Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

Date: October 22, 2025

ECB Bancorp, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

EVERETT, MA, October 22, 2025 - 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 $2.4 million, or $0.29 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 as compared to $1.1 million, or $0.14 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, an increase of $1.3 million, or 115.3% in net income. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company reported net income of $5.2 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $2.5 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, an increase of $2.6 million, or 103.4% in net income.

Richard J. O’Neil, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "During the third quarter, we continued to execute our strategy of disciplined balance sheet growth, emphasizing high quality loans and expense management. Our strategic and disciplined approach to balance sheet management continues to strengthen earnings and profitability metrics as reflected in our improved net income. Entering the final quarter of 2025 our credit quality remains very strong. In addition, our ongoing stock repurchases continue to be accretive to book value per share, increasing shareholder value."

NET INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME

Net interest and dividend income before provision for credit losses was $8.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $6.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, representing an increase of $2.2 million, or 34.4%. This increase was driven by increases in the average balance and yields on loans as well as a decrease in the cost of interest bearing liabilities. The resulting net interest margin expanded by 34 basis points to 2.19% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 as compared to 1.85% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The provision for credit losses was $183,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 as compared to $46,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The increase in the provision for credit losses was driven by greater loan growth in the quarter ended September 30, 2025 than in the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The combination of these items resulted in net interest and dividend income after provision for credit losses of $8.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $6.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, or an increase of $2.0 million, or 32.5%.

Net interest and dividend income before provision for credit losses was $22.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $18.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, representing an increase of $4.6 million, or 25.0%. This increase was primarily due to increases in the average balance and yields on loans as well as a decrease in the cost of interest bearing liabilities. The resulting net interest margin expanded by 23 basis points to 2.06% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 as compared to 1.83% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The provision for credit losses was $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $485,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in the provision for credit losses was driven by greater loan growth in the nine months ended September 30, 2025 than in the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The combination of these items resulted in net interest and dividend income after provision for credit losses of $21.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $17.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, or an increase of $3.8 million, or 21.2%.

NONINTEREST INCOME

Noninterest income was $341,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $304,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, or an increase of $37,000, or 12.2% and was $966,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $898,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, or an increase of $68,000, or 7.6%. 

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

Noninterest expense was $5.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $5.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, or an increase of $347,000, or 6.9%.  

Noninterest expense was $15.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $15.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, an increase of $360,000, or 2.4%. During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company recognized $236,000 in Employee Retention Tax Credits (ERTC) in the form of refunds of certain federal employment taxes that are authorized and established under the CARES Act. The amount was recorded as a reduction to salaries and employee benefits expenses.

INCOME TAXES

We recorded a provision for income tax expense of $817,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as compared to a provision for income tax expense of $405,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, reflecting effective tax rates of 25.1% and 26.3%, respectively.

We recorded a provision for income tax expense of $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to a provision for income tax expense of $887,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, reflecting effective tax rates of 24.9% and 25.8%, respectively.

BALANCE SHEET

Total assets were $1.55 billion at September 30, 2025, as compared to $1.42 billion at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $134.5 million, or 9.5%.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $55.0 million, or 34.9%, to $102.6 million at September 30, 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 September 30, 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 $31.0 million at September 30, 2025, as compared to $6.6 million at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $24.5 million, or 372.6%. This increase was due to purchases of new securities.

Investments in securities held to maturity were $58.5 million at September 30, 2025, as compared to $73.2 million at December 31, 2024, or a $14.7 million, or 20.1%, decrease. This decrease was due to maturities and principal paydowns of securities.

Total gross loans were $1.32 billion at September 30, 2025, as compared to $1.15 billion at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $170.5 million, or 14.9%.

Total deposits were $1.11 billion at September 30, 2025, as compared to $998.5 million at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $110.1 million, or 11.0%.

FHLB advances increased $25.8 million, or 11.0%, to $259.8 million at September 30, 2025 from $234.0 million at December 31, 2024. The increase in FHLB advances was used to fund loan growth.

Total shareholders' equity increased $1.0 million, or 0.6%, to $169.3 million as of September 30, 2025 from $168.3 million as of December 31, 2024. This increase is primarily the result of earnings of $5.2 million. Partially offsetting the increase from earnings were decreases in additional paid-in capital ("APIC") and accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") of $3.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The decrease in APIC was driven by $4.1 million in shares repurchased under our share repurchase plan, partially offset by an increase in APIC of $1.1 million related to stock-based compensation and ESOP shares committed to be released. The decrease in AOCI was driven by a decrease in the fair value of cash flow hedges. Our book value per share increased by $0.68 to $19.18 at September 30, 2025 from $18.50 at December 31, 2024.

ASSET QUALITY

Asset quality remains strong. The allowance for credit losses in total and as a percentage of total loans as of September 30, 2025 was $10.0 million and 0.76%, respectively, as compared to $8.9 million and 0.78%, respectively, as of December 31, 2024. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company recorded $84,000 in net charge offs, as compared to $3,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Total non-performing assets were $1.1 million, or 0.07%, of total assets as of September 30, 2025 as compared to $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

(unaudited)

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ECB Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statements of Income

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