Chang M. Liu has been making his mark in the banking world since he joined Cathay Bank in 2014. Born in 1967, he worked his way up from Senior Vice President and Assistant Chief Lending Officer to Chief Operating Officer,...

Chang M. Liu has been making his mark in the banking world since he joined Cathay Bank in 2014. Born in 1967, he worked his way up from Senior Vice President and Assistant Chief Lending Officer to Chief Operating Officer, President, and finally to CEO of Cathay General Bancorp. His journey in banking spans over 30 years, which started at Pacific Trust Bank as their Chief Lending Officer. Liu took the CEO role on October 1, 2020, after succeeding Pin Tai. He focuses on performance-based incentives for his compensation, which reached $3.2 million in 2023, including salary, bonuses, and vested stock. Notably, Liu's bonuses are connected to targets like earnings per share (EPS) and return on assets (ROA), which ensures he aligns with the bank's success. His leadership transitions have been smooth, showing an emphasis on continuity during changes in upper management. Liu keeps a hands-on approach, with a clear vision of lending and business development at the bank.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Cathay General Bancorp CEOs

C

Chang M. Liu

CEO of Cathay General Bancorp

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Banking

Sector of Economy

Financial Services

Born

January 1, 1967 - 58 years ago

CEO of Cathay General Bancorp for

4 years 6 months (Oct 2020 - Present)

Previous Experience

Senior Vice President and Assistant Chief Lending Officer at Cathay Bank, Deputy Chief Lending Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, Chief Operating Officer.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Chang M. Liu

U

Richard M. Adams, Jr.

CEO of United Bankshares

2023 Compensation

Stock

$609.36K

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$1.09M

Other

$59.30K

Total Holdings

$6.01M

F

Vincent J. Delie, Jr.

CEO of F.N.B. Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$11.00M

Salary

$1.19M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$649.18K

Total Holdings

$24.80M

H

Kevin S. Kim

CEO of Hope Bancorp

2023 Compensation

Stock

$700.98K

Salary

$1.05M

Bonus

$1.05K

Other

$60.71K

Total Holdings

$10.60M

H

Joseph S. Exnicios

CEO of Hancock Whitney Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$265.86K

Salary

$553.84K

Bonus

$383.43K

Other

$67.08K

Total Holdings

$2.37M

H

John W. Allison

CEO of Home BancShares

2022 Compensation

Stock

$3.66M

Salary

$650.60K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$687.75K

Total Holdings

$201.65M

Holdings

See how much did Chang M. Liu make over time.

Chang M. Liu's stock holdings in Cathay General Bancorp have seen significant fluctuations. In 2020, he benefited from $0 in vested stock due to market conditions during the pandemic. However, in the following years, the value of his holdings increased...

Chang M. Liu's stock holdings in Cathay General Bancorp have seen significant fluctuations. In 2020, he benefited from $0 in vested stock due to market conditions during the pandemic. However, in the following years, the value of his holdings increased impressively. By 2023, Liu's vested stock was worth about $5.1 million, a reflection of his performance-based stock awards kicking in, tied to the bank's excellent financial metrics. His stock ownership reflects serious confidence in the bank's progress, as most of his wealth is now linked to the bank's shares. Overall, Liu has definitely seen the value of his holdings soar since he began at Cathay Bank.

Mar 17, 2025

B

shares

BANC @ $14.20

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Chang M. Liu.

BANC

$2.90

BANC at $12.54/share

Dec 31, 2013

Received

BANC

$16.97K

BANC at $11.84/share

Nov 29, 2012

Received

BANC

$100.48K

BANC at $12.56/share

Sep 26, 2012

Received

BANC

4,512 shares

BANC

Dec 29, 2011

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Chang M. Liu make over time.

In 2023, Chang M. Liu's total compensation reached approximately $3.2 million, which includes a base salary of $920,000 and a bonus of around $784,600. His bonus structure is designed around tough performance targets like earnings per share and return on assets, making sure the interests of the CEO align with those of the shareholders. Additionally, Liu received value from vested stock awards worth about $5.1 million, attributed to achieving performance metrics. Looking back, his compensation has evolved significantly over the years. In 2022, for instance, his total compensation was about $3.8 million. This growth indicates strong alignment between his personal earnings and the bank's overall financial success, highlighting a results-oriented leadership style.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$6.85M

Salary

$920.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to attract, motivate, and retain capable executive management while aligning their interests with those of stockholders through performance-based incentives.

Bonus

$784.60K

Board Justification

The bonus structure for 2023 was based on financial targets (EPS and ROA) and individual/departmental goals, with a target bonus percentage set at 100% of base salary.

Other

$16.50K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes employer contributions to the 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$5.13M(145.04K RSU)

Board Justification

The stock awards that vested in 2023 were performance-based RSUs, with the number of shares based on the achievement of performance metrics.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2023 included earnings per share (EPS), return on assets (ROA), and individual performance goals.

Other Cathay General Bancorp CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Cathay General Bancorp

Pin Tai

Ex-CEO of Cathay General Bancorp

October 2016 - September 2020