(Check One): ¨  Form 10-K ¨  Form 20-F ¨  Form 11-K     x  Form 10-Q ¨  Form 10-D ¨  Form N-SAR ¨  Form N-CSR UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 12b-25 NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING SEC FILE NUMBER     2017-6 CUSIP NUMBER     268253 10 1

For Period Ended: September 30, 2005

¨  Transition Report on Form 10-K

¨  Transition Report on Form 20-F

¨  Transition Report on Form 11-K

¨  Transition Report on Form 10-Q

¨  Transition Report on Form N-SAR

For the Transition Period Ended:                                                              

Read Instructions (on back page) Before Preparing Form. Please Print or Type.

Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has verified any information contained herein.

If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above, identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates:             

PART I — REGISTRANT INFORMATION

ECB BANCORP, INC.

Full Name of Registrant

Former Name if Applicable

35050 U.S. Highway 264 East

Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)

Engelhard, North Carolina 27824

City, State and Zip Code

PART II — RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or expense and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate)

x	(a)	The reason described in reasonable detail in Part III of this form could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense
	(b)	The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition report on Form 10-K, Form 20-F, Form 11-K, Form N-SAR or Form N-CSR, or portion thereof, will be filed on or before the fifteenth calendar day following the prescribed due date; or the subject quarterly report or transition report on Form 10-Q, or subject distribution report on Form 10-D,or portion thereof, will be filed on or before the fifth calendar day following the prescribed due date; and
	(c)	The accountant’s statement or other exhibit required by Rule 12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.

PART III — NARRATIVE

State below in reasonable detail why Forms 10-K, 20-F, 11-K, 10-Q, 10-D, N-SAR, N-CSR, or the transition report or portion thereof, could not be filed within the prescribed time period.

Additional review procedures being applied by Registrant in connection with the preparation of its September 30, 2005 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q necessitated the gathering and analysis of certain additional information in order to verify the accuracy of information contained in the report. Those procedures could not be completed in time for Registrant to file the report by its normal due date. Registrant expects to file its report on or before November 21, 2005.

PART IV — OTHER INFORMATION

(1) Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this notification

Gary M. Adams (Name) 252 (Area Code) 925-9411 (Telephone Number)

(2) Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed? If answer is no, identify report(s).    x  Yes    ¨  No

(3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations from the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion thereof?    ¨  Yes    x  No

If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable estimate of the results cannot be made.

ECB BANCORP, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date November 14, 2005	By	/s/ Gary M. Adams
		Gary M. Adams
		Chief Financial Officer

ATTENTION

Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001) .

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