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): December 14, 2010

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 14, 2010, we distributed a press release announcing that, at its meeting held on December 14, 2010, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.07 per share of our common stock, payable on January 10, 2011, to shareholders of record on December 27, 2010.

A copy of our press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibit is furnished with this Report:

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
99.1	Copy of our press release dated December 14, 2010

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	ECB BANCORP, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date: December 15, 2010	By:	/S/ Thomas M. Crowder
		Thomas M. Crowder
		Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

December 14, 2010

CONTACT: The East Carolina Bank (ECB) Thomas M. Crowder, Chief Financial Officer Phone: (252) 925-5520 Facsimile: (252) 925-8491

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ECB Bancorp, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2010 Dividend

ENGELHARD, N.C. – ECB Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECBE), the parent holding company of The East Carolina Bank, announced that on December 14, 2010, its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share, payable January 10, 2011 to shareholders of record on December 27, 2010.

The announced Fourth Quarter 2010 dividend of $0.07 remains the same as the previous cash dividend payment in the Third Quarter 2010.

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 25 offices covering eastern North Carolina from Currituck to Ocean Isle Beach and Greenville to Hatteras. The Bank also provides mortgages, and insurance services through the Bank’s licensed agents. 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.MyECB.com.

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