Document:

Indemnification Agreement

 Exhibit 10.1 
 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT 
 AGREEMENT, made this     h
day of                     , 200  , between Cathay General Bancorp, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and                     (the “Indemnitee”). 
 W I T N E S S E T H: 

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or in other capacities
unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation. 

WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee’s need for substantial protection against personal liability in order to enhance
Indemnitee’s continued service to the Company in an effective manner and Indemnitee’s reliance on the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Company’s
Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) requiring indemnification of the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, and in part to provide Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that the protection promised by such Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws will be available to Indemnitee (regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of such Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or any change in the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors or
acquisition transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to Indemnitee to the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law and as set
forth in this Agreement. 
 WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware (“DGCL”) expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors,
officers and other persons with respect to indemnification. 
 WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company
contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not
be so indemnified. 
 WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of Indemnitee agreeing to serve or continuing to serve the Company directly or, at its request, with another enterprise, and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows: 
 Section 1. Basic Indemnification
Agreement. (a) In the event Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in, a Claim (as defined in Section 9(b) herein) by
reason of (or arising in part out of) an Indemnifiable Event (as defined in Section 9(d) herein), the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law as soon as practicable but in any event no later than 30 days after
written demand is presented to the Company, against any and all Expenses (as defined in Section 9(c) herein), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in
connection therewith) of such Claim actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Claim and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any
payments under this Agreement. If requested by Indemnitee in writing, the Company shall advance (within ten business days of such written request) any and all Expenses to Indemnitee (an “Expense Advance”). Notwithstanding anything
in this Agreement to the contrary, and except as provided in Section 3, prior to a Change of Control (as defined in Section 9 herein) and except as 

  
 1 

 
set forth in Sections 1(b) and 7, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Claim (i) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company
or any director or officer of the Company unless the Company has joined in or consented to the initiation of such Claim; (ii) made on account of Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the
Company or its stockholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; or (iii) arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). 
 (b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the indemnification obligations of the Company under Section 1(a) shall be subject to the condition that the Reviewing Party shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which the
special independent counsel referred to in Section 2 hereof is involved) that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, and (ii) the obligation of the Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to
Section 1(a) shall be subject to the condition that the Company receives an undertaking that, if, when and to the extent that the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so indemnified under applicable law, the
Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced legal proceedings in the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”) to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under
applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been
exhausted or lapsed). Indemnitee’s obligation to reimburse the Company for Expense Advances shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon. If there has not been a Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the
Board of Directors, and if there has been such a Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be the special independent counsel referred to in Section 2 hereof. If there has been no determination by the Reviewing Party or if the Reviewing
Party determines that Indemnitee substantively would not be permitted to be indemnified in whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation in the Delaware Court seeking an initial determination by the
court or challenging any such determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof and the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Any determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be
conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the successful establishment or enforcement, in whole or in part, by Indemnitee of Indemnitee’s
right to indemnification or advances. 
 Section 2. Change in Control. The Company agrees that if
there is a Change in Control of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by two- thirds or more of the Company’s Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control) then with respect to
all matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnity payments and Expense Advances under this Agreement or any other agreement, the Bylaws or Certificate of Incorporation now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for
Indemnifiable Events, the Company shall seek legal advice only from special independent counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and who has not otherwise performed
services for the Company within the last five years (other than in connection with such matters) or for Indemnitee. In the event that Indemnitee and the Company are unable to agree on the selection of the special independent counsel, such special
independent counsel shall be selected by lot from among at least five law firms with offices in the State of Delaware having more than fifty attorneys, having a rating of “av” or better in the then current Martindale Hubbell Law Directory
and having attorneys which specialize in corporate law. Such selection shall be made in the presence of Indemnitee (and his legal counsel or either of them, as Indemnitee may elect). Such counsel, among other things, shall, within 90 days of its
retention, render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the special independent
counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims, liabilities, and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto. 

  
 2 

 Section 3. Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, if requested by Indemnitee in writing, shall (within ten business days of such written request) advance such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with any Claim asserted against or action brought by Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under this Agreement or any other agreement, the Bylaws or Certificate of Incorporation now or
hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events and/or (ii) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined
to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance recovery, as the case may be. The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances solely upon the execution and delivery to the Company of an undertaking providing that the
Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. 
 Section 4. Partial Indemnity, Etc. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provisions of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company of some or a portion of the Expenses,
liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of a Claim but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.
Moreover, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in part to an Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any
issue or matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred in connection therewith. In connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee
is entitled to be indemnified hereunder the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled. 
 Section 5. No Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court
approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief. 

Section 6. Notification and Defense of Claim. Within 30 days after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the
commencement of a Claim which may involve an Indemnifiable Event, Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Company under this Agreement, submit to the Company a written notice identifying the proceeding, but the
omission so to notify the Company will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement unless the Company is materially prejudiced by such lack of notice. With respect to any such Claim as to which Indemnitee
notifies the Company of the commencement thereof: 
 (a) the Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense;

 (b) except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Company jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense thereof, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under
this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ its own
counsel in such action, suit or proceeding, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee unless (i) the employment of counsel by
Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action, or (iii) the
Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any
claim brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which Indemnitee shall have made the conclusion provided for in clause (ii) above; and 
 (c) the Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. The Company shall not
settle any action or claim in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s written consent. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold or delay their consent to any proposed
settlement. 

  
 3 

 Section 7. Non-exclusivity, Etc. The rights of Indemnitee
hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the DGCL, any agreement, a vote of the stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or
repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee acting on behalf of the Company and at the request of the Company
prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the DGCL (whether by statute or judicial decision), the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be afforded
currently under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein
conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.
The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy. 
 Section 8. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance,
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any Company director or officer. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Claim
as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Claim in accordance with the
terms of such policies. In the event of a Potential Change in Control (as defined in Section 9 herein), the Company shall maintain in force any and all insurance policies then maintained by the Company providing directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance, in respect of Indemnitee, for a period of six years thereafter. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any successful action brought by Indemnitee for
recovery under any insurance policy referred to in this Section 8 and shall advance to Indemnitee the Expenses of such action in the manner provided in Section 3 above. 

Section 9. Certain Definitions. 
 (a) Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if: 
 (A) any person, as that term is used in Section 13(d) and Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act becomes, is discovered to be, or files a report on Schedule 13D or 14D-1 (or any successor
schedule, form or report) disclosing that such person is a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or regulation), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of
the total voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities; 
 (B) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to
constitute a majority thereof; 
 (C) the Company, or any material subsidiary of the Company, is merged,
consolidated or reorganized into or with an Acquiring Person or securities of the Company are exchanged for securities of an Acquiring Person, and immediately after such merger, consolidation, reorganization or exchange less than a majority of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Acquiring Person immediately after such transaction are held, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate by the holders of Voting Securities immediately prior to such transaction;

  
 4 

 (D) the Company, or any material subsidiary of the Company, in any
transaction or series of related transactions, sells or otherwise transfers all or substantially all of its assets to an Acquiring Person, and less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Acquiring
Person immediately after such sale or transfer is held, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate by the holders of Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or transfer; 

(E) the Company and its subsidiaries, in any transaction or series of related transactions, sells or otherwise transfers
business operations that generated two thirds or more of the consolidated revenues (determined on the basis of the Company’s four most recently completed fiscal quarters) of the Company and its subsidiaries immediately prior thereto;

 (F) the Company files a report or proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Exchange Act disclosing that a change in control of the Company has or may have occurred or will or may occur in the future pursuant to any then existing contract or transaction; or 

(G) any other transaction or series of related transactions occur that have substantially the effect of the transactions
specified in any of the preceding clauses in this paragraph (ii). 
 Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(a)(ii)(A)
or 9(a)(ii)(D), unless otherwise determined in a specific case by majority vote of the Board of Directors of the Company, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Agreement solely because (i) the Company,
(ii) an entity in which the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of the voting securities or (iii) any Company sponsored employee stock ownership plan, or any other employee benefit plan of the Company, either files
or becomes obligated to file a report or a proxy statement under or in response to Schedule 13D, Schedule 14D-1, Form 8-K or Schedule 14A (or any successor schedule, form or report or item therein) under the Exchange Act,
disclosing beneficial ownership by it of shares of stock of the Company, or because the Company reports that a Change in Control of the Company has or may have occurred or will or may occur in the future by reason of such beneficial ownership.

 (b) Claim: any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution
mechanism, or any inquiry, hearing or investigation whether conducted by the Company or any other party, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other. 
 (c) Expenses: include attorneys’ fees and all other costs, fees, expenses and obligations of any nature whatsoever paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being
a witness in or participating in (including appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in any Claim relating to any Indemnifiable Event. 
 (d) Indemnifiable Event: any event or occurrence (whether before or after the date hereof) related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, consultant, agent
or fiduciary of or to the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee
benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity. 

(e) Potential Change in Control. shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) the Company enters into an agreement, the
consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) any person (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would constitute a Change in
Control; (iii) any person, other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, who is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 9.5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting
Securities, increases such person’s beneficial ownership of such securities by five percentage points or more over the initial percentage of such securities; or (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company adopts a resolution to the effect
that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred. 

  
 5 

 (f) Reviewing Party: (i) the Company’s Board of Directors
(provided that a majority of directors are not parties to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification) or (ii) any other person or body appointed by the Company’s Board of Directors, who is not a party to the
particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, or (iii) if there has been a Change in Control, the special independent counsel referred to in Section 2 hereof. 

(g) Voting Securities: any securities of the Company which vote generally in the election of directors. 

Section 10. Amendments, Termination and Waiver. No supplement, modification, amendment or termination of
this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor
shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. 
 Section 11. Contribution. If the indemnification
provided in Sections 1 and 3 of this Agreement is unavailable, then, in respect of any Claim in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in the Claim), the Company shall contribute to the amount of Expenses,
judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement as appropriate to reflect: (i) the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which the Claim arose, and
(ii) the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of Indemnitee, on the other, in connection with the events which resulted in such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of Indemnitee, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent the circumstances resulting in such Expenses and Liabilities. The Company agrees that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 11 were determined by pro rata allocation or any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations described in this Section 11. 

Section 12. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to
the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the
Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. 
 Section 13. No Duplication of
Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under insurance policy, Certificate of
Incorporation or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. 
 Section 14. Binding Effect,
Etc. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, spouse, heirs, and personal and legal representatives. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director or
officer (or in one of the capacities enumerated in Section 9(d) hereof) of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Board of Director’s request. 
 Section 15. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single section,
paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 

Section 16. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties
shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or
proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, irrevocably, to the extent such party is not a resident of the State of

  
 6 

 Delaware, CT Corporation System, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801, as its agent in the State of
Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware,
(iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been
brought in an improper or inconvenient forum. 
 Section 17. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may
be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom
enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement. 
 The parties hereto have executed
this Agreement as of the day and year set forth on the first page of this Agreement. 
  

			
	 CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
 A Delaware Corporation

		
	By:	 	  

	Name:	 	
	Title:	 	
		
	By:	 	  

	Name:	 	
	Title:	 	
		
	Address:	 	 777 N. Broadway
 Los
Angeles, CA 90012

		
	Fax Number:	 	  

  

			
	AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:
	
	  

«IndemniteeName»

		
	Address:	 	«IndemniteeAddress1»
		 	«IndemniteeAddress2»

			
	Fax Number:	 	  

  
 7Equity Incentive Plan

 EXHIBIT 10.4 
 CATHAY BANCORP, INC. 
 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 

SECTION 1. PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS. 

(a) Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide selected eligible employees and directors of Cathay Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future by offering them an opportunity to acquire stock in the Company so as to retain, attract and motivate them. 

(b) Definitions. For purposes of the Plan, the following terms have the following meanings: 

(i) “Award” means any award under the Plan, including any Option or Restricted Stock Award. 

(ii) “Award Agreement” means, with respect to each Award, the signed written agreement between the Company and the Plan
participant setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award. 
 (iii) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the
Company. 
 (iv) “Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a). 

(v) “Change in Control Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(c). 

(vi) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute. 

(vii) “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor agency. 

(viii) “Committee” means the Committee referred to in Section 2, or the Board in its capacity as administrator of the Plan
in accordance with Section 2. 
 (ix) “Company” means Cathay Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation. 

(x) “Disability” means disabled within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. 

(xi) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 (xii) “Fair Market Value” means as of any given date (a) if the Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, either the closing sale price for the Stock or the closing bid if no sales were reported, or the average of the bid and ask prices, as selected by the Committee in its discretion, as quoted on such system or
exchange, as reported in The Wall Street Journal; or (b) in the absence of an established market for the Stock, the fair market value of the Stock as determined by the Committee in good faith. 

(xiii) “Incentive Stock Option” means any Option intended to be and designated as an “incentive stock option” within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. 
 (xiv) “Nonqualified Stock Option” means any Option that is not an
Incentive Stock Option. 
 (xiv) “Option” means an option granted under Section 5. 

(xvi) “Plan” means this Cathay Bancorp, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time. 

(xvii) “Restricted Stock” means an Award of Stock subject to restrictions, as more fully described in Section 6.

 (xviii) “Restriction Period” means the period determined by the Committee under Section 6(b). 

(xix) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, and any
successor rule. 

  
 1 

 (xx) “Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, and
any successor security. 
 (xxi) “Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Section 424 of the Code. 

(xxii) “Tax Date” means the date defined in Section 8(f). 

(xxiii) “Termination” means, for purposes of the Plan, with respect to a participant, that (a) if the participant is a
director of the Company, he or she has ceased to be, for any reason, a director and (b) if the participant is an employee, he or she has ceased to be, for any reason, employed by the Company, a subsidiary or an affiliate. 

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION. 
 (a)
Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or, upon delegation by the Board, by a committee of the Board that will satisfy Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) of the Code, as in effect with respect to the Company from time to time. In
connection with the administration of the Plan, the Committee shall have the powers possessed by the Board. The Committee may act only by a majority of its members, except that the Committee may from time to time select another committee or one or
more other persons to be responsible for any matters so long as the selection comports with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and Rule 16b-3. The Board at any time may abolish the Committee and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan. 
 (b) Authority. The Committee shall grant Awards to directors and eligible employees. In
particular and without limitation, the Committee, subject to the terms of the Plan, shall: 
 (i) select the directors, officers
and other employees to whom Awards may be granted; 
 (ii) determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted under
the Plan; 
 (iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by each Award granted under the Plan; and 

(iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan and any related loans to be made by the Company, based upon
factors determined by the Committee. 
 (c) Committee Determinations Binding. The Committee may adopt, alter and repeal
administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it from time to time shall deem advisable, may interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan, any Award and any Award Agreement and may otherwise supervise the administration of
the Plan. Any determination made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan with respect to any Award shall be made in its sole discretion at the time of the grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan
or Award, at any later time. All decisions made by the Committee under the Plan shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan participants. 
 SECTION 3. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN. 
 (a) Number of Shares. The total number of
shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards under this Plan shall be 1,075,000 shares. Such shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares or shares reacquired in private
transactions or open market purchases, but all shares issued under the Plan, regardless of source, shall be counted against the 1,075,000 share limitation. If any Option terminates or expires without being exercised in full or if any shares of Stock
subject to an Award are forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates without a payment being made to the participant in the form of Stock, the shares issuable under such Option or Award shall again be available for issuance in connection with
Awards. Any Award under this Plan shall be governed by the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. 
 (b)
Adjustments. In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split or other change in corporate structure affecting the Stock, such substitution or adjustments shall be made in the aggregate number
of shares of Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, in the number and exercise price of shares subject to outstanding Options, and in the number of shares subject to other outstanding Awards, as may be determined to be appropriate by the
Committee, in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the number of shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number. 

  
 2 

 SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY. 
 Awards may be granted to all employees, including officers and directors, and non-employee directors of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates. 

SECTION 5. STOCK OPTIONS. 
 (a)
Types. Any Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve. The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any participant Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options or both types of
Options. 
 (b) Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company, its parent
(within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code) or a Subsidiary. Any portion of an Option that is not designated as, or does not qualify as, an Incentive Stock Option shall constitute a Nonqualified Stock Option. 

(c) Terms and Conditions. Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions: 

(i) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee, but no Option shall be exercisable more than 10 years after the
date the Option is granted. If, at the time the Company grants an Incentive Stock Option, the optionee owns directly or by attribution stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company,
or any parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable more than five years after the date of grant. 
 (ii) Grant Date. The Company may grant Options under the Plan at any time and from time to time before the Plan terminates. The Committee shall specify the date of grant or, if it fails to, the date of
grant shall be the date of action taken by the Committee to grant the Option. 
 (iii) Exercise Price. The exercise price per
share of Stock purchasable under an Option shall be equal to at least the Fair Market Value on the date of grant; provided, however, that if, at the time the Company grants an Incentive Stock Option, the optionee owns directly or by attribution
stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or Subsidiary of the Company, then the exercise price shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the
date the Incentive Stock Option is granted. 
 (iv) Exercisability. Subject to the other provisions of the Plan, an Option shall
be exercisable in its entirety at grant or at such times and in such amounts as are specified in the Award Agreement evidencing the Option. The Committee, in its absolute discretion, at any time may waive any limitations respecting the time at which
an Option first becomes exercisable, in whole or in part, including acceleration in connection with a reorganization of the Company if there are no adverse consequences to the Company therefrom. 

(v) Method of Exercise; Payment. To the extent the right to purchase shares has accrued, Options may be exercised, in whole or in part,
from time to time, by written notice from the optionee to the Company stating the number of shares being purchased, accompanied by payment of the exercise price for the shares. 
 SECTION 6. RESTRICTED STOCK. 
 (a) Price. The Committee may grant Restricted Stock
to a participant. The grantee shall pay such consideration therefor as determined by the Committee, but no less than the par value of the Stock. 
 (b) Restrictions. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period set by the Committee, commencing with, and not exceeding 10 years from, the date of such
Award, the participant shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber shares of Restricted Stock. Within these limits, the Committee may provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may accelerate or
waive such restrictions, in whole or in part, based on service, performance or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine. 

  
 3 

 (c) Dividends. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, with respect to dividends on
shares of Restricted Stock, dividends payable in cash shall be automatically reinvested in additional Restricted Stock, and dividends payable in Stock shall be paid in the form of Restricted Stock. 

(d) Termination. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the Award Agreement and pursuant to Section 6(b), in the event of a
Termination during the Restriction Period, all shares still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the participant. 
 SECTION 7. CHANGE
IN CONTROL 
 (a) Definition of “Change in Control”. For purposes of Section 7(b), a “Change in Control”
means the occurrence of any one of the following: 
 (i) Any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, a subsidiary, an affiliate, or a Company employee benefit plan, including any trustee of such plan acting as trustee) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 35 percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; 

(ii) The solicitation of proxies (within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(k) under the Exchange Act and any successor rule) with respect to the
election of any director of the Company where such solicitation is for any candidate who is not a candidate proposed by a majority of the Board in office prior to the time of such election; or 

(iii) The dissolution or liquidation (partial or total) of the Company or a sale of assets involving 30 percent or more of the assets of
the Company, any merger or reorganization of the Company whether or not another entity is the survivor, a transaction pursuant to which the holders, as a group, of all of the shares of the Company outstanding prior to the transaction hold, as a
group, less than 70 percent of the shares of the Company outstanding after the transaction, or any other event which the Board determines, in its discretion, would materially alter the structure of the Company or its ownership. 

(b) Impact of Event. In the event of a “Change in Control” as defined in Section 7(a), but only if and to the extent so
specifically determined by the Board in its discretion, which determination may be amended or reversed only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the persons who were directors at the time such determination was made, acceleration and valuation
provisions no more favorable to participants than the following may apply: 
 (i) Any Option outstanding as of the date such
Change in Control is determined to have occurred and not then exercisable and vested shall become fully exercisable and vested. 

(ii) The restrictions and limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock shall lapse, and such Restricted Stock shall become fully
vested. 
 (iii) The value (net of any exercise price) of all outstanding Options and Restricted Stock, unless otherwise
determined by the Committee at or after grant and subject to Rule 16b-3, shall be cashed out on the basis of the “Change in Control Price,” as defined in Section 7(c), as of the date such Change in Control is determined to have
occurred or such other date as the Board may determine prior to the Change in Control. 
 (c) Change in Control Price. For
purposes of this Section 7, “Change in Control Price” means the highest price per share paid in any transaction reported on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System
or paid or offered in any bona fide transaction related to a potential or actual Change in Control of the Company at any time during the preceding 60-day period as determined by the Board, except that, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, such
price shall be based only on transactions reported for the date on which the Board decides to cash out such Options. 
 SECTION 8. GENERAL
PROVISIONS. 
 (a) Award Grants. Any Award may be granted either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan.
Subject to the terms and restrictions set forth elsewhere in the Plan, the Committee shall determine the consideration, if any, payable by the participant for any Award and, in addition to those set

  
 4 

 
forth in the Plan, any other terms and conditions of the Awards. The Committee may condition the grant or payment of any Award upon the attainment of specified performance goals or such other
factors or criteria, including vesting based on continued service on the Board or employment, as the Committee shall determine. Performance objectives may vary from participant to participant and among groups of participants and shall be based upon
such Company, subsidiary, group or division factors or criteria as the Committee may deem appropriate, including, but not limited to, earnings per share or return on equity. The other provisions of Awards also need not be the same with respect to
each recipient. Unless specified otherwise in the Plan or by the Committee, the date of grant of an Award shall be the date of action by the Committee to grant the Award. The Committee may also substitute new Options for previously granted Options,
including previously granted Options having higher exercise prices. 
 (b) Award Agreement. As soon as practicable after the
date of an Award grant, the Company and the participant shall enter into a written Award Agreement identifying the date of grant, and specifying the terms and conditions of the Award. Options are not exercisable until after execution of the Award
Agreement by the Company and the Plan participant, but a delay in execution of the Award Agreement shall not affect the validity of the Option grant. 
 (c) Certificates; Transfer Restrictions. All certificates for shares of Stock or other securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stock transfer orders, legends and other restrictions as
the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Commission, any market in which the Stock is then traded and any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law. 

(d) Termination. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or by the Committee, in the event of Termination for any
reason other than death or Disability, Awards held at the date of Termination (and only to the extent then exercisable or payable, as the case may be) may be exercised in whole or in part at any time within three months after the date of Termination
or such lesser period specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event after the expiration date of the Award). If Termination is due to death or Disability, Awards held at the date of Termination (and only to the extent then exercisable or
payable, as the case may be) may be exercised in whole or in part by the participant in the case of Disability, by the participant’s guardian or legal representative or by the person to whom the Award is transferred by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, at any time within one year from the date of Termination or any lesser period specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event after the expiration of the Award). 

(e) Delivery of Purchase Price. If and only to the extent authorized by the Committee, participants may make all or any portion of any
payment due to the Company: 
 (i) with respect to the consideration payable for an Award; 

(ii) upon exercise of an Award; or 
 (iii) with respect to federal, state, local or foreign tax payable in connection with an Award, by delivery of (x) cash, (y) check, or (z) any property other than cash (including a
promissory note of the participant or shares of Stock or securities) so long as, if applicable, such property constitutes valid consideration for the Stock under, and otherwise complies with, applicable law. No promissory note under the Plan shall
have a term (including extensions) of more than five years or shall be of a principal amount exceeding 90 percent of the purchase price paid by the borrower. 
 (f) Tax Withholding. Unless the Committee permits otherwise, the participant shall pay to the Company in cash, promptly when the amount of such obligations becomes determinable (the “Tax Date”),
all applicable federal, state, local and foreign withholding taxes that the Committee in its discretion determines to result, (i) from the lapse of restrictions imposed upon an Award, (ii) upon exercise of an Award, or (iii) from a
transfer or other disposition of shares acquired upon exercise or payment of an Award, or otherwise related to the Award or the shares acquired in connection with an Award. 
 A participant who has received an Award or payment under an Award may, to the extent, if any, authorized by the Committee in its discretion, make an election to (x) deliver to the Company a
promissory note of the participant on the terms set forth in Section 8(e), or (y) tender any such securities to the Company to pay the amount of tax that the Committee in its discretion determines to be required to be withheld by the
Company; provided, however, that such election shall be subject to the disapproval of the Committee. 

  
 5 

 Any shares or other securities so withheld or tendered shall be valued by the Committee as
of the date they are withheld or tendered; provided, however, that Stock shall be valued at Fair Market Value on such date. The value of the shares withheld or tendered may not exceed the required federal, state, local and foreign withholding tax
obligations as computed by the Company. 
 (g) No Transferability. No Award shall be assignable or otherwise transferable by the
participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the life of a participant, an Award shall be exercisable, and any elections with respect to an Award may be made, only by the participant or participant’s
guardian or legal representative. 
 (h) Adjustment of Awards; Waivers. The Committee may adjust the performance goals and
measurements applicable to Awards (i) to take into account changes in law and accounting and tax rules, (ii) to make such adjustments as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the inclusion or exclusion of the impact of
extraordinary or unusual items, events or circumstances in order to avoid windfalls or hardships, and (iii) to make such adjustments as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect any material changes in business conditions. In the
event of hardship or other special circumstances of a participant and otherwise in its discretion, the Committee may waive in whole or in part any or all restrictions, conditions, vesting, or forfeiture with respect to any Award granted to such
participant. 
 (i) Non-Competition. The Committee may condition its discretionary waiver of a forfeiture, the acceleration of
vesting at the time of Termination of a participant holding any unexercised or unearned Award, the waiver of restrictions on any Award, or the extension of the expiration period to a period not longer than that provided by the Plan upon such
participant’s agreement (and compliance with such agreement) (i) not to engage in any business or activity competitive with any business or activity conducted by the Company and (ii) to be available for consultations at the request of
the Company’s management, all on such terms and conditions (including conditions in addition to (i) and (ii)) as the Committee may determine. 
 (j) Dividends. The reinvestment of dividends in additional Restricted Stock at the time of any dividend payment pursuant to Section 6(c) shall only be permissible if sufficient shares of Stock are
available under Section 3 for such reinvestment (taking into account then outstanding Awards). 
 (k) Regulatory
Compliance. Each Award under the Plan shall be subject to the condition that, if at any time the Committee shall determine that (i) the listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Stock upon any securities exchange or for trading in
any securities market or under any state or federal law, (ii) the consent or approval of any government or regulatory body or (iii) an agreement by the participant with respect thereto, is necessary or desirable, then such Award shall not
be consummated in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval or agreement shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee. 

(l) Rights as Shareholder. Unless the Plan or the Committee expressly specifies otherwise, an optionee shall have no rights as a
shareholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the stock certificates representing the shares are actually delivered to the optionee. Subject to Sections 3(b) and 6(c), no adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for
which the record date is prior to the date the certificates are delivered. 
 (m) Beneficiary Designation. The Committee, in its
discretion, may establish procedures for a participant to designate a beneficiary to whom any amounts payable in the event of the participant’s death are to be paid. 
 (n) Additional Plans. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company, a subsidiary or an affiliate from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements for its directors and employees.

 (o) No Employment Rights; No Right to Directorship. Neither the adoption of this Plan nor the grant of any Award hereunder
shall (i) confer upon any employee any right to continued employment nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company, a subsidiary or an affiliate to terminate the employment of any employee at any time; or (ii) confer upon
any participant any right with respect to continuation of 

  
 6 

 
the participant’s membership on the Board or shall interfere in any way with provisions in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws relating to the election, appointment,
terms of office, and removal of members of the Board. 
 (p) Rule 16b-3. With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with the applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent any provision of this Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be adjusted
to comply with Rule 16b-3, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee. It shall be the responsibility of persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, not of the Company or the Committee, to comply with the
requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act; and neither the Company nor the Committee shall be liable if this Plan or any transaction under this Plan fails to comply with the applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3, or if any such person incurs
any liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. 
 (q) Governing Law. The Plan and all Awards shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. 
 (r) Use of Proceeds. All cash proceeds to the Company under
the Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company. 
 (s) Unfunded Status of Plan. The Plan shall constitute an
“unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. The Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Stock or make payments; provided, however, that unless
the Committee otherwise determines, the existence of such trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the “unfunded” status of the Plan. 
 (t) Assumption by Successor. The obligations of the Company under the Plan and under any outstanding Award may be assumed by any successor corporation, which for purposes of the Plan shall be included
within the meaning of “Company”. 
 (u) Limitation on Award Grants. The Company may not grant Awards under the Plan
for more than 100,000 shares to any one participant in any calendar year. 
 SECTION 9. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION. 

The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan or any Award, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuance shall be made which would
impair the rights of a participant under an outstanding Award without the participant’s consent. No amendment, alteration or discontinuance shall require shareholder approval except: 

(a) an increase in the total number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Awards under the Plan; or 

(b) with respect to provisions solely as they relate to Incentive Stock Options, to the extent required for the Plan to comply with
Section 422 of the Code; or 
 (c) to the extent required by other applicable laws, rules or regulations; or 

(d) to the extent the Board otherwise concludes that shareholder approval is advisable. 

SECTION 10. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN. 
 The Plan shall be effective as of February 19, 1998, but all Awards shall be conditioned upon approval of the Plan (a) at a duly held stockholders’ meeting by the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the shares of Stock of the Company represented in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, or (b) by an action by written consent of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of
the Company entitled to vote. 
 SECTION 11. TERM OF PLAN. 
 No Award shall be granted on or after February 18, 2008, but Awards granted prior to February 18, 2008 may extend beyond that date. 

  
 7

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00200-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00200-of-00352.parquet"}]]