets was represented primarily by increases in loans, securities purchased under agreements to resell, and investment securities funded by growth of deposits and borrowings.

Securities purchased under agreements to resell increased $360.0 million and long-term certificates of deposit increased $50.0 million during the first nine months of 2007 due to attractive rates available to the Company on these investments. Securities available-for-sale increased by $521.3 million during the first nine months of 2007 primarily due to purchases of callable agency securities which provided collateral for repurchase agreements.

Securities

Total securities were $2.0 billion, or 21.2%, of total assets at September 30, 2007, compared with $1.5 billion, or 19.0%, of total assets at December 31, 2006. The increase of $521.3 million, or 34.2%, was primarily due to purchases of $944.1 million of securities offset primarily by pay-downs, matured and called securities totaling $339.4 million and the sales of securities of $101.2 million during the first nine months of 2007. The acquisition of United Heritage Bank on March 30, 2007 increased securities by $14.3 million.

The net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale, which represented the difference between fair value and amortized cost, totaled $17.0 million at September 30, 2007, compared to a net unrealized loss of $21.4 million at year-end 2006. The change was primarily caused by decreases in market interest rates. Net unrealized gains(losses) in the securities available-for-sale are included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax.

The average taxable-equivalent yield on investment securities increased 32 basis points to 5.66% for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with 5.34% for the same period a year ago, as lower yielding securities matured, prepaid, or were sold and the proceeds were reinvested at the higher prevailing interest rates.

The following tables summarize the composition, amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and fair value of securities available-for-sale, as of September 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006:

	September 30, 2007
			Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
U.S. government sponsored entities	$	790,034	$	1,645	$	240	$	791,439
State and municipal securities		34,750		377		47		35,080
Mortgage-backed securities		683,094		833		13,834		670,093
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		15,991		-		446		15,545
Collateralized mortgage obligations		222,753		47		6,378		216,422
Asset-backed securities		636		-		2		634
Corporate bonds		201,534		203		696		201,041
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities		11,750		1,725		-		13,475
Foreign corporate bonds		100,000		13		213		99,800

Total	$	2,060,542	$	4,843	$	21,856	$	2,043,529

	December 31, 2006
			Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
U.S. treasury securities	$	994	$	-	$	1	$	993
U.S. government sponsored entities		364,988		67		3,556		361,499
State and municipal securities		54,843		769		80		55,532
Mortgage-backed securities		549,150		687		15,070		534,767
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		20,554		-		588		19,966
Collateralized mortgage obligations		251,997		46		6,417		245,626
Asset-backed securities		783		-		3		780
Corporate bonds		206,008		325		396		205,937
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities		19,350		2,660		-		22,010
Foreign corporate bonds		75,000		126		13		75,113

Total	$	1,543,667	$	4,680	$	26,124	$	1,522,223

The following table summarizes the scheduled maturities by security type of securities available-for-sale, as of September 30, 2007:

	Maturity Distribution
	As of September 30, 2007
			After One		After Five
	One Year		Year to		Years to		Over Ten
	or Less		Five Years		Ten Years		Years		Total
	(Dollars in thousands)

U.S. government sponsored entities	$	12,288	$	773,917	$	3,992	$	1,242	$	791,439
State and municipal securities		1,091		8,011		21,673		4,305		35,080
Mortgage-backed securities(1)		118		22,562		2,392		645,021		670,093
Commercial mortgage-backed securities(1)		-		-		-		15,545		15,545
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)		-		-		6,864		209,558		216,422
Asset-backed securities(1)		-		-		-		634		634
Corporate bonds		1,276		249		199,516		-		201,041
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities (2)		-		-		-		13,475		13,475
Foreign corporate bonds		-		-		99,800		-		99,800

Total	$	14,773	$	804,739	$	334,237	$	889,780	$	2,043,529

(1)	Securities reflect stated maturities and do not reflect the impact of anticipated prepayments.

(2)	These securities have no final maturity date.

Between 2002 and 2004, the Company purchased a number of collateralized mortgage obligations comprised of interests in non-agency guaranteed residential mortgages. At September 30, 2007, the remaining par value of these securities was $204.6 million which represents 10.0% of the fair value of the Company’s security available-for-sale and 2.1% of the Company’s total assets. At September 30, 2007, the unrealized loss for these securities was $6.3 million which represented 3.1% of the par amount of these non-agency guaranteed residential mortgages. Based on the Company’s analysis at September 30, 2007, there was no “other-than-temporary” impairment in these securities due to the short remaining expected life of 4.5 years, the low loan to value ratio for the loans underlying these securities and the credit support provided by junior tranches of these securitizations.

The Company has the ability and intent to hold the securities, including the non-agency securities discussed above with unrealized losses of $6.3 million and $503.3 million of agency mortgaged back securities with unrealized losses of $13.8 million, for a period of time sufficient for a recovery of cost for those issues with unrealized losses. The temporarily impaired securities represent 45.9% of the fair value of the Company’s securities as of September 30, 2007. Unrealized losses for securities with unrealized losses for less than twelve months represent 0.4%, and securities with unrealized losses for twelve months or more represent 3.1% of the historical cost of these securities and generally resulted from increases in interest rates subsequent to the date that these securities were purchased. At September 30, 2007, 114 issues of securities had unrealized losses for 12 months or longer and 39 issues of securities had unrealized losses of less than 12 months. All of these securities are investment grade, as of September 30, 2007.

At September 30, 2007, management believes the impairment is temporary and, accordingly, no impairment loss has been recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The table below shows the fair value, unrealized losses and number of issuances as of September 30, 2007, of the temporarily impaired securities in the Company’s available-for-sale securities portfolio:

	Temporarily Impaired Securities as of September 30, 2007

	Less than 12 months						12 months or longer						Total
	Fair		Unrealized		No. of		Fair		Unrealized		No. of		Fair		Unrealized		No. of
	Value		Losses		Issuances		Value		Losses		Issuances		Value		Losses		Issuances
	(In thousands)
Description of securities
U.S. government sponsored entities	$	727	$	25		4	$	26,766	$	215		2	$	27,493	$	240		6
State and municipal securities		764		9		2		1,448		38		3		2,212		47		5
Mortgage-backed securities		105,392		185		18		397,868		13,649		73		503,260		13,834		91
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		-		-		-		15,545		446		2		15,545		446		2
Collateralized mortgage obligations		6,645		89		3		207,375		6,290		32		214,020		6,379		35
Asset-backed securities		-		-		-		634		2		2		634		2		2
Corporate bonds		125,189		696		10		-		-		-		125,189		696		10
Foreign corporate bonds		49,788		212		2		-		-		-		49,788		212		2

Total	$	288,505	$	1,216		39	$	649,636	$	20,640		114	$	938,141	$	21,856		153

Loans

Gross loans at September 30, 2007, were $6.4 billion compared with $5.7 billion at year-end 2006. Gross loan growth during the nine months in 2007 equaled $691.9 million, an increase of 12.0% from December 31, 2006, reflecting increases in all major loan categories. The acquisition of United Heritage Bank on March 30, 2007 increased loans by $38.6 million.

Commercial mortgage loans increased $417.7 million, or 12.9%, to $3.6 billion at September 30, 2007, compared to $3.2 billion at year-end 2006. At September 30, 2007, this portfolio represented approximately 56.6% of the Bank’s gross loans compared to 56.1% at year-end 2006. Commercial loans increased $128.8 million, or 10.4%, to $1.4 billion at September 30, 2007, compared to $1.2 billion at year-end 2006. Residential mortgage loans totaled $537.6 million at September 30, 2007 which increased $81.7 million, or 17.9%, from $455.9 million at December 31, 2006. Real estate construction loans increased $78.2 million, or 11.4%, to $763.4 million at September 30, 2007, compared to $685.2 million at year-end 2006.

The following table sets forth the classification of loans by type, mix, and percentage change as of the dates indicated:

(Dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2007			% of Gross Loans			December 31, 2006			% of Gross Loans			% Change
Type of Loans
Commercial	$	1,372,554			21.3	%	$	1,243,756			21.7	%		10.4	%
Residential mortgage		537,565			8.3			455,949			7.9			17.9
Commercial mortgage		3,644,371			56.6			3,226,658			56.1			12.9
Equity lines		101,825			1.6			118,473			2.1			(14.1	)
Real estate construction		763,403			11.9			685,206			11.9			11.4
Installment		16,949			0.3			13,257			0.2			27.8
Other		2,740			0.0			4,247			0.1			(35.5	)

Gross loans and leases	$	6,439,407			100	%	$	5,747,546			100	%		12.0	%

Allowance for loan losses		(66,277	)					(64,689	)					2.5
Unamortized deferred loan fees		(11,054	)					(11,984	)					(7.8	)

Total loans and leases, net	$	6,362,076					$	5,670,873						12.2	%

Asset Quality Review

Non-performing Assets

Non-performing assets to gross loans and other real estate owned was 0.79% at September 30, 2007, compared to 0.62% at December 31, 2006. Total non-performing assets increased $15.0 million to $50.6 million at September 30, 2007, compared with $35.6 million at December 31, 2006, primarily due to a $24.0 million increase in non-accrual loans partially offset by a $4.1 million decrease in accruing loans past due 90 days or more and by a $4.9 million decrease in other real estate owned.

At September 30, 2007, total non-accrual loans included $24.4 million in loans secured by real estate collateral in Texas comprised of a $9.6 million apartment loan, a $6.7 million shopping center construction loan that became Other Real Estate Owned on October 2, 2007, a $4.9 million shopping center construction loan that is expected to be paid off by the end of November, a $2.2 million apartment loan and a $1.0 million residential construction loan. Also included in non-accrual loans at September 30, 2007 are a $5.3 million condo construction loan in Massachusetts and a $4.5 million office building loan in Northern California. Included in troubled debt restructured loans at September 30, 2007 is a $12.2 million condominium conversion construction loan for a project in Southern California where the interest rate has been reduced to 6.0%.

The allowance for loan losses amounted to $66.3 million at September 30, 2007, and represented the amount that the Company believes to be sufficient to absorb loan losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses represented 1.03% of period-end gross loans and 132% of non-performing loans at September 30, 2007. The comparable ratios were 1.13% of gross loans and 213% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2006.

The following table sets forth the detail of non-performing assets by category as of the dates indicated:

(Dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2007			December 31, 2006
Non-performing assets
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more	$	3,903		$	8,008
Non-accrual loans:
Construction		19,082			5,786
Commercial real estate		21,098			1,276
Commercial		4,592			14,424
Real Estate mortgage		1,529			836
Other		17			-
Total non-accrual loans:		46,318			22,322
Total non-performing loans		50,221			30,330
Other real estate owned		374			5,259
Total non-performing assets	$	50,595		$	35,589
Troubled debt restructurings	$	13,176		$	955

Non-performing assets as a percentage of gross loans and OREO		0.79	%		0.62	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of gross loans and leases		1.03	%		1.13	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans		131.97	%		213.28	%

Non-accrual Loans

Non-accrual loans increased by $24.0 million to $46.3 million at September 30, 2007, from $22.3 million at December 31, 2006.

The following table presents non-accrual loans by type of collateral securing the loans, as of the dates indicated:

	September 30, 2007						December 31, 2006
	Real						Real
	Estate (1)		Commercial		Other		Estate (1)		Commercial
	(In thousands)
Type of Collateral
Single/ multi-family residence	$	28,306	$	277	$	-	$	7,111	$	180
Commercial real estate		12,669		-		-		674		1,265
Land		734		-		-		113		-
UCC		-		4,243		-		-		12,779
Unsecured		-		72		17		-		200
Total	$	41,709	$	4,592	$	17	$	7,898	$	14,424

(1)	Real estate includes commercial mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, and residential mortgage loans.

The following table presents non-accrual loans by type of businesses in which the borrowers are engaged, as of the dates indicated:

	September 30, 2007						December 31, 2006
	Real						Real
	Estate (1)		Commercial		Other		Estate (1)		Commercial
	(In thousands)
Type of Business
Real estate development	$	39,561	$	-	$	-	$	6,651	$	-
Wholesale/Retail		618		1,899		17		130		8,631
Food/Restaurant		-		92		-		282		3,126
Import/Export		-		2,601		-		-		2,667
Other		1,530		-		-		835		-
Total	$	41,709	$	4,592	$	17	$	7,898	$	14,424

(1)	Real estate includes commercial mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, and residential mortgage loans.

Troubled Debt Restructurings

A troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) is a formal restructure of a loan when the lender, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower. The concession may be granted in various forms, including reduction in the stated interest rate, reduction in the loan balance or accrued interest, or extension of the maturity date.

As of September 30, 2007 troubled debt restructurings was comprised of four loans totaling $13.2 million which increased $12.2 million from $955,000 as of December 31, 2006 primarily due to a condominium conversion construction loan of $12.2 million in Southern California where the interest rate has been reduced to 6.0% during the third quarter of 2007.

Impaired Loans

A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that a creditor will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement based on current circumstances and events. The assessment for impairment occurs when and while such loans are on non-accrual, or the loan has been restructured. Those loans less than our defined selection criteria, generally the loan amount less than $100,000, are treated as a homogeneous portfolio. If loans meeting the defined criteria are not collateral dependent, we measure the impairment based on the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. If loans meeting the defined criteria are collateral dependent, we measure the impairment by using the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral. If the measurement of the impaired loan is less than the recorded amount of the loan, we then recognize impairment by creating or adjusting an existing valuation allowance with a corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses.

None of the loans acquired as part of the acquisition of UHB were determined to be impaired and therefore were all excluded from the scope of Statement of Position (SOP) 03-3, “Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer”.

The Company identified impaired loans with a recorded investment of $46.3 million at September 30, 2007, compared with $22.3 million at year-end 2006. The Company considers all non-accrual loans to be impaired. The following table presents impaired loans and the related allowance, as of the dates indicated:

	At September 30, 2007		At December 31, 2006
	(In thousands)

Balance of impaired loans with no allocated allowance	$	42,335	$	10,522
Balance of impaired loans with an allocated allowance		3,983		11,800

Total recorded investment in impaired loans	$	46,318	$	22,322

Amount of the allowance allocated to impaired loans	$	2,652	$	4,310

Loan Concentration

Most of the Company’s business activity is with customers located in the predominantly Asian areas of Southern and Northern California; New York City; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; and New Jersey. The Company has no specific industry concentration, and generally its loans are collateralized with real property or other pledged collateral. Loans are generally expected to be paid off from the operating profits of the borrowers, refinancing by another lender, or through sale by the borrowers of the secured collateral.

There were no loan concentrations to multiple borrowers in similar activities which exceeded 10% of total loans as of September 30, 2007, or December 31, 2006.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The Bank’s management is committed to managing the risk in its loan portfolio by maintaining the allowance for loan losses at a level that is considered to be equal to the estimated and known risks in the loan portfolio. With a risk management objective, the Bank’s management has an established monitoring system that is designed to identify impaired and potential problem loans, and to permit periodic evaluation of impairment and the adequacy level of the allowance for loan losses in a timely manner.

In addition, our Board of Directors has established a written loan policy that includes a loan review and control system which it believes should be effective in ensuring that the Bank maintains an adequate allowance for loan losses. The Board of Directors provides oversight for the allowance evaluation process, including quarterly evaluations, and judges that the allowance is adequate to absorb inherent losses in the loan portfolio. The determination of the amount of the allowance for loan losses and the provision for loan losses is based on management’s current judgment about the credit quality of the loan portfolio and takes into consideration known relevant internal and external factors that affect collectibility when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses. The nature of the process by which the Bank determines the appropriate allowance for loan losses requires the exercise of considerable judgment. Additions to the allowance for loan losses are made by charges to the provision for loan losses. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Bank’s control, including the performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates, and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications. Identified credit exposures that are determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance for loan losses. Recoveries of previously charged off amounts, if any, are credited to the allowance for loan losses. A weakening of the economy or other factors that adversely affect asset quality could result in an increase in the number of delinquencies, bankruptcies, or defaults, and a higher level of non-performing assets, net charge-offs, and provision for loan losses in future periods.

The following table sets forth information relating to the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:

	For the nine months ended September 30, 2007			For the year ended December 31, 2006
(Dollars in thousands)

Balance at beginning of period	$	64,689		$	60,251
Provision of loan losses		5,300			2,000
Loans charged off		(7,474	)		(2,030	)
Recoveries of loans charged off		3,330			1,315
Allowance from acquisitions		432			3,153
Balance at end of period	$	66,277		$	64,689

Average loans outstanding during the period	$	6,034,326		$	5,310,564
Total gross loans outstanding, at period-end	$	6,439,407		$	5,747,546
Total non-performing loans, at period-end	$	50,221		$	30,330
Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans outstanding during the period (annualized)		0.09	%		0.01	%
Provision for loan losses to average loans outstanding during the period (annualized)		0.12	%		0.04	%
Allowance to non-performing loans, at period-end		131.97	%		213.28	%
Allowance to gross loans, at period-end		1.03	%		1.13	%

For impaired loans, we provide specific allowances based on an evaluation of impairment. For the portfolio of classified loans we determine an allowance based on an assigned loss percentage. The percentage assigned depends on a number of factors including loan classification, the current financial condition of the borrowers and guarantors, the prevailing value of the underlying collateral, charge-off history, management’s knowledge of the portfolio, and general economic conditions. During the third quarter of 2007, we revised our minimum loss rates for loans rated Special Mention and Substandard to incorporate the results of a classification migration model reflecting actual losses beginning in 2003. In addition, beginning in the third quarter of 2007, minimum loss rates have been specifically assigned for loans graded minimally acceptable instead of grouping these loans with the unclassified portfolio discussed below.

The unclassified portfolio is segmented on a group basis. Segmentation is determined by loan type and by identifying risk characteristics that are common to the groups of loans. The allowance is provided to each segmented group based on the group’s historical loan loss experience, the trends in delinquencies and non-accrual loans, and other significant factors, such as national and local economy, trends and conditions, strength of management and loan staff, underwriting standards and the concentration of credit.

To determine the allowance, the Bank employs two primary methodologies: the classification process and the individual loan review analysis methodology. These methodologies support the basis for determining allocations between the various loan categories and the overall adequacy of the Bank’s allowance to provide for probable loss in the loan portfolio. These methodologies are further supported by additional analysis of relevant factors such as the historical losses in the portfolio, trends in the non-performing/non-accrual loans, loan delinquencies, the volume of the portfolio, peer group comparisons, and federal regulatory policy for loan and lease losses. Other significant factors of portfolio analysis include changes in lending policies/underwriting standards, portfolio composition, concentrations of credit, and trends in the national and local economy.

The table set forth below reflects management’s allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category and the ratio of each loan category to the total loans as of the dates indicated:


(Dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2007					December 31, 2006
			Percentage of					Percentage of
			Loans in Each					Loans in Each
			Category					Category
			to Average					to Average
Type of Loans:	Amount		Gross Loans			Amount		Gross Loans
Commercial loans	$	30,414		21.1	%	$	35,569		20.9	%
Residential mortgage loans		1,268		9.9			1,510		9.1
Commercial mortgage loans		25,443		56.4			22,160		57.6
Real estate construction loans		9,113		12.1			5,431		11.8
Installment loans		39		0.3			10		0.3
Other loans		-		0.2			9		0.3
Total	$	66,277		100	%	$	64,689		100	%

The allowance allocated to commercial loans decreased from $35.6 million at December 31, 2006, to $30.4 million at September 30, 2007, due primarily to charge-offs of certain impaired commercial loans and the decrease in the reserve factor based on a 5-year moving average of loss experience in commercial loans. Non-accrual commercial loans by collateral type were $4.6 million, or 9.9% of non-accrual loans at September 30, 2007, compared to $14.4 million, or 64.6% at December 31, 2006.

The allowance allocated to residential mortgage loans decreased $242,000 from $1.5 million at December 31, 2006, to $1.3 million at September 30, 2007 due to a decrease in the environmental risk identification reserve factor.

The allowance allocated to commercial mortgage loans increased from $22.2 million at December 31, 2006, to $25.4 million at September 30, 2007, due to loan growth and the increase in the level of problem loans. As of September 30, 2007, there were $21.1 million commercial mortgage loans on non-accrual status. Non-accrual commercial mortgage loans as a percentage to total non-accrual loans was 45.6% at September 30, 2007.

The allowance allocated to construction loans has increased from $5.4 million at December 31, 2006, to $9.1 million at September 30, 2007, due primarily to an increase in the amount of construction loans risk graded as Special Mention and Substandard during 2007 as a result of slower housing sales and lower selling prices in California. The allowance allocated to construction loans as a percentage of total construction loans was 1.2% of construction loans at September 30, 2007 compared to 0.9% at December 31, 2006. At September 30, 2007, there were seven construction loans totaling $19.1 million on non-accrual status which comprised 41.2% of non-accrual loans.

Allowances for other risks of potential loan losses equaling $2.4 million as of September 30, 2007, compared to $2.5 million at December 31, 2006, have been included in the allocations above. Based on the assessment of the risk of higher energy prices on the ability of the Bank’s borrowers to service their loans, management has determined that the allowance of $2.4 million at September 30, 2007 was appropriate.

Deposits

Total deposits increased $395.5 million, or 7.0%, to $6.1 billion at September 30, 2007, from $5.7 billion at December 31, 2006. Deposit growth was primarily due to increases in money market deposits and time deposits. The acquisition of United Heritage Bank at March 30, 2007, increased deposits by $54.2 million. Non-interest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits, and savings deposits comprised 33.7% of total deposits at September 30, 2007, time deposit accounts of less than $100,000 comprised 18.0% of total deposits, while the remaining 48.3% was comprised of time deposit accounts of $100,000 or more.

The following table displays the deposit mix as of the dates indicated:

	September 30, 2007		% of Total			December 31, 2006		% of Total			% Change
Deposits	(Dollars in thousands)
Non-interest-bearing demand	$	778,690		12.8	%	$	781,492		13.8	%		(0.4	)%
NOW		228,659		3.8			239,589		4.2			(4.6	)
Money market		697,721		11.5			657,689		11.6			6.1
Savings		336,743		5.6			358,827		6.3			(6.2	)
Time deposits under $100,000		1,095,348		18.0			1,007,637		17.8			8.7
Time deposits of $100,000 or more		2,933,645		48.3			2,630,072		46.3			11.5
Total deposits	$	6,070,806		100.0	%	$	5,675,306		100.0	%		7.0	%

For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, brokered deposits increased $141.2 million to $388.9 million from $247.7 million at December 31, 2006.

Borrowings

Borrowings include Federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of San Francisco, borrowing from other financial institutions, subordinated and junior subordinated notes issued.

Federal funds purchased were $98.0 million with a weighted average rate of 5.29% as of September 30, 2007, compared to $50.0 million with a weighted average rate of 5.31% as of December 31, 2006.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $1.1 billion with a weighted average rate of 3.74% at September 30, 2007, compared to $400.0 million with a weighted average rate of 4.40% at December 31, 2006. Seventeen agreements totaling $900.0 million are with initial floating rates for a period of time ranging from six months to one year, with the floating rates ranging from the three-month LIBOR minus 100 basis points to the three-month LIBOR minus 340 basis points. Thereafter, the rates are fixed for the remainder of the term, with interest rates ranging from 4.29% to 5.07%. After the initial floating rate term, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the fixed rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. Two agreements of $50.0 million each are with initial fixed rates of 3.33% and 3.50%, respectively, for six months. For the remainder of the seven year term, the rates float at 8% minus the three-month LIBOR rate with a maximum rate of 3.75% and minimum rate of 0.0%. After the initial fixed rate term, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the floating rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. The Company may be required to provide additional collateral for the repurchase agreements. In addition, there were three short term repurchase agreements totaling $108.7 million which will mature in the fourth quarter of 2007 with a weighted average interest rate of 5.45% at September 30, 2007. At September 30, 2007, included in long-term transactions are seven repurchase agreements totaling $350.0 million that were callable but had not been called. Two repurchase agreements, $50.0 million each, have fixed interest rates at 4.75% and 4.79% until their final maturities in March 2011. Five repurchase agreements, $50.0 million each, have fixed interest rates ranging from 4.29% to 4.61%, until their final maturities in the first half of 2014.

Total advances from the FHLB of San Francisco increased $375.0 million to $1.1 billion at September 30, 2007 from $714.7 million at December 31, 2006. Non-puttable advances totaled $389.7 million with a weighted rate of 5.22% and puttable advances totaled $700.0 million with a weighted average rate of 4.42% at September 30, 2007. The FHLB has the right to terminate the puttable transaction at par on the first anniversary date in the first quarter of 2008 and quarterly thereafter for $300.0 million of the advances and on the second anniversary date in 2009 and quarterly thereafter for $400.0 million of the advances.

Long-term Debt

On September 29, 2006, the Bank issued $50.0 million in subordinated debt. The debt has a maturity term of 10 years and bears interest at a rate of three-month LIBOR plus 110 basis points. As of September 30, 2007, $50.0 million was outstanding with a rate of 6.30% under this note compared to $50.0 million at a rate of 6.46% at December 31, 2006.

The Company issued additional junior subordinated debt securities of $46.4 million at March 30, 2007, and $20.6 million at May 31, 2007. The securities of $46.4 million issued on March 30, 2007 have a scheduled maturity of June 15, 2037, and bear interest at a per annum rate based on the three-month LIBOR plus 148 basis points, payable on a quarterly basis. The securities of $20.6 million issued on May 31, 2007 have a scheduled maturity of September 7, 2037, and bear interest at a per annum rate based on the three-month LIBOR plus 140 basis points, payable on a quarterly basis.

At September 30, 2007, junior subordinated debt securities totaled $121.1 million with a weighted average interest rate of 7.73% compared to $54.1 million with a weighted average rate of 8.39% at December 31, 2006. The junior subordinated debt issued qualifies as Tier 1 capital for regulatory reporting purposes.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations to make future payments as of September 30, 2007. Payments for deposits and borrowings do not include interest. Payments related to leases are based on amount specified in the underlying contracts.

	Payment Due by Period
			More than		3 years or
			1 year but		more but
	1 year		less than		less than		5 years
	or less		3 years		5 years		or more		Total
	(Dollars in thousands)

Contractual obligations:
Deposits with stated maturity dates	$	3,939,771	$	87,344	$	1,867	$	11	$	4,028,993
Federal funds purchased		98,000		-		-		-		98,000
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (1)		108,710		-		150,000		850,000		1,108,710
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (2)		244,500		-		145,180		700,000		1,089,680
Other borrowings		3,351		-		-		19,670		23,021
Long-term debt		-		-		-		171,136		171,136
Operating leases		7,231		10,184		6,256		6,380		30,051

Total contractual obligations and other commitments	$	4,401,563	$	97,528	$	303,303	$	1,747,197	$	6,549,591

(1)	These repurchase agreements have a final maturity of 5-year, 7-year and 10-year from origination date but are callable on a quarterly basis after the six months or one year anniversary according to agreements.

(2)	FHLB advances of $700.0 million that mature in 2012 have a callable option. On a quarterly basis, $300.0 million are callable on the first anniversary date and $400.0 million are callable on the second anniversary date.

Capital Resources

Stockholders’ equity of $948.9 million at September 30, 2007, increased by $5.8 million, or 0.6%, compared to $943.1 million at December 31, 2006. The following table summarizes the activity in stockholders’ equity:

(Dollars in thousands)	Nine months ended
	September 30, 2007
Net income	$	94,553
Proceeds from shares issued to the Dividend Reinvestment Plan		1,837
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		1,416
Tax benefits from stock-based compensation expense		503
Share-based compensation		5,694
Purchase of treasury stock		(76,908	)
Changes in other comprehensive income		2,568
Cumulative effect adjustment as a result of adoption of FASB Interpretation
No. 48 - Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes		(8,524	)
Cash dividends paid		(15,294	)
Net increase in stockholders' equity	$	5,845

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company repurchased 175,500 shares of its common stock for $5.4 million, or $30.77 average cost per share. During the first nine months of 2007, the Company repurchased 2,279,553 shares of its common stock for $76.9 million, or $33.74 average cost per share. At September 30, 2007, 172,150 shares remain under the Company’s May 8, 2007, repurchase program. From October 30 to November 2, 2007, the Company repurchased 172,150 shares of its common stock for $5.1 million, or $29.66 average cost per share and thereby completed its May 2007 repurchase program. From January 1, 2007 to November 2, 2007, the Company repurchased 2,451,703 shares of its common stock for $82.0 million, or $33.45 average cost per share.

The Company declared a cash dividend of 9 cents per share for distribution in January 2007 on 51,953,759 shares outstanding and declared a cash dividend of 10.5 cents per share for distribution in April on 51,158,476 shares outstanding, for distribution in July on 49,963,215 shares outstanding, and for distribution in October on 49,819,381 shares outstanding. Total cash dividends paid in 2007, including the $5.2 million paid in October, amounted to $20.5 million.

Capital Adequacy Review

Management seeks to maintain the Company's capital at a level sufficient to support future growth, protect depositors and stockholders, and comply with various regulatory requirements.

On September 29, 2006, the Bank issued $50.0 million in subordinated debt in a private placement transaction. This instrument matures on September 29, 2016. The subordinated debt was issued through the Bank and qualifies as Tier 2 capital for regulatory reporting purposes.

In the first half of 2007, the Bancorp issued $67.0 million of junior subordinated debt which generated $65.0 million of Tier 1 capital.

Both the Bancorp’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital continued to exceed the regulatory minimum requirements as of September 30, 2007. In addition, the capital ratios of the Bank place it in the “well capitalized” category, which is defined as institutions with a total risk-based ratio equal to or greater than 10.0%, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio equal to or greater than 6.0%, and Tier 1 leverage capital ratio equal to or greater than 5.0%.

The following table presents the Bancorp’s and the Bank’s capital and leverage ratios as of September 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006:

	Cathay General Bancorp								Cathay Bank
	September 30, 2007				December 31, 2006				September 30, 2007				December 31, 2006
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		%		Balance		%		Balance		%		Balance		%

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)	$	741,736		9.22	$	673,705		9.40	$	730,284		9.08	$	670,206		9.37
Tier 1 capital minimum requirement		321,968		4.00		286,744		4.00		321,600		4.00		286,238		4.00
Excess	$	419,768		5.22	$	386,961		5.40	$	408,684		5.08	$	383,968		5.37

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)	$	857,482		10.65	$	788,284		11.00	$	847,337		10.54	$	786,092		10.99
Total capital minimum requirement		643,937		8.00		573,488		8.00		643,201		8.00		572,476		8.00
Excess	$	213,545		2.65	$	214,796		3.00	$	204,136		2.54	$	213,616		2.99

Tier 1 capital (to average assets) - Leverage ratio	$	741,736		8.32	$	673,705		8.98	$	730,284		8.20	$	670,206		8.95
Minimum leverage requirement		356,806		4.00		300,055		4.00		356,107		4.00		299,409		4.00
Excess	$	384,930		4.32	$	373,650		4.98	$	374,177		4.20	$	370,797		4.95

Risk-weighted assets	$	8,049,212			$	7,168,601			$	8,040,007			$	7,155,951
Total average assets (1)	$	8,920,152			$	7,501,371			$	8,902,667			$	7,485,214

(1)	The quarterly total average assets reflect all debt securities at amortized cost, equity security with readily determinable fair values at the lower of cost or fair value, and equity securities without readily determinable fair values at historical cost.

Liquidity

Liquidity is our ability to maintain sufficient cash flow to meet maturing financial obligations and customer credit needs, and to take advantage of investment opportunities as they are presented in the marketplace. Our principal sources of liquidity are growth in deposits, proceeds from the maturity or sale of securities and other financial instruments, repayments from securities and loans, federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”). At September 30, 2007, our liquidity ratio (defined as net cash, short-term and marketable securities to net deposits and short-term liabilities) was at 16.4% compared to 15.4% at year-end 2006.

To supplement its liquidity needs, the Bank maintains credit lines which total $258.0 million for federal funds with five correspondent banks, and master agreements with brokerage firms for the sale of securities subject to repurchase. The Bank is also a shareholder of the FHLB of San Francisco, enabling it to have access to lower cost FHLB financing when necessary. As of September 30, 2007, the Bank had an approved credit line with the FHLB of San Francisco totaling $1.3 billion. The total advances outstanding with the FHLB of San Francisco at September 30, 2007, was $1.1 billion. These borrowings are secured by loans and securities.

Liquidity can also be provided through the sale of liquid assets, which consist of federal funds sold, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and unpledged investment securities available-for-sale. At September 30, 2007, investment securities available-for-sale at fair value totaled $2.0 billion, with $1.6 billion pledged as collateral for borrowings and other commitments. The remaining $444.2 million was available as additional liquidity or to be pledged as collateral for additional borrowings.

Approximately 98% of the Company’s time deposits are maturing within one year or less as of September 30, 2007. Management anticipates that there may be some outflow of these deposits upon maturity due to the keen competition in the Bank’s marketplace. However, based on our historical runoff experience, we expect that the outflow will be minimal and can be replenished through our normal growth in deposits. Management believes the above-mentioned sources will provide adequate liquidity to the Bank to meet its daily operating needs.

The Bancorp obtains funding for its activities primarily through dividend income contributed by the Bank and proceeds from the issuance of securities, including proceeds from the issuance of its common stock pursuant to its Dividend Reinvestment Plan and the exercise of stock options. Dividends paid to the Bancorp by the Bank are subject to regulatory limitations. The business activities of the Bancorp consist primarily of the operation of the Bank with limited activities in other investments. Management believes the Bancorp’s liquidity generated from its prevailing sources is sufficient to meet its operational needs.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Market Risk

We use a net interest income simulation model to measure the extent of the differences in the behavior of the lending and funding rates to changing interest rates, so as to project future earnings or market values under alternative interest rate scenarios. Interest rate risk arises primarily through the Company’s traditional business activities of extending loans and accepting deposits. Many factors, including economic and financial conditions, movements in interest rates and consumer preferences affect the spread between interest earned on assets and interest paid on liabilities. The net interest income simulation model is designed to measure the volatility of net interest income and net portfolio value, defined as net present value of assets and liabilities, under immediate rising or falling interest rate scenarios in 100 basis point increments.

Although the modeling is very helpful in managing interest rate risk, it does require significant assumptions for the projection of loan prepayment rates on mortgage related assets, loan volumes and pricing, and deposit and borrowing volume and pricing, that might prove inaccurate. Because these assumptions are inherently uncertain, the model cannot precisely estimate net interest income, or precisely predict the effect of higher or lower interest rates on net interest income. Actual results will differ from simulated results due to the timing, magnitude, and frequency of interest rates changes, the differences between actual experience and the assumed volume, changes in market conditions, and management strategies, among other factors. The Company monitors its interest rate sensitivity and attempts to reduce the risk of a significant decrease in net interest income caused by a change in interest rates.

We establish a tolerance level in our policy to define and limit interest income volatility to a change of plus or minus 15% when the hypothetical rate change is plus or minus 200 basis points. When the net interest rate simulation projects that our tolerance level will be met or exceeded, we seek corrective action after considering, among other things, market conditions, customer reaction, and the estimated impact on profitability. The Company’s simulation model also projects the net economic value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities. We have established a tolerance level in our policy to value the net economic value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities to a change of plus or minus 15% when the hypothetical rate change is plus or minus 200 basis points. At September 30, 2007, the market value of equity exceeded management’s 15% limit for a hypothetical upward rate change of 200 basis points. Management intends to take steps over the remainder of the year to reduce this exposure.

The table below shows the estimated impact of changes in interest rate on net interest income and market value of equity as of September 30, 2007:


	Net Interest		Market Value
	Income		of Equity
	Volatility (1)		Volatility (2)
Change in Interest Rate (Basis Points)	September 30, 2007		September 30, 2007
+200		-12.40		-22.54
+100		-5.28		-11.38
-100		-2.69		1.68
-200		-6.55		3.46

(1)	The percentage change in this column represents net interest income of the Company for 12 months in a stable interest rate environment versus the net interest income in the various rate scenarios.

(2)	The percentage change in this column represents net portfolio value of the Company in a stable interest rate environment versus the net portfolio value in the various rate scenarios.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

The Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13(a)-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed or submitted by it under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting, that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this report, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

The Bancorp’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Cathay Bank, is a party to ordinary routine litigation from time to time incidental to various aspects of its operations. Management is not currently aware of any litigation that is expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or the results of operations.

Item 1a. RISK FACTORS.

There is no material change from risk factors as previously disclosed in Item 1A to Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

The Company primarily operates in California with twenty one branches in Southern California and ten branches in Northern California among its 50 branches nationwide. Adverse economic conditions caused by wildfire, earthquake and other natural disasters could impair borrowers’ ability to service their loans, decrease the level and duration of deposits by customers and erode the value of loan collateral. These events could increase the amount of our non-performing assets and have an adverse effect on our efforts to collect our non-performing loans and otherwise liquidate our non-performing assets (including other real estate owned) on terms favorable to us.

In October 2007, the wildfires raging across Southern California due to dry weather and high winds have damaged lives and residential properties, and caused huge economic losses. There was no adverse impact on the Company’s business from October 2007’s Southern California wildfire.

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Period	(a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased	(b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)	(c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
Month #1 (July 1, 2007 - July 31, 2007)	NONE			347,650
Month #2 (August 1, 2007 - August 31, 2007)	175,500	$30.77		172,150
Month #3 (September 1, 2007 - September 30, 2007)	NONE			172,150
Total	175,500	$30.77		172,150

From October 30, 2007, to November 2, 2007, the Company repurchased 172,150 shares of its common stock for $5.1 million or $29.66 average cost per share and thereby completed its May 8, 2007 repurchase program. From January 1, 2007 to November 2, 2007, the Company repurchased 2,451,703 shares of its common stock for $82.0 million, or $33.45 average cost per share.

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

Not applicable.

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

The Bonus Deferral Agreement that the Company entered into with its Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Dunson Cheng, effective November 23, 2004 was amended and restated on November 8, 2007 to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). A copy of the amended and restated agreement is filed as an exhibit to this report. The Bonus Deferral Agreement provided for the deferral by Mr. Cheng of the payment of that portion of his incentive bonus for 2004 that was in excess of $225,000 until January 1 of the first year following Mr. Cheng’s separation from service with the Company. It has been amended to provide that, if Mr. Cheng is a specified employee under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, payment of the deferred amount will be delayed to the later of: (i) January 1 of the first year following his separation from service; or (ii) the first day of the seventh month following his separation from service.

The 2005 Incentive Plan has also been amended to add certain provisions that deal with Section 409A of the Code. A copy of the amended and restated 2005 Incentive Plan is filed as an exhibit to this report.

Item 6. EXHIBITS.

(i)

Exhibit 10.6.1 Amended and Restated Bonus Deferral Agreement. *

(ii)

Exhibit 10.8.1 Amended and Restated Cathay General Bancorp 2005 Incentive Plan. *

(iii)

Exhibit 31.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(iv)

Exhibit 31.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(v)

Exhibit 32.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(vi)

Exhibit 32.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	Cathay General Bancorp (Registrant)

Date: November 9, 2007	By:	/s/ Dunson K. Cheng
		Dunson K. Cheng Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer



Date: November 9, 2007	By:	/s/ Heng W. Chen
		Heng W. Chen Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) 10-Q2007 Q3 Quarterly report

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