Sec Form 4 Filing - CHAN ELENA @ CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP - 2003-11-20

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person CHAN ELENA 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [ CATY] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) SVP/CFO (Last) (First) (Middle) 777 NORTH BROADWAY 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 11/20/2003 (Street) LOS ANGELES, CA90012 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 491.36( 1 ) D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Option $ 16.5 09/17/2002( 2 ) 09/17/2008 Common Stock 2,264 2,264 D Stock Option $ 21.25 01/20/2003( 3 ) 01/20/2010 Common Stock 4,836 7,100 D Stock Option $ 30.095 01/18/2002( 4 ) 01/18/2011 Common Stock 7,060 14,160 D Stock Option $ 32.55 02/21/2003( 5 ) 02/21/2012 Common Stock 7,000 21,160 D Stock Option $ 39.85 01/16/2004( 6 ) 01/16/2013 Common Stock 11,530 32,690 D Stock Option $ 49.6 11/20/2003 A 26,710 11/20/2004( 7 ) 11/20/2013 Common Stock 26,710 $ 0 59,400 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other CHAN ELENA 777 NORTH BROADWAY LOS ANGELES, CA90012 SVP/CFO Signatures Elena Chan 11/24/2003 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Includes 1.25 shares acquired through dividend reinvestment during the year of 2003; but does not include the reporting person's vested interest of 23,686 shares in ESOP as of 12/31/02. ( 2 )The option vests in 2 equal annual installments beginning 9/17/02. ( 3 )612 shares exercisable, balance of the option vests in 3 equal annual installments beginning 1/20/03. ( 4 )The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/18/02. ( 5 )The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/03. ( 6 )The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/16/04. ( 7 )The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 11/20/04.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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