8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 1, 2016

ASB BANCORP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

North Carolina (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 001-35279 (Commission File Number) 45-2463413 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

11 Church Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(828) 254-7411

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On July 1, 2016, ASB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a news release announcing that the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program whereby the Company may repurchase up to 200,000 shares of its outstanding common stock. For further information, reference is made to the Company’s news release dated July 1, 2016, a copy of which is attached to this Report as Exhibit 99.1 and is furnished herewith.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Number	Description
99.1	News Release Dated July 1, 2016

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.

	ASB BANCORP, INC.
Date: July 1, 2016	By:	/s/ SUZANNE S. DEFERIE
		Suzanne S. DeFerie
		President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

  NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

ASB BANCORP ANNOUNCES SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, July 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ ― ASB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ GM: ASBB) announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program whereby the Company may repurchase up to 200,000 shares of its outstanding common stock as and when deemed appropriate by management and under any plan that may be deployed in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Rule 10b5-1 repurchase plan allows the Company to repurchase its shares during periods when it would normally not be active in the market due to its internal trading blackout period.

ASB Bancorp is the parent company of Asheville Savings Bank, S.S.B., a North Carolina chartered stock savings bank offering traditional financial services through thirteen full-service banking centers located in Buncombe, Madison, McDowell, Henderson, and Transylvania counties in Western North Carolina and a loan production office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Originally chartered in 1936 and headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, Asheville Savings Bank is locally managed with a focus on fostering strong relationships with its individual and business customers, its employees and the communities it serves.

Contact:	Suzanne S. DeFerie
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	(828) 254-7411