CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP (CATY)

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and are based upon its unaudited 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 the Consolidated Financial Statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Highlights

Quarterly Statement of Operations Review

Financial Performance

Net Interest Income Before Provision for Credit Losses

Net interest income before provision for credit losses increased $17.6 million, or 10.0%, to $194.2 million during the first quarter of 2026, compared to $176.6 million during the same quarter a year ago. The increase was due primarily to a decrease in interest expense from deposits, offset by a small decrease in interest in deposits with other banks.

The net interest margin was 3.43% for the first quarter of 2026 compared to 3.25% for the first quarter of 2025.

For the first quarter of 2026, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 5.70%, the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities was 2.99%, and the average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.96%. In comparison, for the first quarter of 2025, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 5.89%, the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities was 3.46%, and the average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 3.43%. The decrease in the yield on average interest-bearing liabilities and on average interest-earning assets resulted mainly from lower interest rates on deposits and lower interest rates on loans and securities, respectively. The net interest spread, defined as the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities, was 2.71% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to 2.43% for the same quarter a year ago.

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The following table sets forth information concerning average interest-earning assets, average interest-bearing liabilities, and the average yields and rates paid on those assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 2025. The average outstanding amounts included in the table are daily averages.

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The following table summarizes the changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in volume and changes in interest rates for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:

Provision for credit losses

The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $18.2 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared with $15.5 million in the first quarter of 2025. As of March 31, 2026, the allowance for loan losses, increased $12.9 million to $208.9 million, or 1.03% of total loans, compared to $195.9 million, or 0.97% of total loans as of December 31, 2025.

The following table sets forth the charge-offs and recoveries for the periods indicated:

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income, which includes revenues from depository service fees, letters of credit commissions, securities gains (losses), wealth management fees, and other sources of fee income, was $20.7 million for the first quarter of 2026, an increase of $9.5 million, or 84.8%, compared to $11.2 million for the first quarter of 2025. The increase was primarily due to an equity securities gain of $17.3 million in first quarter of 2026 compared to a loss of $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2025 for a net increase of $21.5 million gain from equity securities and an increase of $1.1 million in derivative fees, offset by an impairment loss of $15.7 million on available-for-sale investment securities in connection with the Company's decision to sell certain impaired securities within that portfolio when compared to the same quarter a year ago.

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Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense increased $1.0 million, or 1.2%, to $86.7 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to $85.7 million in the same quarter a year ago. The increase in non-interest expense in the first quarter of 2026 was primarily due to an increase of $3.1 million in salaries and employee benefits, an increase of $1.3 million in other real estate owned expense, offset by a decrease of $2.3 million in amortization expense of investments in low-income housing and alternative energy partnerships, and $1.0 million in FDIC and State assessme

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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 and results of operations of the Bancorp and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31,2025, as compared to 2024. It should be read in conjunction with this Annual Report and the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. For discussion and analysis of the Company’s 2024 results, as compared to 2023, refer to Part II - Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025. The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors Summary.” Actual results could differ materially because of various factors, including but not limited to those discussed in “Risk Factors,” under Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report.

The financial information presented herein includes the accounts of the Bancorp, 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 GAAP. The preparation of the 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 that are fundamental to understanding our financial condition and results of operations involve significant judgments and assumptions by management that 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 that 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 the Consolidated Financial Statements:

Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”) on Loans Held for Investment

The Bank maintains the allowance for credit losses at a level that the Bank considers appropriate to absorb the estimated and known risks in the loan portfolio and off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments. Allowance for credit losses is comprised of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments. With this risk management objective, the Bank’s management has an established monitoring system that it believes is designed to identify individually evaluated and potential problem loans, and to permit periodic evaluation of impairment and the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses in a timely manner.

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In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors has established a written credit policy that includes a credit review and control system that the Board of Directors believes should be effective in ensuring that the Bank maintains an appropriate allowance for credit losses. The Board of Directors provides oversight for the allowance evaluation process, including quarterly evaluations, and determines whether the allowance is appropriate to absorb losses in the credit portfolio. The determination of the amount of the allowance for credit losses and the provision for credit losses are based on management’s current judgment about the credit quality of the loan portfolio and takes into consideration known relevant internal and external factors that affect collectability when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for credit losses. The nature of the process by which the Bank determines the appropriate allowance for credit losses requires the exercise of considerable judgment.

Additions to the allowance for credit losses are made by charges to the provision for credit losses. While management utilizes its business judgment based on the information available, the ultimate appropriateness of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the Bank’s control, including but not limited to the performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio, the economy and market conditions, macroeconomic forecasts, and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications. Identified credit exposures that are determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance for credit losses. Recoveries of previously charged off amounts, if any, are credited to the allowance for credit losses. 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 credit losses in future periods.

The allowance for loan losses was $195.9 million and the allowance for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments was $12.4 million at December 31, 2025, which represented the amount believed by management to be appropriate to absorb lifetime credit losses in the loan portfolio, including unfunded credit commitments. The allowance for loan losses represented 0.97% of period-end gross loans and 172.82% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2025. The comparable ratios were 0.83% of period-end gross loans and 93.39% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2024.

The allowance for credit losses is discussed in more detail in “Risk Elements of the Loan Portfolio — Allowance for Credit Losses” below. Management has reviewed the foregoing critical accounting policies and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

Results of Operations

Overview

For the year ended December 31, 2025, we reported net income of $315.1 million, or $4.54 per diluted share, compared to net income of $286.0 million, or $3.95 per diluted share, in 2024, and net income of $354.1 million, or $4.86 per diluted share, in 2023. The $29.1 million increase in net income from 2024 to 2025 was primarily the result of an increase in net interest income and non interest income and a decrease in non interest expense, offset by an increase in provision for credit losses. The return on average assets in 2025 was 1.33%, compared to 1.22% in 2024, and to 1.56% in 2023. The return on average stockholders’ equity was 10.87% in 2025, compared to 10.18% in 2024, and to 13.56% in 2023.

Highlights

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

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Net Interest Income

Comparison of 2025 with 2024

Net interest income increased $68.4 million, or 10.1%, from $674.1 million in 2024 to $742.5 million in 2025.  The increase in net interest income was due primarily to the decrease in interest expense from time deposits partially offset by a decrease in interest income from loans.

Average loans for 2025 were $19.72 billion, a $287.8 million, or a 1.5% increase from $19.43 billion in 2024.  Compared with 2024, average commercial real estate loans increased $418.0 million, or 4.2%, average residential mortgage loans decreased $68.7 million, or 1.2%, average construction loans decreased $29.1 million, or 8.2%, and average commercial loans decreased $25.2 million, or 0.8%. Average investment securities were $1.59 billion in 2025, a decrease of $28.8 million, or 1.8%, from 2024. Average interest-bearing cash on deposits with financial institutions increased $63.4 million, or 5.8%, to $1.16 billion in 2025 from $1.10 billion in 2024.

Average interest-bearing deposits were $16.78 billion in 2025, an increase of $253.7 million, or 1.5%, from $16.53 billion in 2024, primarily due to an increase of $352.4 million, or 11.1% in money market, $242.0 million, or 21.0%, in savings accounts, and $6.4 million, or 0.3%, in interest bearing demand deposits offset by a decreases of $347.1 million, or 3.5%, in time deposits.

Interest income decreased $25.7 million, or 1.9%, from $1.33 billion in 2024 to $1.31 billion in 2025 primarily due to decreases in loan rates:

Interest expense decreased by $94.1 million, or 14.2%, to $566.8 million in 2025, compared with $660.9 million in 2024. The overall decrease in interest expense was primarily due to decreases in rates on interest bearing deposits, and rate decreases in other borrowings and long term debt as discussed below:

Net interest margin, defined as net interest income to average interest-earning assets, was 3.30% in 2025 compared to 3.04% in 2024.

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The following table sets forth information concerning average interest-earning assets, average interest-bearing liabilities, and the average yields and rates paid on those assets and liabilities in 2025, 2024 and 2023. Average outstanding amounts included in the table are daily averages.

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Provision for Credit Losses

The provision for credit losses represents the charge against current earnings that is determined by management, through a credit review process, as the amount needed to maintain an allowance for loan losses and an allowance for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments that management believes to be sufficient to absorb credit losses inherent in the Bank’s loan portfolio and credit commitments. The Bank recorded a provision for credit losses of $72.6 million in 2025 compared with a provision for credit losses of $37.5 million in 2024, and a provision for credit losses of $26.0 million in 2023. Net charge-offs for 2025 were $35.7 million, or 0.18% of average loans, compared to net charge-offs of $29.7 million for 2024, or 0.15% of average loans, and net charge-offs of $17.6 million for 2023, or 0.09% of average loans.

Non-interest Income

Non-interest income increased $19.8 million, or 35.5%, to $75.4 million for 2025, from $55.7 million in 2024, compared to $68.3 million in 2023. Non-interest income includes depository service fees, letters of credit commissions, net gains (losses) from equity securities, securities gains (losses), gains (losses) from loan sales, gains from sale of premises and equipment, and other sources of fee income. These other fee-based services include wire transfer fees, safe deposit fees, fees on loan-related activities, fee income from our Wealth Management division, and foreign exchange fees.

Comparison of 2025 with 2024

The increase in non-interest income from 2024 to 2025 was primarily due to a $14.9 million increase in unrealized gain on equity securities, $2.8 million in gain on interest rate swaps, $1.2 million in gain on sale of loans, and $1.1 million increase in letters of credit commissions, offset, in part, by a $1.1 million decrease in securities gains.

Non-interest Expense

Non-interest expense includes expenses related to salaries and benefits of employees, occupancy expenses, marketing expenses, computer and equipment expenses, amortization of core deposit intangibles, amortization of investment is affordable housing and alternative energy partnerships, and other operating expenses.

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Comparison of 2025 with 2024

Non-interest expense totaled $355.1 million in 2025 compared to $374.7 million in 2024. The decrease of $19.6 million, or 5.2%, in non-interest expense in 2025 compared to 2024 was primarily due to a combination of the following:

The efficiency ratio, defined as non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income before provision for loan losses plus non-interest income, decreased to 43.41% in 2025 compared to 51.35% in 2024 due primarily to higher net interest income and non-interest income and lower non-interest expense as explained above.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense was $75.1 million in 2025, compared to $31.6 million in 2024, and $49.5 million in 2023.  The effective tax rate was 19.2% for 2025, 9.9% for 2024, and 12.3% for 2023. The effective tax rate includes the impact of low-income housing and alternative energy investments.

Our tax returns are open for audits by the Internal Revenue Service back to 2021 and by the California Franchise Tax Board back to 2020. From time to time, there may be differences of opinion with respect to the tax treatment accorded transactions.  When, and if, such differences occur, and the related tax effects become probable and estimable, such amounts will be recognized.

Financial Condition

Total assets were $24.23 billion at December 31, 2025, an increase of $1.17 billion, or 5.1%, from $23.05 billion at December 31, 2024, primarily due to an increase of $732.7 million in net loans, an increase of $395.7 million in short-term investments and interest-bearing deposits, an increase of $111.1 million in investment securities and offset by a decrease of $62.4 million in other assets.

Investment Securities

Investment securities were $1.66 billion and represented 6.8% of total assets at December 31, 2025, compared with $1.55 billion and 6.7% of total assets at December 31, 2024.  The following table summarizes the carrying value of our portfolio of securities for each of the past two years:

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Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, debt securities available-for-sale ("AFS") are measured at fair value and subject to impairment testing. When an available-for-sale debt security is considered impaired, the Company must determine if the decline in fair value has resulted from a credit-related loss or other factors and then, (1) recognize an allowance for credit losses by a charge to earnings for the credit-related component (if any) of the decline in fair value, and (2) recognize in other comprehensive income (loss) any non-credit related components of the fair value change. If the amount of the amortized cost basis expected to be recovered increases in a future period, the valuation reserve would be reduced, but not more than the amount of the current existing reserve for that security.

For available-for-sale (“AFS”) debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value with the credit component of the unrealized loss of the impaired AFS debt security recognized as an allowance for credit losses, and a corresponding provision for credit losses on the consolidated statement of income. For AFS debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors.

In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, the payment structure of the security, failure of the issuer of the security to make scheduled interest or principal payments, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security.  Any fair value changes that have not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income.  In the current period, management evaluated the securities in an unrealized loss position and determined that their unrealized losses were a result of the level of market interest rates relative to the types of securities and pricing changes caused by shifting supply and demand dynamics and not a result of downgraded credit ratings or other indicators of deterioration of the underlying issuers' ability to repay. Accordingly, we determined the unrealized losses were not credit-related and recognized the unrealized losses in "other comprehensive income/(loss)" in stockholders' equity. Although we periodically sell securities for portfolio management purposes, we do not foresee having to sell any impaired securities strictly for liquidity needs and believe that it is more likely than not we would not be required to sell any impaired securities before recovery of their amortized cost.

The tables below show the related fair value and the gross unrealized losses of the Company’s investment portfolio, aggregated by investment category and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, as of December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024:

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The scheduled maturities and taxable-equivalent yields by security type are presented in the following table:

(1) Securities reflect stated maturities and do not reflect the impact of anticipated prepayments.

Equity Securities

The Company owns equity securities directly or through limited partnerships that hold equity securities. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company recognized a net unrealized gain of $7.4 million due to the increase in fair value of equity investments, compared to a net unrealized loss of $7.5 million in 2024. Equity securities were $51.9 million as of December 31, 2025, compared to $34.4 million as of December 31, 2024. The net unrealized gains recognized for the year ended December 31, 2025, included our share of earnings from an equity method investment in a private investment fund. While this investment has not had a material impact on our historical results, the fund holds concentrated positions in certain private entities. We anticipate that a potential liquidity event or a significant third-party valuation adjustment related to these underlying holdings could have a significant impact on our future financial condition or results of operations. However, the timing and certainty of any such event are outside of our control.

Loans

Loans represented 89.6% of average interest-earning assets during 2025, compared with 87.4% during 2024. Gross loans increased by $771.2 million, or 4.0%, to $20.15 billion at December 31, 2025, compared with $19.38 billion at December 31, 2024. The increase in gross loans was primarily attributable to the following:

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Our lending relates predominantly to activities in the states of California, New York, Texas, Washington, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, and Nevada. We also lend to domestic clients who are engaged in international trade. Loans outstanding in our branch in Hong Kong were $322.3 million as of December 31, 2025, compared to $343.3 million as of December 31, 2024.

The classification of loans by type and amount outstanding as of December 31 for each of the past five years is presented below:

The loan maturities in the table below are based on contractual maturities as of December 31, 2025. As is customary in the banking industry, loans that meet underwriting criteria can be renewed by mutual agreement between us and the borrower. Because we are unable to estimate the extent to which our borrowers will renew their loans, the table is based on contractual maturities. As a result, the data shown below should not be viewed as an indication of future cash flows.

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Deposits

The Bank's primary funding sources are client deposits, supplemented by advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) and other borrowings. The Bank’s deposits are generally obtained from the Bank’s geographic market area. The Bank utilizes traditional marketing methods to attract new clients and deposits, by offering a wide variety of products and services and utilizing various forms of advertising media. Although the vast majority of the Bank’s deposits are retail in nature, the Bank does engage in certain wholesale activities, primarily accepting deposits generated by brokers. The Bank considers wholesale deposits to be an alternative borrowing source rather than a client relationship and, as such, their levels are determined by management’s decisions as to the most economic funding sources. Brokered-deposits totaled $1.59 billion, or 7.6%, of total deposits, at December 31, 2025, compared to $1.06 billion, or 5.4%, at December 31, 2024.

The Bank’s total deposits increased $1.21 billion, or 6.1%, to $20.89 billion at December 31, 2025, from $19.69 billion at December 31, 2024, primarily due to an increase of  $427.7 million, or 12.7% in money market deposits, $248.1 million, or 19.8% in saving deposits, $221.3 million, or 6.7% in non-interest bearing deposit, $164.4 million, or 7.5% in NOW deposits, and $146.6 million, or 1.5%, in time deposits.

The following table displays the deposit mix balances as of the end of the past three years:

Average total deposits increased $346.8 million, or 1.8%, to $20.16 billion in 2025, compared with average total deposits of $19.81 billion in 2024.

The following table displays average deposits and rates for the past five years:

Management considers the Bank’s time deposits of $250 thousand or more, which totaled $5.74 billion at December 31, 2025, to be generally less volatile than other wholesale funding sources primarily because approximately 90.3% of the Bank’s CDs of $250 thousand or more have been on deposit with the Bank for two years or more.  Management monitors the CDs of $250 thousand or more portfolio to help identify any changes in the deposit behavior in the market and of the Bank’s clients.  As of December 31, 2025, and 2024, the Company had $10.19 billion and $9.43 billion, respectively, of uninsured deposits outstanding.

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Approximately 99.8% of the Bank’s CDs mature within one year as of December 31, 2025. The following tables display time deposits by maturity: