Back to GetFilings.com

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

Commission file number 0-18630

Cathay General Bancorp

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(213) 625-4700

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

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  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2004) was $1,415,068,247.

The number of shares outstanding as of February 15, 2005: Common Stock, $.01 par value — 50,708,644 shares.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Table of Contents

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

2004 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

Forward-Looking Statements

In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the “Bancorp” refers to Cathay General Bancorp and the “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 Bancorp 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:

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. We have no intention and undertake 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.

PART I

Item 1. Business

Business of Bancorp

Overview

Cathay General Bancorp is a business corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on March 1, 1990. Our only office, and our principal place of business, is located at the main office of Cathay Bank at 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. Our telephone number is (213) 625-4700.

1

Table of Contents

We are the holding company of Cathay Bank, a California state-chartered commercial bank. Our principal current business activity is to hold all of the outstanding stock of Cathay Bank. In the future, we may become an operating company or acquire savings institutions, banks, or companies engaged in bank-related activities and may engage in or acquire such other businesses, or activities as may be permitted by applicable law.

In 2003, the boards of directors and stockholders of the Bancorp and GBC Bancorp approved a merger that became effective as of the close of business on October 20, 2003, whereby GBC Bancorp merged into the Bancorp, with the Bancorp as the surviving corporation. As part of the merger, General Bank, a California state-chartered commercial bank and a wholly owned subsidiary of GBC Bancorp, merged into the Bank, with the Bank as the surviving corporation.

As a result of the merger, the Bancorp issued 13.5 million shares of its newly issued common stock as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split in 2004, and paid $162.4 million in cash for all of the issued and outstanding shares of GBC Bancorp common stock. In addition, the Bancorp (formerly known as Cathay Bancorp, Inc.) changed its name to Cathay General Bancorp, but its common stock continues to be quoted on Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “CATY” while GBC Bancorp’s common stock was removed from trading. As a result of the merger, (i) the assets and liabilities of GBC Bancorp are now assets and liabilities of the Bancorp and (ii) the assets and liabilities of General Bank are now assets and liabilities of the Bank.

GBC Bancorp was a California corporation that served as the holding company for General Bank. General Bank was a community bank that served individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. It offered a variety of banking services to its customers, including checking, savings, and time deposits; secured and unsecured loans; traveler’s checks, safe deposit boxes, credit cards, and other fee-based services; and international trade-related services. The Bank converted the General Bank branches to the Cathay Bank name in April, 2004.

Subsidiaries of Bancorp

In addition to its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, the Bancorp has the following subsidiaries:

Cathay Capital Trust I, Cathay Statutory Trust I and Cathay Capital Trust II. In June 2003, September, 2003, and December 2003, the Bancorp established Cathay Capital Trust I, Cathay Statutory Trust I, and Cathay Capital Trust II (the “Trusts”), respectively, as wholly owned subsidiaries. All three Trusts are statutory business trusts. In separate transactions in 2003, the Trusts issued capital securities representing undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of the Trusts. The Trusts exist for the purpose of issuing the capital securities and investing the proceeds thereof, together with proceeds from the purchase of the common stock of the Trusts by the Bancorp, in Junior Subordinated Notes issued by the Bancorp. The Bancorp guarantees, on a limited basis, payments of distributions on the capital securities of the Trusts and payments on redemption of the capital securities of the Trust. The Bancorp is the owner of all the beneficial interests represented by the common securities of the Trusts. The purpose of issuing the capital securities was to provide the Company with a cost-effective means of obtaining Tier 1 Capital for regulatory purposes in connection with the merger.

Because the Bancorp is not the primary beneficiary of the Trusts, the financial statements of the Trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The capital securities of the Trusts are currently included in the Tier 1 capital of the Bancorp for regulatory capital purposes. On March 1, 2005, the Federal Reserve adopted a final rule that retains trust preferred securities in the Tier I capital of bank holding companies, but with stricter quantitative limits and clearer qualitative standards. Under the rule, after a five-year transition period, the aggregate amount of trust preferred securities and certain other capital elements will be limited to 25 percent of Tier I capital elements, net of goodwill, less any associated deferred tax liability. The amount of trust preferred securities and certain other elements in excess of the limit could be included in Tier II capital, subject to restrictions. In the last five years before maturity, the outstanding amount must be excluded from Tier I capital and included in Tier II capital. Bank holding companies with significant international operations would generally be expected to limit trust preferred securities and certain other capital elements to

2

Table of Contents

15% of Tier 1 capital elements, net of goodwill. We are currently evaluating this new regulation, but do not expect this rule to have a materially adverse effect on our capital positions.

GBC Venture Capital, Inc. The business purpose of GBC Venture Capital, Inc. is to hold stock warrants received as part of business relationships and to make equity investments in companies and limited partnerships subject to applicable regulatory restrictions.

Competition

Our primary business is the business of the Bank. Therefore, the competitive conditions to be faced by us are expected to include those faced by the Bank. See “Business of the Bank — Competition.” In addition, many banks and financial institutions have formed holding companies. It is likely that these holding companies will attempt to acquire other banks, thrift institutions, or companies engaged in bank-related activities. Thus, we may face increased competition in undertaking acquisitions of such institutions and in operating after any such acquisition.

Employees

Due to the limited nature of the Bancorp’s activities, the Bancorp currently does not employ any persons other than our management, which includes the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice Presidents, the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and the General Counsel. See also “Business of the Bank — Employees.”

Business of the Bank

General

The Bank was incorporated under the laws of the State of California on August 22, 1961, and was licensed by the Department of Financial Institutions (previously known as the California State Banking Department), and commenced operations as a California state-chartered bank on April 19, 1962. Cathay Bank is an insured bank under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act but, like most state-chartered banks of similar size in California, it is not a member of the Federal Reserve System.

The Bank’s main office is located in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles, at 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. In addition, as of December 31, 2004, the Bank had branch offices in Southern California (20 branches), Northern California (9 branches), New York (three branches), Massachusetts (two branches), Texas (one branch), Washington (one branch), Hong Kong (one representative office) and Shanghai (one representative office). Each branch office has loan approval rights subject to the branch manager’s authorized lending limits. Activities of the Hong Kong and Shanghai representative offices are limited to coordinating the transportation of documents to the Bank’s head office and performing liaison services.

Our primary market area is defined by the Community Reinvestment Act delineation, which includes the contiguous areas surrounding each of the Bank’s branch offices. It is the Bank’s policy to reach out and actively offer services to low and moderate income groups in the delineated branch service areas. Many of the Bank’s employees speak both English and one or more Chinese dialects or Vietnamese, and are thus able to serve the Bank’s Chinese, Vietnamese, and English speaking customers.

The Bank conducts substantially the same business operations as a typical commercial bank. It accepts checking, savings, and time deposits, and makes commercial, real estate, personal, home improvement, automobile, and other installment and term loans. From time to time, the Bank invests available funds in other interest-earning assets, such as U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency securities, state and municipal securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, and venture capital investments.

3

Table of Contents

The Bank’s services also include letters of credit, wire transfers, forward currency spot and forward contracts, traveler’s checks, safe deposit, night deposit, Social Security payment deposit, collection, bank-by-mail, drive-up and walk-up windows, automatic teller machines (“ATM”), Internet banking services, and other customary bank services.

To accommodate those customers who cannot conduct banking business during normal banking hours, the Bank has extended its banking hours to include Saturday hours for most branches and Sunday hours at its New York branches.

The Bank primarily services individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in the local markets in which its branches are located. The general areas to which the Bank has directed its lending activities include: residential mortgage loans, commercial mortgage loans, construction loans, home equity lines of credit; commercial loans, trade financing loans, Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans; and installment loans to individuals for automobile, household, and other consumer expenditures.

The Bank offers a program called Cathay Wealth Management (formerly known as Cathay Global Investment Services), which allows its customers to trade stocks online and to purchase mutual funds, annuities, equities, bonds, and short-term money market instruments, through UVest Financial Services Group, Inc.

Securities

The Bank’s securities portfolio is managed in accordance with a written Investment Policy which addresses strategies, types, and levels of allowable investments, and which is reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors.

Our investment portfolio is managed to meet our liquidity needs through proceeds from scheduled maturities and is also utilized for pledging requirements for deposits of state and local subdivisions, securities sold under repurchase agreements, and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances. The portfolio is comprised of U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, obligations of states and political subdivisions, corporate debt instruments and equity securities. At December 31, 2004, the aggregate investment securities portfolio, with a carrying value of $1.82 billion, was classified as investment grade securities, except for our $9.1 million of non-rated venture capital investments. We do not include federal funds sold and certain other short-term securities as investment securities. These other investments are included in cash and cash equivalents.

Information concerning the carrying value, maturity distribution, and yield analysis of the Company’s securities available-for-sale portfolios as well as a summary of the amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Bank’s securities by contractual maturity is included in Part II — Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in “Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Loans

Our Board of Directors and senior management establish, review, and modify the lending policy for the Bank. The decision to make a loan is generally considered in terms of, among other things, character, repayment ability, financial condition of the borrower, secondary repayment source, collateral, capital, leverage capacity of the borrower, market conditions for the borrower’s business or project, and prevailing economic trends and conditions. For mortgage loans, our lending policy requires an independent appraisal on real estate property in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines. Loan originations are obtained through a variety of sources, including existing customers, walk-in customers, referrals from brokers or existing customers, and advertising. In its present marketing efforts, the Bank emphasizes its community ties, customized personal service, competitive rates, and an efficient underwriting and approval process, with loan applications taken at all of the Bank’s branch

4

Table of Contents

offices. The Bank’s centralized documentation department supervises the obtaining of credit reports, appraisals, and other documentation involved with a loan.

Commercial Mortgage Loans. These loans are typically secured by first deeds of trust on commercial properties, including primarily commercial retail properties, shopping centers, and owner-occupied industrial facilities, and secondarily office buildings, multiple-unit apartments, and multi-tenanted industrial properties.

In addition, the Bank provides medium-term commercial mortgage loans secured by commercial or industrial buildings where the owner either uses the property for business purposes or derives income from tenants.

Commercial Loans. The Bank provides personalized financial services to diverse commercial and professional businesses in its market areas. Commercial loans consist primarily of short-term loans (normally with a maturity of up to one year) to support general business purposes, or to provide working capital to businesses in the form of lines of credit to finance trade-finance loans. The Bank continues to focus primarily on commercial lending to small-to-medium size businesses, within the Company’s geographic market area. Commercial loan pricing is generally at a rate tied to the prime rate, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal, or the Bank’s reference rate.

Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Loans. The Bank originates SBA loans in California, under the “preferred lender” status. Preferred lender status is granted to a lender which has made a certain number of SBA loans and which, in the opinion of the SBA, has staff who are qualified and experienced in this area. As a preferred lender, the Bank’s SBA Lending Group has the authority to make, on behalf of the SBA, the SBA guaranty on loans under the 7(a) program. This can represent a substantial savings in loan processing time to the customer. Under this program, the SBA delegates loan underwriting, closing, and most servicing and liquidation authority and responsibility to selected lenders.

The Bank utilizes both the 504 program, which is focused toward long-term financing of buildings and other long-term fixed assets, and the 7(a) program, which is the SBA’s primary loan program and which can be used for financing of a variety of general business purposes such as acquisition of land and buildings, equipment, inventory and working capital needs of eligible businesses generally over a 5- to 25-year term. The collateral position in the SBA loans is enhanced by the SBA guaranty in the case of 7(a) loans, and by lower loan-to-value ratios under the 504 program. The Bank has sold and may, in the future, sell the guaranteed portion of certain of its SBA 7(a) loans in the secondary market. SBA loan pricing is generally at a rate tied to the prime rate, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

Residential Mortgage Loans. The Bank originates single-family-residential mortgage loans, and home equity lines of credit. The single-family-residential mortgage loans are comprised of conforming, non-conforming, and jumbo residential mortgage loans, and are secured by first and subordinate liens on single (one-to-four units) family residential properties. The Bank’s products include a fixed-rate residential mortgage loan, an adjustable-rate residential mortgage loan, and a variable-rate home equity line of credit loan. The pricing on our variable-rate home equity line of credit is generally at a rate tied to the prime rate, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal, or the Banks’ reference rate. These mortgage loans are underwritten in accordance with the Bank’s guidelines, on the basis of the borrower’s financial strength, historical loan quality, and other qualifications. The Bank’s highest concentration of residential mortgage loans relates to properties in California.

Real Estate Construction. The Bank’s real estate construction loan activity focuses on providing short-term loans to individuals and developers with whom the Bank has established relationships for the construction primarily of multi-unit projects. Residential real estate construction loans are typically secured by first deeds of trust and guarantees of the borrower. The economic viability of the projects, the borrower’s credit worthiness, and the borrower’s and contractor’s experience are primary considerations in the loan underwriting decision. The Bank utilizes approved independent licensed appraisers. The Bank monitors projects during the construction

5

Table of Contents

phase through construction inspections and a disbursement program tied to the percentage of completion of each project. The Bank also occasionally makes unimproved property loans to borrowers who intend to construct a single-family-residence on their lots generally within twelve months. In addition, the Bank also makes commercial real estate construction loans to high net worth clients with adequate liquidity for construction of office and warehouse properties. Such loans are typically secured by first deeds of trust and are guaranteed by the borrower.

Installment Loans. Installment loans tend to be fixed rate and longer-term (one-to-six year maturities). These consumer-oriented loans are funded primarily for the purpose of financing the purchase of automobiles and other personal uses of the borrower.

Distribution and Maturity of Loans. Information concerning loan type and mix, distribution of loans and maturity of loans is included in Part II — Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in “Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Asset Quality

The Bank monitors its asset quality with lending and credit policies, which require the regular review of its loan portfolio. If during the ordinary course of business, management becomes aware of borrowers that may not be able to meet the contractual requirements of the loan agreements, then such loans are placed under closer supervision with consideration given to placing the loan on non-accrual status, the need for an additional allowance for loan losses, and (if appropriate) partial or full charge-off.

The Bank’s policy is to place loans on a non-accrual status if interest or principal is past due 90 days or more, or in cases where management deems the full collection of principal and interest unlikely. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, any unpaid accrued interest is reversed against current income. Thereafter, any payment is generally first applied towards the principal balance. Depending on the circumstances, management may elect to continue the accrual of interest on certain past due loans if partial payment is received and/or the loan is well collateralized, and in the process of collection. The loan is generally returned to accrual status when the borrower has brought the past due principal and interest payments current and, in the opinion of management, the borrower has demonstrated the ability to make future payments of principal and interest as scheduled. A non accrual loan may also be returned to accrual status if all principal and interest contractually due are reasonably assured of repayment within a reasonable period and there has been a sustained period of payment performance. Information concerning non-accrual, past due, and restructured loans is included in Part II — Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in “Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Non-performing Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses. Information concerning non-performing loans, allowance for loan losses, loans charged-off, loan recoveries, and other real estate owned is included in Part II — Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in “Notes 5 and 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Deposits

The Bank attempts to price its deposits in order to promote deposit growth and offers a wide array of deposit products in order to satisfy its customers’ needs. The Bank’s current deposit products include passbook accounts, checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, college certificates of deposit, and public funds deposits. From time to time the Bank may offer special deposit promotions, such as the step up CD’s that were offered during 2004.

The Bank’s deposits are generally obtained from residents within the Company’s geographic market area. The Bank utilizes traditional marketing methods to attract new customers and deposits, by offering a wide variety

6

Table of Contents

of products and services and utilizing various forms of advertising media. Information concerning types of deposit accounts, average deposits and rates, and maturity of time deposits of $100,000 or more is included in Part II — Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Borrowings

Borrowings from time to time include securities sold under agreements to repurchase, the purchase of federal funds, funds obtained as advances from the FHLB of San Francisco and Junior Subordinated Notes. Information concerning the types, amounts, and maturity of our borrowings is included in “Notes 9 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Return on Equity and Assets

Information concerning the return on average assets, return on average stockholders’ equity, the average equity to assets ratio and the dividend payout ratio is included in Part II — Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Interest Rates and Differentials

Information concerning the interest-earning asset mix, average interest-earning assets, average interest-bearing liabilities and the yields on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities is included in Part II — Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income

An analysis of changes in net interest income due to changes in rate and volume is included in Part II — Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Commitments and Letters of Credit

Information concerning the Bank’s outstanding loan commitments and letters of credit is included in “Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Expansion

Management of the Bank continues 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 its customer base in order to compete for new deposits and loans, and to be able to serve its customers more effectively.

Subsidiaries of Cathay Bank

Cathay Investment Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank that was formed in 1984 to invest in real property. In 1987, Cathay Investment Company opened an office in Taipei, Taiwan, to promote Taiwanese real estate investments in Southern California. The office in Taipei is located at Sixth Floor, Suite 3, 146 Sung Chiang Road, Taipei, Taiwan.

Cathay Real Estate Investment Trust (“CB REIT”) is a real estate investment trust subsidiary of the Bank that was formed in February 2003 to provide the Bank with flexibility in raising capital. During 2003, the Bank contributed $1.13 billion in loans and securities to CB REIT in exchange for 100% of the common stock of CB REIT. In 2003 and 2004, CB REIT sold $4.4 million and $4.2 million, respectively, of its 7.0% Series A Non- Cumulative preferred stock to accredited investors. At December 31, 2004, total assets of CB REIT were consolidated with the Company and totaled approximately $1.25 billion. See discussion below in the section entitled “Factors That May Affect Future Results” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

7

Table of Contents

Cathay Securities Fund, Inc. is a registered investment company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank. It was formed in 2000 to engage in the business of investing in, owning, and holding loans and securities. Its office is located at 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. The Company deregistered this registered investment company with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2003 and has dissolved this company. See discussion below in Part II — Item 7 — “Factors That May Affect Future Results” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

GBC Investment & Consulting Company, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank, was incorporated to provide specific, in-depth expertise in the areas of investment and consultation on an international and domestic basis. An office is maintained in Taipei, Taiwan, to coordinate and develop business between the Bank and prospective customers in Taiwan and other Asian countries.

GBC Real Estate Investments, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank. The purpose of this subsidiary is to engage in real estate investment activities, which may include equity interests in limited partnerships and limited liability companies that own or invest in commercial real estate development properties. To date, there have been no transactions involving this subsidiary.

Cathay Trade Services, Asia Limited (“Trade Services”), formerly known as GBC Trade Services, Asia Limited, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank. Trade Services is a Hong Kong based non-financial institution that serves as a vehicle to reissue, in Hong Kong, letters of credit for the account of its U.S. based import customers in favor of beneficiaries.

GB Capital Trust II (“GB REIT”) was incorporated in January 2002 and was formed to provide General Bank with flexibility in raising capital. As a result of the GBC merger, the Bank owns 100% of the voting common trust units issued by the REIT. At December 31, 2004, total assets of GB REIT were consolidated with the Company and were approximately $765 million.

Competition

The banking business in California, and specifically in the market areas served by the Bank’s branch offices, is highly competitive. The Bank competes for deposits and loans with other commercial banks, savings and thrift institutions, brokerage houses, insurance companies, mortgage companies, credit unions, credit card companies and other financial and non-financial institutions and entities. In addition, the Bank also competes with other entities (both governmental and private industry) that are seeking to raise capital through the issuance and sale of debt and equity securities. Many of these institutions and entities offer services that are not offered directly by the Bank and have substantially greater financial resources than does the Bank.

The direction of federal legislation in recent years seems to favor increased competition between different types of financial institutions and to foster new entrants into the financial services market. Competitive conditions are expected to continue to intensify as legislation is enacted which will have the effect of eliminating historical barriers that limit participation in certain markets, increasing the cost of doing business for banks, or affecting the competitive balance between banks and other financial and non-financial institutions and entities. Technological factors, such as on-line banking and brokerage services, and economic factors are also expected to increase competitive conditions.

To compete with other financial institutions in its primary service areas, the Bank relies principally upon the following: local promotional activities, personal contacts by its officers, directors, employees, and stockholders, extended hours on weekdays, Saturday banking, and Sunday banking in certain locations, Internet banking, an Internet website, located at www.cathaybank.com, and certain other specialized services.

For customers whose loan demands exceed the Bank’s internal lending limits, the Bank has, in the past, and intends, in the future, to arrange for such loans on a participation basis with correspondent banks. The Bank also

8

Table of Contents

assists customers requiring other services not offered by the Bank to obtain such services from its correspondent banks.

In Southern California, at least two other Chinese-American banks of comparable size provide particular competition for loans and deposits with the Bank and at least two super-regional banks provide such competition for deposits. In Northern California, one of these Chinese-American banks provides particular competition for loans and deposits with the Bank and the super-regional banks provide such competition for deposits as well.

In addition, there are many other Chinese-American banks in both Southern and Northern California. Banks from the Pacific Rim countries, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China also continue to open branches in the Los Angeles area, thus increasing competition in the Bank’s primary markets.

Employees

As of December 31, 2004, the Bancorp and Bank (including subsidiaries) employed approximately 849 persons, including 258 officers. None of the employees are represented by a union. Management believes that its relations with employees are good.

Available Information

We invite you to visit us at our Web site at www.cathaybank.com, to access free of charge Bancorp’s annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, all of which are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with or furnish it to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In addition, you can write to us to obtain a free copy of any of those reports at Cathay General Bancorp, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012, Attn: Investor Relations. These reports are also available through the SEC’s Public Reference Room, located at 450 5^th street NW, Washington, DC 20549 and online at the SEC’s website, located at www.sec.gov. Investors can obtain information about the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling 800-SEC-0300.

Regulation and Supervision

General

The Bancorp and the Bank are subject to significant regulation and restrictions by federal and state regulatory agencies. The following discussion of statutes and regulations is only a brief summary and does not purport to be complete. This discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the statutes and regulations referred to. No assurance can be given that these statutes and regulations will not change in the future.

Holding Company Regulation

The Bancorp is a bank holding company within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act and is registered as such with the Federal Reserve Board. A bank holding company is required to file with the Federal Reserve Board annual reports and other information regarding its business operations and those of its subsidiaries. It is also subject to examination by the Federal Reserve Board and is required to obtain Federal Reserve Board approval before acquiring, directly or indirectly, ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank if it would thereby directly or indirectly own or control more than 5% of the voting stock of that bank, unless it already owns a majority of the voting stock. In 1997, the Federal Reserve Board adopted a policy for risk-focused supervision of small bank holding companies that do not engage in significant non-banking activities. Under this policy, examinations focus on whether a bank holding company has systems in place to manage the risks inherent in its business. In analyzing risk, the Federal Reserve Board looks at the financial condition of the holding company and its subsidiary banks, management, compliance with laws and regulations,

9

Table of Contents

inter-company transactions and any new or contemplated activities. The Federal Reserve Board has by regulation determined certain activities in which a bank holding company may or may not engage. With certain exceptions, a bank holding company may engage only in the business of banking or managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to or performing services for its subsidiary banks or activities that are closely related to banking activities. In 2000, the permissible activities and affiliations of certain bank holding companies was expanded. See section below entitled “— Financial Modernization Act.”

A holding company for a bank and any subsidiary which it acquires or organizes are deemed to be affiliates of the bank within the meaning set forth in the Federal Reserve Act and are subject to the Federal Reserve Act. This means, for example, that there are limitations on loans by the bank to affiliates, on investments by the bank in any affiliate’s stock and on the bank’s taking any affiliate’s stock as collateral for loans to any borrower. All affiliate transactions must satisfy certain limitations and otherwise be on terms and conditions that are consistent with safe and sound banking practices. In this regard, banks generally may not purchase from any affiliate a low-quality asset (as that term is defined in the Federal Reserve Act). Also, transactions by the bank with an affiliate must be on substantially the same terms as would be available for non-affiliates. The Bancorp and the Bank are currently subject to these restrictions.

The Bancorp and the Bank are also subject to certain restrictions with respect to underwriting, public sale and distribution of securities. They are also prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with the extension of credit. For example, generally the Bank may not extend credit on the condition that the customer obtain some additional service from the Bank or its parent company, or refrain from obtaining such service from a competitor.

Bank Regulation

Federal law mandates frequent examinations of all banks, with the costs of examinations to be assessed against the bank. The Bank’s primary federal regulator is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the FDIC. The federal banking regulatory agencies have substantial enforcement powers over the depository institutions that they regulate. Civil and criminal penalties may be imposed on such institutions and persons associated with those institutions for violations of laws or regulation.

As a California state-chartered bank whose accounts are insured by the FDIC up to a maximum of $100,000 per depositor, the Bank is subject to regulation, supervision, and regular examination by the California Commissioner of Financial Institutions, or the California Commissioner, and the FDIC, and must comply with applicable regulations of the Federal Reserve Board. The regulations of these agencies govern most aspects of the Bank’s business, including the making of periodic reports, its activities relating to dividends, investments, loans, borrowings, capital requirements, certain check-clearing activities, branching, mergers and acquisitions, reserves against deposits and numerous other areas. Supervision, legal action, and examination by these agencies is generally intended to protect depositors, creditors, borrowers and the deposit insurance fund and generally is not intended for the protection of stockholders.

The activities of the Bank are also regulated by state law. State law, for example, regulates certain loans to officers of the Bank, directly or indirectly, or to any related corporation in which such officer is a shareholder, director, officer or employee.

Subject to certain limitations, California law permits California state-chartered banks to invest in the stock and equity securities of other corporations, to engage directly in, or invest directly in subsidiaries which conduct, real estate related activities (including property management and real estate appraisal), and to participate in management consulting and data processing services for third parties. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, or FDICIA, limits the powers, including investment authority, of state banks to those activities that are either permitted to national banks, or activities that the FDIC finds do not pose a significant risk to the deposit insurance fund. In November 1998, the FDIC announced that it would make it easier for well-run

10

Table of Contents

state banks to engage in real estate and securities underwriting, if permitted by state law. State banks are now required to file notice of intention to engage in such activities.

FDICIA places limits on brokered deposits and extends the limits to any bank that is not “well capitalized” or has been notified that it is in “troubled condition.” A well-capitalized institution (which generally includes an institution that is considered well capitalized for purposes of the prompt corrective action regulations discussed below) may still accept brokered deposits without restriction, unless it has been informed by its appropriate Federal regulatory agency that it is in “troubled condition.” All other insured depository institutions are prohibited from accepting brokered deposits unless a waiver is obtained from the FDIC. If a waiver is obtained, the interest paid on deposits may not exceed the rate paid for deposits in the bank’s normal market area, or the national rate as determined in the FDIC’s regulation.

Capital Adequacy Requirements

The Bancorp is subject to the capital adequacy regulations of the Federal Reserve Board, and the Bank is subject to the capital adequacy regulations of FDICIA. Those regulations incorporate both risk-based and leverage capital requirements. Each of the federal regulators has established risk-based and leverage capital guidelines for banks or bank holding companies it regulates, which set total capital requirements and define capital in terms of “core capital elements,” or Tier 1 capital; and “supplemental capital elements,” or Tier 2 capital. Tier 1 capital is generally defined as the sum of the core capital elements less goodwill and certain other deductions, notably the unrealized net gains or losses (after tax adjustments) on available for sale investment securities carried at fair market value. The following items are defined as core capital elements: (i) common shareholders’ equity; (ii) qualifying non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus; and (iii) minority interests in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries. Trust preferred securities may also constitute up to 25% of Tier 1 capital. See further discussion of the final rule adopted by the Federal Reserve Board on March 1, 2005 on the eligibility of trust preferred as Tier 1 capital at Subsidiaries of Bancorp. Supplementary capital elements include: (i) allowance for loan and lease losses (but not more than 1.25% of an institution’s risk-weighted assets); (ii) perpetual preferred stock and related surplus not qualifying as core capital; (iii) hybrid capital instruments, perpetual debt and mandatory convertible debt instruments; and (iv) term subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock and related surplus. The maximum amount of supplemental capital elements which qualifies as Tier 2 capital is limited to 100% of Tier 1 capital, net of goodwill.

The minimum required ratio of qualifying total capital to total risk-weighted assets, or the total risk-based capital ratio, is 8.0%, at least one-half of which must be in the form of Tier 1 capital, and the minimum required ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets, or the Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, is 4.0%. Risk-based capital ratios are calculated to provide a measure of capital that reflects the degree of risk associated with a banking organization’s operations for both transactions reported on the balance sheet as assets, and transactions, such as letters of credit and recourse arrangements, which are recorded as off-balance sheet items. Under the risk-based capital guidelines, the nominal dollar amounts of assets and credit-equivalent amounts of off-balance sheet items are multiplied by one of several risk adjustment percentages, which range from 0% for assets with low credit risk, such as certain U.S. Treasury securities, to 100% for assets with relatively high credit risk, such as business loans. As of December 31, 2004, the Bank’s total risk-based capital ratio was 11.29%, and its Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 10.04%. As of December 31, 2004, the Bancorp’s Total Risk-Based Capital ratio was 12.03% and its Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 10.78%.

The risk-based capital requirements also take into account concentrations of credit (i.e., relatively large proportions of loans involving one borrower, industry, location, collateral or loan type) and the risks of “non-traditional” activities (those that have not customarily been part of the banking business). The regulations require institutions with high or inordinate levels of risk to operate with higher minimum capital standards, and authorize the regulators to review an institution’s management of such risks in assessing an institution’s capital adequacy.

11

Table of Contents

The risk-based capital regulations also include exposure to interest rate risk as a factor that the regulators will consider in evaluating a bank’s capital adequacy. Interest rate risk is the exposure of a bank’s current and future earnings and equity capital arising from adverse movements in interest rates. While interest risk is inherent in a bank’s role as financial intermediary, it introduces volatility to bank earnings and to the economic value of the institution.

The FDIC and the Federal Reserve Board also require the maintenance of a leverage capital ratio designed to supplement the risk-based capital guidelines. Banks and bank holding companies that have received the highest rating of the five categories used by regulators to rate banks and are not anticipating or experiencing any significant growth must maintain a ratio of Tier 1 capital (net of all intangibles) to adjusted total assets of at least 3%. All other institutions are required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least 100 to 200 basis points above the 3% minimum, for a minimum of 4% to 5%. Pursuant to federal regulations, banks must maintain capital levels commensurate with the level of risk to which they are exposed, including the volume and severity of problem loans, and federal regulators may, however, set higher capital requirements when a bank’s particular circumstances warrant. As of December 31, 2004, the Bank’s leverage capital ratio was 8.25%, and the Bancorp’s leverage capital ratio was 8.86%, both ratios exceeding regulatory minimums.

The federal regulatory authorities’ risk-based capital guidelines are based upon the 1988 capital accord of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (the “BIS”). The BIS is a committee of central banks and bank supervisors/regulators from the major industrialized countries that develops broad policy guidelines for use by each country’s supervisors in determining the supervisory policies they apply. In June 2004, the BIS published a new capital accord to replace its 1988 capital accord. The new capital accord would, among other things, set capital requirements for operational risk and refine the existing capital requirements for credit risk and market risk. Operational risk is defined to mean the risk of direct or indirect loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems in connection with external events. The 1988 capital accord does not include separate capital requirements for operational risk. The United States federal regulatory authorities are currently expected to release proposed rules to implement the BIS’s new capital accord in mid-year 2005. It is currently anticipated that these authorities would release final rules in mid-year 2006, and that the final rules would become effective in January 2008. The Company cannot predict the timing or final form of the United States rules implementing the new capital accord and their impact on the Bancorp or the Bank. The new capital requirements that may arise from the final rules could increase the minimum capital requirements applicable to the Bancorp and its subsidiaries.

Prompt Corrective Action Provisions

Federal law requires each federal banking agency to take prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of insured financial institutions, including but not limited to those that fall below one or more prescribed minimum capital ratios. The federal banking agencies have by regulation defined the following five capital categories: “well capitalized” (total risk-based capital ratio of 10%; Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6%; and leverage capital ratio of 5%); “adequately capitalized” (total risk-based capital ratio of 8%; Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4%; and leverage capital ratio of 4%) (or 3% if the institution receives the highest rating from its primary regulator); “undercapitalized” (total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8%; Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4%; or leverage capital ratio of less than 4%) (or 3% if the institution receives the highest rating from its primary regulator); “significantly undercapitalized” (total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6%; Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 3%; or leverage capital ratio less than 3%); and “critically undercapitalized” (tangible equity to total assets less than 2%). A bank may be treated as though it were in the next lower capital category if after notice and the opportunity for a hearing, the appropriate federal agency finds an unsafe or unsound condition or practice so warrants, but no bank may be treated as “critically undercapitalized” unless its actual capital ratio warrants such treatment.

At each successively lower capital category, an insured bank is subject to increased restrictions on its operations. In addition to these measures, insured banks may be subject to potential actions by the federal

12

Table of Contents

regulators for unsafe or unsound practices in conducting their businesses or for violations of any law, rule, regulation or any condition imposed in writing by the agency or any written agreement with the agency. Enforcement actions may include the issuance of cease and desist orders, termination of insurance of deposits (in the case of a bank), the imposition of civil money penalties, the issuance of directives to increase capital, formal and informal agreements, or removal and prohibition orders against “institution-affiliated” parties.

Safety and Soundness Standards

The federal banking agencies have also adopted guidelines establishing safety and soundness standards for all insured depository institutions. Those guidelines relate to internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan underwriting and documentation, compensation and interest rate exposure. In general, the standards are designed to assist the federal banking agencies in identifying and addressing problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. If an institution fails to meet these standards, the appropriate federal banking agency may require the institution to submit a compliance plan and institute enforcement proceedings if an acceptable compliance plan is not submitted.

Premiums for Deposit Insurance

The FDIC regulations also implement a risk-based premium system, whereby insured depository institutions are required to pay insurance premiums depending on their risk classification. Under this system, institutions such as the Bank that are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund are categorized into one of three capital categories (well capitalized, adequately capitalized, and undercapitalized) and one of three supervisory categories based on federal regulatory evaluations. This risk-based premium system results in premiums which range from the 0 basis points (subject to a $2,000 minimum annual fee) for the most highly-rated well capitalized bank 27 basis points per $100 of domestic deposits for troubled banks which are undercapitalized. The Bank currently pays the minimum assessment.

In addition, banks must pay a fluctuating amount towards the retirement of the Financing Corporation bonds (commonly referred to as FICO bonds) issued in the 1980s to assist in the recovery of the savings and loan industry. The current FICO assessment rate for institutions insured by the Bank Insurance Fund is $0.0144 per $100 of assessable deposit. The FICO assessments are adjusted quarterly and do not vary depending on an institution’s capitalization or supervisory evaluations.

Dividends

Holders of the Bancorp’s common stock are entitled to receive dividends as and when declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Delaware corporations such as the Bancorp may make distributions to their stockholders out of their surplus, or out of their net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and for the preceding fiscal year. However, dividends may not be paid out of a corporation’s net profits if, after the payment of the dividend, the corporation’s capital would be less than the capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets.

The Federal Reserve Board has advised bank holding companies that it believes that payment of cash dividends in excess of current earnings from operations is inappropriate and may be cause for supervisory action. As a result of this policy, banks and their holding companies may find it difficult to pay dividends out of retained earnings from historical periods prior to the most recent fiscal year or to take advantage of earnings generated by extraordinary items such as sales of buildings or other large assets in order to generate profits to enable payment of future dividends. Further, the Federal Reserve Board’s position that holding companies are expected to provide a source of managerial and financial strength to their subsidiary banks potentially restricts a bank holding company’s ability to pay dividends.

13

Table of Contents

The Bank is a legal entity that is separate and distinct from its holding company. The Bancorp receives income through dividends paid by the Bank. Subject to the regulatory restrictions described below, future cash dividends by the Bank will depend upon management’s assessment of future capital requirements, contractual restrictions, and other factors.

The powers of the board of directors of the Bank to declare a cash dividend to its holding company is subject to California law, which restricts the amount available for cash dividends to the lesser of the retained earnings or the bank’s net income for its last three fiscal years (less any distributions to shareholders made during such period). Where the above test is not met, cash dividends may still be paid, with the prior approval of the California Commissioner in an amount not exceeding the greatest of (1) retained earnings of the bank; (2) the net income of the bank for its last fiscal year; or (3) the net income of the bank for its current fiscal year. The amount of retained earnings available for cash dividends to the Bancorp immediately after December 31, 2004, is restricted to approximately $43.6 million under this regulation.

Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, bank regulators also have authority to prohibit a bank from engaging in business practices which are considered to be unsafe or unsound. It is possible, depending upon the financial condition of a bank and other factors, that such regulators could assert that the payment of dividends or other payments might, under certain circumstances, be an unsafe or unsound practice, even if technically permissible.

Community Reinvestment Act

The Bank is subject to certain requirements and reporting obligations involving Community Reinvestment Act, or CRA, activities. The CRA generally requires the federal banking agencies to evaluate the record of a financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its local communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The CRA further requires the agencies to take into account a financial institution’s record of meeting its community credit needs when evaluating applications for, among other things, domestic branches, consummating mergers or acquisitions, or holding company formations. In measuring a bank’s compliance with its CRA obligations, the regulators utilize a performance-based evaluation system which bases CRA ratings on the bank’s actual lending, service, and investment performance, rather than on the extent to which the institution conducts needs assessments, documents community outreach activities or complies with other procedural requirements. In connection with its assessment of CRA performance, the FDIC assigns a rating of “outstanding,” “satisfactory,” “needs to improve” or “substantial noncompliance.” In its most recently released public reports, from February 2004, the Bank received a “satisfactory” rating.

Other Consumer Protection Laws and Regulations

Examination and enforcement have become intense, and banks have been advised to monitor carefully compliance with various consumer protection laws and their implementing regulations. The federal Interagency Task Force on Fair Lending issued a policy statement on discrimination in home mortgage lending describing three methods that federal agencies will use to prove discrimination: overt evidence of discrimination, evidence of disparate treatment, and evidence of disparate impact. Due to heightened regulatory concern related to compliance with consumer protection laws and regulations generally, the Bank may incur additional compliance costs or be required to expend additional funds for investments in the local communities it serves.

In addition to the other laws and regulations discussed herein, the Bank is subject to certain consumer and public interest laws and regulations that are designed to protect customers in transactions with banks. While the list set forth below is not exhaustive, these laws and regulations include the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Right to Financial Privacy Act. These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in

14

Table of Contents

which financial institutions must deal with customers when taking deposits, making loans, collecting loans and providing other services. The Bank must comply with the applicable provisions of these laws and regulations as part of its ongoing customer relations. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations can subject it to various penalties, including but not limited to enforcement actions, injunctions, fines or criminal penalties, punitive damages to consumers and the loss of certain contractual rights.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, in conjunction with similar California legislation, has increased the cost of doing business for banks. The legislation requires employers with 15 or more employees and all businesses operating “commercial facilities” or “public accommodations” to accommodate disabled employees and customers. The Americans with Disabilities Act has two major objectives: (i) to prevent discrimination against disabled job applicants, job candidates and employees, and (ii) to provide disabled persons with ready access to commercial facilities and public accommodations. Commercial facilities, such as the Bank, must ensure that all new facilities are accessible to disabled persons, and in some instances may be required to adapt existing facilities to make them accessible.

Check 21

The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, or “Check 21” as it is commonly known, became effective October 28, 2004. Check 21 facilitates check collection by creating a new negotiable instrument called a “substitute check” which permits, but does not require, banks to replace original checks with substitute checks or information from the original check and process check information electronically. Banks that do use substitute checks must comply with certain notice and recredit rights. Check 21 is expected to cut the time and cost involved in physically transporting paper items and reduce float, i.e., the time between the deposit of a check in bank and payment, especially in cases in which items were not already being delivered same-day or overnight.

Interstate Banking and Branching

The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994, or the Interstate Banking Act, regulates the interstate activities of banks and bank holding companies and establishes a framework for nationwide interstate banking and branching. Since June 1, 1997, a bank in one state has generally been permitted to merge with a bank in another state without the need for explicit state law authorization. However, states were given the ability to prohibit interstate mergers with banks in their own state by “opting-out” (enacting state legislation applying equality to all out-of-state banks prohibiting such mergers) prior to June 1, 1997.

Since 1995, adequately capitalized and managed bank holding companies have been permitted to acquire banks located in any state, subject to two exceptions: first, any state may still prohibit bank holding companies from acquiring a bank which is less than five years old; and second, no interstate acquisition can be completed by a bank holding company if the acquirer would control more than 10% of the deposits held by insured depository institutions nationwide or 30% or more of the deposits held by insured depository institutions in any state in which the target bank has branches.

A bank may establish and operate de novo branches in any state in which that bank does not maintain a branch if that state has enacted legislation to expressly permit all out-of-state banks to establish branches in that state.

In 1995, California enacted legislation to implement important provisions of the Interstate Banking Act and to repeal California’s previous interstate banking laws, which were largely preempted by the Interstate Banking Act.

The changes effected by the Interstate Banking Act and California laws have increased competition in the environment in which the Bank operates to the extent that out-of-state financial institutions directly or indirectly enter the Bank’s market areas.

15

Table of Contents

Financial Modernization Act

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act became effective March 11, 2000. It repealed two provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act: Section 20, which restricted the affiliation of Federal Reserve Member Banks with firms “engaged principally” in specified securities activities; and Section 32, which restricted officer, director, or employee interlocks between a member bank and any company or person “primarily engaged” in specified securities activities. In addition, it also contains provisions that expressly preempt any state law restricting the establishment of financial affiliations, primarily related to insurance. The general effect of the law is to establish a comprehensive framework to permit affiliations among commercial banks, insurance companies, securities firms, and other financial service providers by revising and expanding the Bank Holding Company Act framework to permit a holding company system to engage in a full range of financial activities through a new entity known as a financial holding company. “Financial activities” is broadly defined to include not only banking, insurance, and securities activities, but also merchant banking and additional activities that the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines to be financial in nature, incidental to such financial activities, or complementary activities that do not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally.

Generally, the Financial Modernization Act:

In order for the Bancorp to take advantage of the ability to affiliate with other financial services providers, it must become a “financial holding company” as permitted under an amendment to the Bank Holding Company Act effected by the Financial Modernization Act. The Bancorp currently meets the requirements to make an election to become a financial holding company, but its management has not made a determination for it to become a financial holding company.

The Financial Modernization Act required that designated federal regulatory agencies, including the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Board, the Comptroller of the Currency and the Securities and Exchange Commission, publish regulations to implement certain provisions of the Act. These agencies have cooperated in the release of rules that establish minimum requirements to be followed by financial institutions for protecting the privacy of financial information provided by consumers. The agencies’ rules, which establish privacy standards to be followed by state banks such as the Bank, requires a financial institution to (i) provide notice to customers about its privacy policies and practices, (ii) describe the conditions under which the institution may disclose nonpublic personal information about consumers to nonaffiliated third parties, and (iii) provide a method for consumers to prevent the financial institution from disclosing that information to nonaffiliated third parties by “opting out” of that disclosure.

The Financial Modernization Act also includes a new section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act governing subsidiaries of state banks that engage in “activities as principal that would only be permissible” for a

16

Table of Contents

national bank to conduct in a financial subsidiary. It expressly preserves the ability of a state bank to retain all existing subsidiaries. Because California permits commercial banks chartered by the state to engage in any activity permissible for national banks, the Bank is permitted to form subsidiaries to engage in the activities authorized by the Financial Modernization Act to the same extent as a national bank. In order to form a financial subsidiary, a bank must be well-capitalized and would be subject to the same capital deduction, risk management, and affiliate transaction rules as applicable to national banks.

The Bancorp does not believe that the Financial Modernization Act has had a material adverse effect on the Bancorp’s operations. However, to the extent that it permits banks, securities firms, and insurance companies to affiliate, the financial services industry may experience further consolidation. The Financial Modernization Act is intended to grant to community banks certain powers as a matter of right that larger institutions have accumulated on an ad hoc basis. Nevertheless, this act may have the result of increasing the amount of competition that the Bancorp and the Bank face from larger institutions and other types of companies offering financial products, many of which may have substantially more financial resources.

Regulation W

On December 12, 2002, the Federal Reserve adopted Regulation W, the rule that comprehensively implements Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. The rule became effective April 1, 2003. Sections 23A and 23B and Regulation W limit the risks to a bank from transactions between the bank and its affiliates and limit the ability of a bank to transfer to its affiliates the benefits arising from the bank’s access to insured deposits, the payment system, and the discount window and other benefits of the Federal Reserve System. The statute and rule impose quantitative and qualitative limits on the ability of a bank to extend credit to, or engage in certain other transactions with, an affiliate (and a nonaffiliate if an affiliate benefits from the transaction). However, certain transactions that generally do not expose a bank to undue risk or abuse the safety net are exempted from coverage under Regulation W.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 implemented legislative reforms applicable to companies with securities traded publicly in the United States of America. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is intended to address corporate and accounting fraud and contains provisions dealing with corporate governance and management, disclosure, oversight of the accounting profession and auditor independence. Although the Bancorp has incurred and expects to continue to incur additional expenses in complying with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, it does not expect that compliance will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

Source of Strength Policy

According to Federal Reserve Board policy, bank holding companies are expected to act as a source of financial strength to each subsidiary bank and to commit resources to support each such subsidiary.

USA Patriot Act

The terrorist attacks in September 2001 impacted the financial services industry and led to the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, or the USA Patriot Act. Part of the USA Patriot Act is the International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001, or IMLAFATA.

IMLAFATA authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the heads of other government agencies, to adopt special measures applicable to banks, bank holding companies, and/or other financial institutions. These measures may include enhanced recordkeeping and reporting requirements for certain financial transactions that are of primary money laundering concern, due diligence requirements concerning the

17

Table of Contents

beneficial ownership of certain types of accounts, and restrictions or prohibitions on certain types of accounts with foreign financial institutions.

Among its other provisions, IMLAFATA requires each financial institution to: (i) establish an anti-money laundering program; (ii) establish due diligence policies, procedures, and controls with respect to its private banking accounts and correspondent banking accounts involving foreign individuals and certain foreign banks; and (iii) avoid establishing, maintaining, administering, or managing correspondent accounts in the United States of America for, or on behalf of, a foreign bank that does not have a physical presence in any country. In addition, IMLAFATA contains a provision encouraging cooperation among financial institutions, regulatory authorities and law enforcement authorities with respect to individuals, entities, and organizations engaged in, or reasonably suspected of engaging in, terrorist acts or money laundering activities. IMLAFATA expands the circumstances under which funds in a bank account may be forfeited and requires covered financial institutions to respond under certain circumstances to requests for information from federal banking agencies within 120 hours. IMLAFATA also amends the Bank Holding Company Act and the Bank Merger Act to require the federal banking agencies to consider the effectiveness of a financial institution’s anti-money laundering activities when reviewing an application under these acts.

IMLAFATA became effective July 23, 2002. Additional regulations were adopted during 2002 and 2003 to implement minimum standards to verify customer identity, to encourage cooperation among financial institutions, federal banking agencies, and law enforcement authorities regarding possible money laundering or terrorist activities, to prohibit the anonymous use of “concentration accounts,” and to require all covered financial institutions to have in place a Bank Secrecy Act compliance program. The Bancorp does not expect that IMLAFATA will have a material effect on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Bank Secrecy Act and Memorandum of Understanding

The financial Recordkeeping and Reporting of Currency and Foreign Transactions Act of 1970 (the “BSA”) is a disclosure law that forms the basis of the U.S. federal government’s framework to prevent and detect money laundering and to deter other criminal enterprises. Following the terrorist attacks in September 2001, an additional purpose was added to the BSA: “To assist in the conduct of intelligence or counter-intelligence activities, including analysis, to protect against international terrorism.” Under the BSA, financial institutions such as the Bank are required to maintain certain records and file certain reports regarding domestic currency transactions and cross-border transportations of currency. Among other requirements, the BSA requires financial institutions to report imports and exports of currency in the amount of $10,000 or more and, in general, all cash transactions of $10,000 or more. The Bank has established a BSA compliance policy under which, among other precautions, the Bank keeps currency transaction reports to document cash transactions in excess of $10,000 or in multiples totaling more than $10,000 during one business day, monitors certain potentially suspicious transactions such as the exchange of a large number of small denomination bills for large denomination bills, and scrutinizes electronic funds transfers for BSA compliance.

Following a regular examination by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the Bank’s Board of Directors, on June 17, 2004, approved and signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with the FDIC in connection with certain deficiencies identified by the FDIC relating to the Bank’s compliance with certain provisions of the BSA. Under the terms of the MOU, the Bank must comply in all material respects with the BSA within 90 days from the MOU’s effective date, July 18, 2004. The MOU requires in part that the Bank perform an analysis of its BSA risk profile and implement a written action plan designed to ensure compliance with the BSA. Such plan will include revisions of the Bank’s policies and procedures, enhancements of the Bank’s internal controls for BSA compliance, independent compliance testing, dedicated compliance staff, and regular employee training. Management believes that the Bank is currently in compliance in all material respects with the terms of the MOU. However, the FDIC has not yet examined the Bank for compliance with the MOU.

The MOU is expected to result in additional BSA compliance expenses for the Bank, although these expenses are not anticipated to have a material financial effect on the Bancorp or the Bank. It may also have the

18

Table of Contents

effect of limiting or delaying the Bank’s and the Bancorp’s ability to obtain regulatory approval for certain expansionary activities.

Cross-Institution Assessments

Any insured depository institution owned by a bank holding company can be assessed for losses incurred by the FDIC in connection with assistance provided to, or the failure of, any other depository institution owned by the bank holding company.

Audit Requirements

The Bank is required to have an annual independent audit, alone or as a part of its bank holding company’s audit, and to prepare all financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Each bank is also required to have an independent audit committee comprised entirely of outside directors or to have an audit committee with the same composition as its holding company. Under National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) certifications, the Bancorp has certified that its audit committee has adopted formal written charters and meets the requisite number of directors, independence and qualification standards. In addition, because the Bank has more than $3 billion in total assets, it is subject to the FDIC requirements for audit committees of large institutions. As such, among other requirements, the Bancorp must maintain an audit committee which shall include members with banking or related financial management expertise, have access to its own outside counsel, and not include members who are large customers of the Bank.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 addresses accounting oversight and corporate governance matters. Management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is required to assess the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004. These assessments are included in Item 9A, Controls and Procedures below.

Federal Home Loan Bank System

The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of San Francisco. Among other benefits, each FHLB serves as a reserve or central bank for its members within its assigned region. Each FHLB is financed primarily from the sale of consolidated obligations of the FHLB system. Each FHLB makes available loans or advances to its members in compliance with the policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors of the individual FHLB. Each member of the FHLB of San Francisco is required to own stock in amount equal to the greater of:

Impact of Monetary Policies

The earnings and growth of the Bank are largely dependent on its ability to maintain a favorable differential or spread between the yield on its interest-earning assets and the rates paid on its deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities. As a result, the Bank’s performance is influenced by general economic conditions, both domestic and foreign, the monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government, and the policies of the regulatory agencies. The Federal Reserve Board implements national monetary policies (such as seeking to curb inflation and combat recession) by its open-market operations in U.S. Government securities, by adjusting the required level of reserves for financial institutions subject to its reserve requirements and by varying the discount rate applicable to borrowings by banks from the Federal Reserve Banks. The actions of the Federal Reserve Board in these areas influence the growth of bank loans, investments and deposits and also affect interest rates charged on loans and deposits. The nature and impact of any future changes in monetary policies cannot be predicted.

19

Table of Contents

Environmental Regulation

In the course of our business, we may foreclose and take title to real estate, and could be subject to environmental liabilities with respect to these properties. We may be held liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for property damage, personal injury, investigation and clean-up costs incurred by these parties in connection with environmental contamination, or may be required to investigate or clear up hazardous or toxic substances, or chemical releases at a property. The costs associated with investigation or remediation activities could be substantial. In addition, as the owner or former owner of a contaminated site, we may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the property. If we ever become subject to significant environmental liabilities, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Other Pending and Proposed Legislation

Other legislative and regulatory initiatives which could affect the Bancorp and the Bank and the banking industry in general are pending, and additional initiatives may be proposed or introduced, before the U.S. Congress, the California legislature, and other governmental bodies in the future. Such proposals, if enacted, may further alter the structure, regulation, and competitive relationship among financial institutions, and may subject the Bancorp and the Bank to increased regulation, disclosure, and reporting requirements. In addition, the various banking regulatory agencies often adopt new rules and regulations to implement and enforce existing legislation. It cannot be predicted whether, or in what form, any such legislation or regulations may be enacted or the extent to which the business of the Bancorp or the Bank would be affected thereby.

Item 2. Properties

Cathay General Bancorp

The Bancorp currently neither owns nor leases any real or personal property. The Bancorp uses the premises, equipment, and furniture of the Bank in exchange for payment of a management fee to the Bank.

Cathay Bank

The Bank’s main corporate office and headquarter branch is located in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles. The offices are in a three-story structure containing 26,527 square feet and constructed of glass and concrete. The Bank owns both the building and the land upon which the building is situated. The main floor currently accommodates a platform area for consumer loans and certain commercial and commercial mortgage loans, a new account area, teller stations, pneumatic drive-up teller stations, walk-up teller station, an operations area, and a vault area. The second floor contains executive offices and the Bank’s Board Room. The third floor houses the Bank’s corporate lending department. Parking for approximately 126 automobiles is provided on three lots adjacent to the Bank’s building, two of which are owned by the Bank. The third lot is leased under a 55-year term with a 30-year option commencing in January 1987 at a current monthly rent of approximately $16,031.

The Bank owns its branch offices in Monterey Park, Alhambra, Westminster, San Gabriel, City of Industry, Cupertino, Artesia and Flushing, New York and the buildings housing its former Cerritos and Torrance branch offices, which were closed during 2004. In addition, the Bank has certain operating and administrative departments located at 4128 Temple City Boulevard, Rosemead, California, where it owns the building and land with approximately 27,600 square feet of space.

The Bank leases certain other premises. Expiration dates of the Bank’s leases range from February, 2005 to October, 2014. The Bank’s leased offices include the former headquarter of General Bank, located at 800 West 6th Street, Los Angeles, California 90017, consisting of approximately 41,501 square feet of rentable area which includes the ground floor and the second, fourteenth and fifteenth floors of the building. The initial lease term will expire in the year 2009, and the Bank has two five-year options to renew the lease following the expiration date of

20

Table of Contents

the initial term. As of December 31, 2004, the monthly base rent for the facility is $117,000. The monthly base rent is subject to change on specified dates during the 15-year initial lease term pursuant to the lease agreement.

The office in Taipei of Cathay Investment Company and GBC Investment & Consulting Company, Inc. is located at Sixth Floor, Suite 3, 146 Sung Chiang Road, Taipei, Taiwan, and consists of 1,806 square feet. The lease was renewed for one year from October 5, 2004 to October 4, 2005. As of December 31, 2004, neither Cathay Investment Company nor GBC Investment & Consulting Company, Inc. owned any properties.

As of December 31, 2004, the Bank’s investment in premises and equipment totaled $33.4 million. See also Notes 8 and 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of Cathay General Bancorp, which are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

Management is not currently aware of any litigation that is expected to have material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, results of operations, or liquidity.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2004.

Executive Officers of Registrant

The table below sets forth the names, ages, and positions at the Bancorp and the Bank of all executive officers of the Company as of February 15, 2005. See Part III, Item 10 — “Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant,” below for further information regarding the executive officers of the Bancorp and the Bank.

21

Table of Contents

22

Table of Contents

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

(a) Market Information

The Bancorp’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “CATY.” The closing price of the Company’s common stock on February 15, 2005, was $37.99 per share, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market. The Company does not represent that the outstanding shares may be either bought or sold at a certain price.

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices as reported on the Nasdaq National Market for the periods presented:

(b) Holders

As of February 15, 2005, there were approximately 1,684 holders of record of the Bancorp’s Common Stock.

(c) Dividends

The cash dividends per share declared by quarter were as follows:

23

Table of Contents

In April 2001, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program of up to $15 million of the Company’s common stock. Cumulatively through December 31, 2003, the Company has repurchased 639,820 shares of the Company’s common stock for $8.8 million. No shares were repurchased during 2004.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table presents selected historical consolidated financial data for the Bancorp, and is derived in part from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company. The selected historical consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of Cathay General Bancorp and the Notes thereto, which are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

24

Table of Contents

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

The following discussion is intended to provide information to facilitate the understanding and assessment of the consolidated financial condition of the Bancorp and its subsidiaries, including the Bank, the Company, and their consolidated results of operations. It should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes appearing elsewhere in this report.

The Bank offers a wide range of financial services. The Bank currently operates 20 branches in Southern California, nine branches in Northern California, three branches in New York State, two branches in Massachusetts, one branch in Houston, Texas, and one branch in Washington State, and two representative offices, one in Hong Kong and one in Shanghai, China. In addition, the Bank’s subsidiaries, Cathay Investment Company and GBC Investment and Consulting Company, Inc., maintain an office in Taiwan. The Bank is a commercial bank, servicing primarily the individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in the local markets in which its branches are located.

25

Table of Contents

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 hereof. We have no intention and undertake 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 financial information presented herein includes the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries, including the Bank, and the Bank’s consolidated subsidiaries. All material transactions between these entities are eliminated.

Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our 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 consolidated financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by management which have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities; management considers such accounting policies to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and other factors, which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Management believes the following are critical accounting policies that require the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements:

Accounting for the allowance for loan losses

The determination of the amount of the provision for loan losses charged to operations reflects 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. 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. 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 total allowance for loan losses consists of two components: specific allowances and general allowances. To determine the adequacy of the allowance in each of these two components, the Bank employs two primary methodologies, the classification migration methodology 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 losses inherent 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, and concentrations of credit, and trends in the national and local economy.

26

Table of Contents

With these above methodologies, the specific allowance is for those loans internally classified and risk graded as Special Mention, Substandard, Doubtful, or Loss. Additionally, the Bank’s management allocates a specific allowance for “Impaired Credits,” in accordance with SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.” The level of the general allowance is established to provide coverage for management’s estimate of the credit risk in the loan portfolio by various loan segments not covered by the specific allowance.

Allowances for other risks of probable loan losses have been included in the allowance for loan losses. The components of the other risks that have a potential of affecting the Bank’s portfolio are comprised of three basic elements. First, the Bank has set aside funds to cover the risk factors of a continued slow recovery from the last recession. The second component of other portfolio risk is the potential errors in loan classification and review methodologies. The third component of other portfolio risk is the uncertainty associated with the airplane leveraged lease with Continental Airlines.

Accounting for the merger with GBC Bancorp

Accounting for the merger with GBC Bancorp involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which has a material impact on the carrying value of fixed rate loans and borrowings and the determination of the core deposit intangible asset and goodwill. Fair value adjustment amounts to carrying value, the amortization method and estimated lives are disclosed in the following table:

Except for the resolution of any pre-acquisition income tax uncertainties, no additional fair value adjustments can be made after the end of the allocation period.

Investment Securities

The classification and accounting for investment securities are discussed in detail in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere herein. Under SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, investment securities generally must be classified as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or trading. The appropriate classification is based partially on our ability to hold the securities to maturity and largely on management’s intentions with respect to either holding or selling the securities. The classification of investment securities is significant since it directly impacts the accounting for unrealized gains and losses on securities. Unrealized gains and losses on trading securities flow directly through earnings during the periods in which they arise, whereas for available-for-sale securities, they are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity (accumulated comprehensive other income or loss) and do not affect earnings until realized. The fair values of our investment securities are generally determined by reference to quoted market prices and reliable independent sources. We are obligated to assess, at each reporting date, whether there is an “other-than-temporary” impairment to our investment securities. Such impairment must be recognized in current earnings rather than in other comprehensive income (loss). Aside from the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stock that was determined to be impaired and written down during the fourth quarter of 2004, we did not have any other investment securities that were deemed to be “other-than-temporarily” impaired as of December 31, 2004. Investment securities are discussed in more detail in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere herein.

27

Table of Contents

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is based on income reported for financial statement purposes, and differs from the amount of taxes currently payable, since certain income and expense items are reported for financial statement purposes in different periods than those for tax reporting purposes. Taxes are discussed in more detail in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere herein. Accrued taxes represent the net estimated amount due or to be received from taxing authorities. In estimating accrued taxes, we assess the relative merits and risks of the appropriate tax treatment of transactions taking into account statutory, judicial and regulatory guidance in the context of our tax position.

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, the objective of which is to establish deferred tax assets and liabilities for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such amounts are realized or settled. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

Merger with GBC Bancorp

As of the close of business on October 20, 2003, the Company completed its merger with GBC Bancorp and General Bank (“GBC merger”), pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 6, 2003. Consequently, GBC Bancorp was merged with and into Cathay Bancorp, Inc., with Cathay Bancorp, Inc. as the surviving corporation, and General Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GBC Bancorp, was merged with and into Cathay Bank, with Cathay Bank as the surviving corporation. As a result of the merger, Cathay Bancorp, Inc. issued 13.5 million shares of its newly issued common stock, as adjusted for the two-for-one stock split in 2004, and paid $162.4 million in cash for all of the issued and outstanding shares of GBC Bancorp common stock. Immediately prior to the completion of the GBC merger, Cathay Bank paid to Cathay Bancorp a special dividend of $122.4 million which was in excess of its earnings for 2003 and for which prior regulatory approval was received to fund a portion of the $162.4 million cash portion of the merger consideration. Accordingly, the financial information presented herein after that date represent the combined operations of the two companies.

Results of Operations

Overview

For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company reported net income of $86.8 million, or $1.72 per diluted share, compared with net income of $55.6 million, or $1.42 per diluted shared in 2003. Strong organic loan growth, an improved net interest margin and low net charge-offs were the main factors that contributed to these results. The return on average assets in 2004 was 1.51%, compared to 1.58% in 2003. The return on average equity decreased to 13.27% in 2004 compared to 15.13% in 2003.

We also completed the integration of General Bank with Cathay Bank. During April 2004, we completed the conversion of the General Bank customers onto Cathay Bank’s computer operating systems and closed six branches at that time. In October 2004, three additional branches in Southern California were closed.

On August 19, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a two-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock, in the form of a 100% stock dividend, which was paid on September 28, 2004 to stockholders of record on September 13, 2004. On October 1, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 29% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.09 per share payable on October 22, 2004.

28

Table of Contents

Highlights

Net income and key financial performance ratios are presented below for the three years indicated:

Taxable-Equivalent Interest Income

Net interest income totaled $214.8 million in 2004 compared with $127.1 million in 2003. Interest income in 2004 on tax-exempt securities was $4.2 million or $6.4 million on a tax-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%, compared to $4.0 million or $6.2 million on a tax-equivalent basis in 2003.

Taxable-equivalent net interest income totaled $217.0 million in 2004, compared with $129.3 million in 2003. The increase in net interest income was due to a 58.9% increase in average earning assets due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp and strong organic loan growth as well as an improvement in the net interest margin between 2003 and 2004.

Average loans for 2004 were $3.52 billion, $1.29 billion higher than 2003 due to the GBC Bancorp merger and growth in commercial real estate loans. Compared with December 31, 2003 balances, commercial loans decreased $1.0 million to $955.4 million, residential mortgages and equity lines increased 26.2% to $331.7

29

Table of Contents

million, commercial real estate mortgages increased 23.5% to $2.12 billion and construction loans increased 14.8% to $412.6 million. Average securities were $1.77 billion, an increase of $702.2 million or 65.9% due primarily to the merger with GBC Bancorp.

Average deposits were $4.49 billion in 2004, an increase of $1.67 billion from $2.82 billion in 2003 due primarily from the merger with GBC Bancorp. Average other borrowings increased to $406.4 million from $138.5 million primarily as a result of the Company’s increased utilization of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings. Average federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase decreased from $106.0 million in 2003 to $53.8 million in 2004 as a result of the Company’s shift to Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings.

Taxable-equivalent interest income increased $107.8 million or 63.6% to $277.2 million in 2004, largely as a result of the merger with GBC Bancorp and continued growth in loans. The overall increase in taxable-equivalent interest income was due to increases in volume and rate which were partially offset by a change in the mix of interest-earning assets as discussed below:

Interest expense increased by $20.1 million to $60.2 million in 2004 compared with $40.1 million in 2003. The overall increase in interest expense was due to an increase in volume which more than offset the decrease in rate and a more favorable mix of deposits as discussed below:

The Company’s taxable-equivalent net interest margin, defined as taxable-equivalent net interest income to average interest-earning assets, increased 22 basis points from 3.87% in 2003 to 4.09% in 2004 primarily as a result of the increases in the prevailing prime rate, the Company’s overall asset sensitive interest rate position in a period of increasing interest rates and higher yields on investment securities.

30

Table of Contents

Taxable-equivalent interest income increased $23.2 million or 15.9% to $169.4 million in 2003, largely as a result of the merger with GBC Bancorp and continued growth in loans and securities. The increase in taxable-equivalent interest income was due to a combination of the following:

Interest expense increased by $0.2 million to $40.1 million in 2003 compared with $39.9 million in 2002, primarily due to a combination of the following:

The Company’s taxable-equivalent net interest margin, defined as taxable-equivalent net interest income to average interest-earning assets, decreased 47 basis points from 4.34% in 2002 to 3.87% in 2003 as a result of the 50 and 25 basis point drops in the federal funds rate in November 2002 and June 2003, respectively, the prepayments, calls, and sales of higher yielding securities and the related lagging effect on our interest-bearing time deposit accounts.

31

Table of Contents

The following table sets forth information concerning average interest-earning assets, average interest-bearing liabilities, and the yields and rates paid on those assets and liabilities. Average outstanding amounts included in the table are daily averages.

Interest-Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities

(Dollars in thousands)