8-K

UNITED STATES

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): December 17, 2008

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 December 17, 2008, we distributed a press release announcing that, at its meeting on December 16, 2008, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.1825 per share of our common stock, payable on January 12, 2009, to shareholders of record on December 29, 2008.

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

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

The following exhibit is being furnished with this report.

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
99.01	Copy of our press release dated December 16, 2008

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SIGNATURES

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

	ECB BANCORP, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date: December 17, 2008	By:	/S/ Gary M. Adams
		Gary M. Adams
		Chief Financial Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
99.01	Copy of our press release dated December 16, 2008

EX-99.01

EXHIBIT 99.01

PRESS RELEASE

December 16, 2008

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ECB BANCORP, INC. REPORTS DECLARATION OF

QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND

ENGELHARD, NORTH CAROLINA - ECB Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECBE), the parent holding company of The East Carolina Bank (the “Bank”), announced today that, on December 16, 2008, the Corporation’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1825 per share, payable on January 12, 2009, to shareholders of record on December 29, 2008.

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

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 24 offices covering eastern NC from Currituck to Ocean Isle Beach and Greenville to Hatteras. ECB also provides mortgages, insurance services through the Bank’s licensed agents, and investment and brokerage services offered through a third-party broker-dealer. The Company’s common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ECBE”. More information can be obtained by visiting ECB’s web site at www.ecbbancorp.com.

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