ECB Bancorp Changes Certifying Accountant, Effective Jan 16

TL;DR

**ECB Bancorp changed its auditor, a routine but important financial reporting update.**

AI Summary

ECB Bancorp, Inc. /MD/ filed an 8-K on January 18, 2024, reporting a change in its certifying accountant, effective January 16, 2024. This filing indicates a standard procedural update, likely related to their financial reporting and auditing processes. For investors, this matters because the certifying accountant is responsible for auditing the company's financial statements, and a change could signal either a routine rotation or a more significant shift in financial oversight, though this filing provides no specific reasons for the change.

Why It Matters

A change in a company's auditor can impact investor confidence, as auditors play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of financial statements.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — This filing reports a change in the certifying accountant, which is often a routine administrative event and does not inherently indicate financial distress or significant operational risk.

Analyst Insight

Investors should monitor future filings, specifically the next annual report (10-K), to see who the new certifying accountant is and if there are any changes in audit opinions or financial reporting practices, though this filing itself doesn't warrant immediate action.

Key Players & Entities

• ECB Bancorp, Inc. /MD/ (company) — the registrant filing the 8-K
• January 16, 2024 (date) — date of the earliest event reported
• January 18, 2024 (date) — date the 8-K was filed
• 001-41456 (string) — Commission File Number
• 419 Broadway, Everett, Massachusetts 02149 (string) — address of principal executive offices
• (617) 387-1110 (string) — registrant's telephone number
• $0.01 (dollar_amount) — par value per share of Common Stock
• ECBK (string) — trading symbol for Common Stock
• The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (string) — exchange where Common Stock is registered

FAQ

Key Financial Figures

• $0.01 — ch registered Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ECBK The Nasdaq Stock Mar

Filing Documents

• ecbk-20240116.htm (8-K) — 44KB
• ecbk-ex16_1.htm (EX-16.1) — 7KB
• img244255971_0.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 43KB
• 0000950170-24-005363.txt ( ) — 226KB
• ecbk-20240116.xsd (EX-101.SCH) — 26KB
• ecbk-20240116_htm.xml (XML) — 5KB

01 Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

Item 4.01 Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant . (a) On January 16, 2024, Baker Newman & Noyes LLC (“BNN”) informed ECB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) that BNN is declining to stand for re-appointment as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the audit of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 as a result of its decision to exit its banking public company audit practice. There is no dispute between the Company and BNN, and BNN will continue to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the audit of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The reports of BNN on the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and in the interim period from January 1, 2024 through January 16, 2024, (i) there were no disagreements between the Company and BNN on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of BNN, would have caused BNN to make reference to such disagreements in its report on the consolidated financial statements for such years; and (ii) there were no “reportable events” as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K). The Company has provided BNN with a copy of the disclosures made in this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and requested that BNN furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether BNN agrees with the statements made herein. A copy of BNN’s letter dated January 18, 2024, stating that BNN agrees with

01 Financial Statements and Other Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Other Exhibits . (d) Exhibits Number Description 16.1 Letter from Baker Newman & Noyes LLC dated January 18, 2024 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) 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: January 18, 2024 By: /s/ John A. Citrano John A. Citrano Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

View Full Filing

View this 8-K filing on SEC EDGAR