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): November 17, 2011

ECB BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

Post Office Box 337

Engelhard, North Carolina 27824

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(252) 925-5501

(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))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On November 17, 2011, ECB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per common share, payable on December 13, 2011 to shareholders of record on December 1, 2011. The dividend represents a reduction of $0.02 or (28%) from the Company’s second quarter 2011 dividend of $0.07 per share. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated November 17, 2011

SIGNATURE

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 thereunto duly authorized.

		ECB BANCORP, INC.
Date: November 18, 2011	By:	/s/ A. Dwight Utz
		A. Dwight Utz
		President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

November 17, 2011

CONTACT:	ECB Bancorp, Inc.
	Thomas M. Crowder
	Chief Financial Officer
	(252) 925-5520
	(252) 925-8491 facsimile

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ECB BANCORP, INC. DECLARES

THIRD QUARTER 2011 DIVIDEND

ENGELHARD, N.C. - ECB Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECBE), the parent holding company of The East Carolina Bank (the “Bank”), announced that the Corporation’s Board of Directors has declared a third quarter cash dividend of $0.05 per share, payable December 13, 2011 to shareholders of record on December 1, 2011. This dividend is a reduction of $0.02 or (28%) from the second quarter 2011 dividend of $0.07.

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 Mortgage, Wealth Management, 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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