UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 12, 2023

ECB BANCORP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maryland		001-41456		88-1502079
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File No.)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

419 Broadway, Everett, Massachusetts 02149

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(617) 387-1110

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share	ECBK	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On April 12, 2023, ECB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that its wholly owned subsidiary, Everett Co-operative Bank, is filing an application to establish a new branch office located at 331 Montvale Avenue, Woburn, Massachusetts. The new branch office is expected to open in September 2023. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Number Description

99.1

Press Release dated April 12, 2023

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

		ECB BANCORP, INC.


Date: April 12, 2023	By:	/s/ Richard J. O’Neil, Jr.
		Richard J. O’Neil, Jr.
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Richard J. O’Neil, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (617) 387-1110

ECB Bancorp, Inc. and Everett Co-operative Bank Announce Plan

to Open Full-Service Branch Office in Woburn, Massachusetts

EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, April 12, 2023 – ECB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECBK), the holding company for Everett Co-operative Bank (the “Bank”), announced today that the Bank is planning to open a full-service branch office at 331 Montvale Avenue, Woburn, Massachusetts. The branch office is expected to open in September 2023.

“We are excited to expand our existing franchise as we continue to grow and implement our business plan following our mutual to stock conversion and initial public offering which were consummated in July 2022,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Richard O’Neil. “Customers will be able to conduct all of their banking business, from opening new accounts to applying for loans, at our new location.” The branch will bring the total number of Everett Co-operative Bank offices to three.

About ECB Bancorp, Inc. and Everett Co-operative Bank

ECB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) is the registered bank holding company for Everett Co-operative Bank. Everett Co-operative Bank, originally chartered in 1890, is an FDIC-insured, Massachusetts cooperative stock bank with approximately $1.064 billion of assets as of December 31, 2022. The Bank offers a wide range of financial services through its two banking offices located in Everett and Lynnfield, Massachusetts. For more information about Everett Co-operative Bank and ECB Bancorp, Inc. please visit our website at www.everettbank.com

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or the Reform Act, which may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s estimates, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements identified by words such as “believe,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “will,” and similar expressions. All statements addressing the Bank’s expectation to open its new branch office are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies and changes in circumstances, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.