8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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): March 19, 2007

ECB BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

North Carolina	000-24753	56-2090738
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

Post Office Box 337 Engelhard, North Carolina	27824
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (252) 925-9411

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))

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On March 19, 2008, we announced that our Board of Directors had declared a cash dividend of $0.1825 per share of our common stock, payable on April 14, 2008, to shareholders of record on April 1, 2008. A copy of our press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits. The following exhibit is furnished with this Report:

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
99.1	Copy of our press release dated March 19, 2008

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we have duly caused this Report to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	ECB BANCORP, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date: March 19, 2008	By: /S/ Gary M. Adams
	Gary M. Adams
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

March 19, 2008

CONTACT:	ECB Bancorp, Inc.
	Gary M. Adams, Chief Financial Officer
	(252) 925-5525
	(252) 925-8491 facsimile

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ECB Bancorp Increases 2008 Dividend

ENGELHARD, NORTH CAROLINA-ECB Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECBE), the parent holding company of The East Carolina Bank (the “Bank”), announced that on March 18, 2008, the Corporation’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1825 per share, payable April 14, 2008 to shareholders of record on April 1, 2008.

On an annualized basis, the Corporation’s 2008 dividend of $0.73 per share represents a 4.3% increase over the annual dividend in 2007 of $0.70 per share.

The Bank continues to expand its footprint in eastern North Carolina with a new full-service branch under construction in Leland (Brunswick County) scheduled to open in early third quarter, which will bring the total number of branches to 24.

About ECB Bancorp, Inc.

ECB Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company, headquartered in Engelhard, North Carolina, whose wholly-owned subsidiary, The East Carolina Bank, is a state-chartered, independent community bank insured by the FDIC. The Bank provides a full range of financial services through its 23 offices covering eastern NC from Currituck to Ocean Isle Beach and Greenville to Hatteras. The Bank also provides mortgages, insurance services through the Bank’s licensed agents, and investment and brokerage services offered through a third-party broker-dealer. The Corporation’s common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ECBE.” More information can be obtained by visiting the Corporation’s web site at www.ecbbancorp.com.

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