Cathay "Pratica della mercatura", a guide about trade in China, a country he called "Cathay", noting the size of Khanbaliq (modern Beijing) and how merchants could exchange silver for Chinese paper money that could be used to buy luxury items such as silk. Words related to Khitay are still used in many Turkic and Slavic languages to refer to China. However, its use by Turkic speakers within China, such as the Uyghurs, is considered pejorative by the Chinese authority who had tried to ban it. As European and Arab travelers started reaching the Mongol Empire, they described the Mongol-controlled Northern China
Cathay Bank The result of the merger increased Cathay Bank's presence in New York as well as added Maryland to its list of service areas. On July 8, 2016, Cathay announced plans to acquire Far East National Bank. Cathay Bank Cathay Bank () is a Sino-American bank based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1962, it has since expanded its network throughout California and into Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Washington, Illinois, New Jersey, Nevada, Maryland, and Hong Kong. Additionally, it has representative offices in Shanghai and Taipei. The bank is headquartered in Chinatown, Los Angeles, and operates a corporate center in nearby