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): July 17, 2012

ESSA Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Pennsylvania	001-33384	20-8023072
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

200 Palmer Street, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania	18360
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (570) 421-0531

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ 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 July 17, 2012, ESSA Bancorp, Inc. (“ESSA”), the holding company for ESSA Bank & Trust, announced that all regulatory and shareholder approvals have been obtained to complete its acquisition of First Star Bancorp, Inc. (“First Star”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Star Bank. Election forms will be mailed soon to stockholders of First Star for their completion.

A copy of the press release announcing the receipt of required approvals to acquire First Star is being filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. Not applicable.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information. Not applicable.

(c) Shell Company Transactions. Not applicable.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release issued by the Company on July 17, 2012 announcing the receipt of required approvals to acquire First Star Bancorp, Inc.

SIGNATURES

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, hereunto duly authorized.

	ESSA BANCORP, INC.
DATE: July 18, 2012	By:	/s/ Gary S. Olson
		Gary S. Olson, President and
		Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Date:	July 17, 2012
Contact:	Gary S. Olson, President & CEO
Corporate Office:	200 Palmer Street Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360
Telephone:	(570) 421-0531

ESSA BANCORP, INC. RECEIVES REQUIRED APPROVALS TO

ACQUIRE FIRST STAR BANCORP, INC.

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, July 17, 2012 — ESSA Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Market^SM “ESSA”) announced today that all required regulatory and shareholder approvals have been obtained to complete its acquisition of First Star Bancorp, Inc. (Pinksheets: FSSB) and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Star Bank. Election forms will be mailed soon to the stockholders of First Star Bancorp for completion.

ESSA Bancorp, Inc. has total assets of approximately $1.1 billion and First Star Bancorp, Inc. has approximately $423 million in assets. ESSA Bank & Trust conducts the majority of its business in Monroe County, Pa., with branches in neighboring Northampton and Lehigh Counties, commonly known as the Lehigh Valley. The acquisition will add 9 full service locations, all in the Lehigh Valley, to ESSA Bancorp, Inc.’s existing 17-branch network. No branch closings are anticipated as a result of this transaction.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to ESSA Bancorp, Inc. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words like “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “intend” or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may.” Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results are disclosed from time to time in documents that ESSA Bancorp, Inc. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Corporate Center: 200 Palmer Street PO Box L Stroudsburg, PA 18360-0160  570-421-0531    Fax: 570-421-7158