Amendment No. 2 to the Cathay Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan, as amended and restated effective December 22, 2015

Exhibit 10.2.2

AMENDMENT NO.2

TO THE

CATHAY BANK

EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

Cathay General Bancorp (the "Company") hereby amends the above-named plan (the "Plan"), effective as of January 1, 2017, as follows:

1.     Subsection (iv) of Section 6.2(a) of the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

"(iv) Despite any other provision of the Plan, the benefits in the Participant's Stock Account that consist of Stock in an S Corporation shall be distributed in the form of cash. Any benefits in the Participant's Stock Account that do not consist of Stock in an S Corporation shall also be distributed in the form of cash, unless such Participant elects to receive his or her benefits in the form of Stock."

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The Company has caused this Amendment No. 2 to be signed on the date indicated below, to be effective as indicated above.