CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary is designed as an aid and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in deciding how to vote. As such, you should read this entire proxy statement carefully before voting.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Proposals and Voting Recommendations

PROPOSAL ONE—** Election of Directors**

The first proposal is to elect four Class III directors to serve until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders, and their successors have been elected and qualified. The following table provides summary information about each nominee.

PROPOSAL TWO—** Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote to Approve our Executive Compensation**

Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), enables our stockholders to vote to approve, on a non-binding basis, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, the Board of Directors is submitting the following resolution for stockholder consideration:

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement, is hereby APPROVED.”

PROPOSAL THREE—Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

As described above in Proposal Two, our stockholders have the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. Section 14A of the Exchange Act also enables our stockholders to indicate how frequently we should seek an advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. When voting on Proposal Three, our stockholders may indicate whether they would prefer an advisory vote on executive compensation to be held every year, every other year, or every three years, or they may abstain.

PROPOSAL FOUR—** Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

We are asking our stockholders to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for our 2026 fiscal year. Although ratification is not legally required, we are submitting the appointment of KPMG to our stockholders for ratification in the interest of good corporate governance. In the event that this appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors will reconsider the appointment.

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PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

MAY 18, 2026

The Board of Directors of Cathay General Bancorp (the “Board”) is furnishing this proxy statement to the holders of record of our common stock to solicit proxies for use at our 2026 annual meeting of stockholders and any adjournments or postponements of the annual meeting. In this proxy statement, “Bancorp,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Cathay General Bancorp, a Delaware corporation. This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card were first mailed to stockholders on or about April 16, 2026.