For Immediate Release

Date: February 5, 2026

ECB Bancorp, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End Results

EVERETT, MA, February 5, 2026 - ECB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ-ECBK) (the “Company”), the holding company for Everett Co-operative Bank (the “Bank”), a state-chartered co-operative bank headquartered in Everett, Massachusetts, today reported net income of $2.6 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $1.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company reported net income of $7.8 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $4.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Richard J. O’Neil, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "During the fourth quarter, we continued to execute on our strategy of disciplined balance sheet growth and thoughtful capital deployment. Loans increased $237.0 million, or 20.7% year over year, while deposits grew $133.8 million, or 13.4% over the same period. Net interest margin expanded during the year, and we continued to make meaningful progress improving our efficiency ratio from 78.8% in 2024, to 64.2% in 2025. Credit quality remains extremely strong, with nonperforming assets representing just 0.07% of total assets. As we look ahead to 2026, we are excited to further expand our footprint with the opening of our new branch in Medford, MA."

NET INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME

Net interest and dividend income before provision for credit losses was $9.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $6.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, representing an increase of $2.4 million, or 34.9%. This increase was driven by increases in the average balance and yields on loans as well as a decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities. The resulting net interest margin expanded by 38 basis points to 2.32% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 as compared to 1.94% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The provision for credit losses was $241,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 as compared to a benefit of $311,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The combination of these items resulted in net interest and dividend income after provision for credit losses of $8.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $7.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $1.8 million, or 25.6%.

Net interest and dividend income before provision for credit losses was $31.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $25.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $6.9 million, or 27.7%. This increase was primarily due to increases in the average balance and yields on loans as well as a decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities. The resulting net interest margin expanded 26 basis points to 2.12% for the year ended December 31, 2025 as compared to 1.86% for the year ended December 31, 2024. The provision for credit losses was $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $174,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. The combination of these items resulted in net interest and dividend income after provision for credit losses of $30.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $24.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $5.6 million, or 22.4%.

NONINTEREST INCOME

Noninterest income was $360,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $327,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $33,000, or 10.1%, and was $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $100,000, or 8.2%.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

Noninterest expense was $5.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $5.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $302,000, or 5.5%.

Noninterest expense was $21.3 million for year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $20.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $661,000, or 3.2%.

INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense was $891,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $493,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, reflecting effective tax rates of 25.5% and 25.4%, respectively.

Income tax expense was $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, reflecting effective tax rates of 25.1% and 25.7%, respectively.

BALANCE SHEET

Total assets were $1.61 billion at December 31, 2025, as compared to $1.42 billion at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $187.5 million, or 13.2%.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $70.7 million, or 44.9%, to $86.9 million at December 31, 2025 from $157.6 million at December 31, 2024. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was driven by growth in both loans and investments that in aggregate was greater than our growth in deposits and borrowings.

Interest-bearing time deposits were $8.0 million at December 31, 2025, as compared to $100,000 at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $7.9 million. This increase was due to purchases of new interest-bearing time deposits.

Investments in securities available for sale were $34.3 million at December 31, 2025, as compared to $6.6 million at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $27.8 million, or 422.8%. This increase was due to purchases of new securities.

Investments in securities held to maturity were $55.8 million at December 31, 2025, as compared to $73.2 million at December 31, 2024, or a $17.5 million, or 23.8%, decrease. This decrease was due to maturities and principal paydowns of securities.

Total gross loans were $1.38 billion at December 31, 2025, as compared to $1.15 billion at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $237.0 million, or 20.7%.

Total deposits were $1.13 billion at December 31, 2025, as compared to $998.5 million at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $133.8 million, or 13.4%.

FHLB advances increased $50.8 million, or 21.7%, to $284.8 million at December 31, 2025 from $234.0 million at December 31, 2024. The increase in FHLB advances was used primarily to fund loan growth.

ASSET QUALITY

Asset quality remains strong. The allowance for credit losses on loans in total and as a percentage of total gross loans as of December 31, 2025 was $10.3 million and 0.74%, respectively, as compared to $8.9 million and 0.78%, respectively, as of December 31, 2024. For the years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company recorded net charge offs of $86,000 and $3,000, respectively. Total non-performing assets were $1.1 million, or 0.07%, of total assets as of December 31, 2025, and $2.0 million, or 0.14% of total assets, as of December 31, 2024.

Company Profile

ECB Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered in Everett, Massachusetts and is the holding company for Everett Co-operative Bank. The Bank provides financial services to individuals, families, municipalities and businesses through its three full-service branch offices located in Everett, Lynnfield and Woburn, Massachusetts. The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "ECBK." For more information, visit the Company's website at www.everettbank.com.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on the beliefs and expectations of management, as well as the assumptions made using information currently available to management. Since these statements reflect the views of management concerning future events, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. As a result, actual results may differ from those contemplated by these statements. 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 include changes in the interest rate environment, changes in general economic conditions, the Company's ability to continue to increase loans and deposit growth, legislative and regulatory changes that adversely affect the businesses in which the Company is engaged and changes in the securities market. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

ECB Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 (unaudited)

(in thousands except share data)

ECB Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statements of Income

(unaudited)

(in thousands except share data)