ECB Bancorp, Inc.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. On September 16, 2026, the Board of Directors of ECB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Everett Co-operative Bank (the “Bank”), appointed Matthew J. Cushing to serve as a director of the Company and the Bank for a term that will expire at the Company’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders. In connection with his appointment as a director, Mr. Cushing will participate in the Company’s non-employee director compensation program as outlined in the definitive proxy statement for the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Cushing was also appointed to serve on the Audit Committee of the Company’s and Bank’s Board of Directors in connection with his appointment as a director. There are no arrangements or understandings with any person pursuant to which Mr. Cushing has been selected to serve as a director of the Company and the Bank. There have been no transactions directly or indirectly involving Mr. Cushing that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange Commission.