Cathay General Bancorp operates as the holding company for Cathay Bank, which offers various commercial banking products and services for individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in the United States. Its deposit products comprise passbook accounts, checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, college certificates of deposit, and public funds deposits. The company's loan portfolio consists of commercial mortgage loans, commercial loans, small business administration loans, residential mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, equity lines of credit, and installment loans to individuals for automobile, household, and other consumer expenditures. In addition, the company provides trade financing, 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, Internet banking, and other customary bank services. As of April 16, 2013, it had 31 branches in California; 8 branches in New York State; 1 branch in Massachusetts; 2 branches in Texas; 3 branches in Washington State; 3 branches in Illinois; 1 branch in New Jersey; 1 branch in Hong Kong; and a representative office in Shanghai and in Taipei. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in Los Angeles, California.