History

Eastern North Carolina is a land of contrasts, and The East Carolina Bank (ECB) stands as an accurate reflection of the place we call home. Our full-service community bank combines our "down home" tradition of neighbor helping neighbor with the latest improvements in technology to provide the best in customer service, nurture a talented group of employees, and foster a spirit of teamwork in the communities served.

With humble beginnings in a small clapboard barbershop in Engelhard, NC, the Bank opened its doors on January 20, 1920, as the Engelhard Banking and Trust Company, making the dream of 69 farmers, fishermen, and area merchants a reality. They pledged just over $10,000 to open the bank, provided that the building's owner supplied a fresh coat of paint and that a new $350 burglar-proof safe arrived on time.

Today, ECB is a financial leader in eastern North Carolina with more than 219 employees and over $888 million in assets, with 24 full-service branches located in thirteen counties, from the Outer Banks to Greenville, from Currituck to Ocean Isle Beach. In 2009, ECB received a 4-star rating from BauerFinancial signifying ECB continues to be safe and sound, and rated one of the nation's strongest banks.