ECB Bancorp, Inc. /MD/

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of ECB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) to be used at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company. The Company is the holding company for Everett Co-operative Bank (the “Bank”). The annual meeting will be conducted at the Company’s main office, located at 419 Broadway, Everett, Massachusetts 02149, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 4:30 p.m., local time.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 20, 2026

To save significant printing and mailing expenses, the Company is furnishing this proxy statement and its 2025 annual report to stockholders via the Internet according to the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for “notice and access” delivery. On April 10, 2026, the Company mailed the notice to all stockholders, who had not previously elected to receive their proxy materials by mail or electronically, containing instructions on how to access this proxy statement and our annual report and how to vote online. Upon receipt of the notice, stockholders may choose to request a printed copy of proxy materials at no charge, and this preference will be maintained for future mailings.

This proxy statement and the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2025 are available online at https://www.cstproxy.com/ecbbancorp/2026.