[S-8] Carver Bancorp, Inc. Employee Benefit Plan Registration

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Carver Bancorp, Inc. (CARV) has filed a Form S-8 to register shares that may be issued under its new 2024 Equity Incentive Plan. The filing enables the company to grant incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, restricted stock, and restricted stock units to officers, directors, employees, and other service providers. Although the exact share count and dollar value are not disclosed in the excerpt, the plan supplements the company’s existing compensation tools and can create future share dilution.

The statement incorporates by reference CARV’s FY 2025 Form 10-K, recent Form 10-K/A and Form 8-K, and provides customary indemnification and limitation-of-liability language for directors and officers under Delaware law. Exhibits include the equity plan, standard award agreements, legal opinions, auditor consent, and a filing-fee table. Management, led by CEO Donald Felix, has signed a broad power of attorney authorizing future amendments.

Investor takeaway: The registration is routine but signals potential issuance of additional CARV common shares, which could modestly dilute existing holders while aligning employee incentives with shareholder value.

Positive

• Enhanced employee alignment: Equity awards can incentivize management to focus on long-term shareholder value.
• No immediate cash outflow: Share-based compensation conserves cash, useful for small community banks.

Negative

• Potential dilution: Future issuance of option and RSU shares could reduce existing shareholders’ ownership and EPS.
• Share overhang uncertainty: Exact number of registered shares not disclosed in excerpt, limiting visibility on dilution scale.

Insights

Equity Compensation Analyst

TL;DR – Routine S-8 registers shares for 2024 equity plan; minor dilution risk, boosts talent retention.

The filing simply places previously approved 2024 Equity Incentive Plan shares on shelf for issuance. Such plans are standard for public banks of CARV’s size and help attract and retain key employees, especially in competitive New York banking markets. Because no new financing is involved, immediate cash impact is nil. However, once options or RSUs vest, the share count will rise, pressuring EPS unless offset by buybacks or earnings growth. Indemnification provisions mirror Delaware best practices and do not alter risk profile.

Small-Cap Bank Portfolio Manager

TL;DR – Neutral event; adds share overhang but aligns management incentives.

For a micro-cap like CARV, incremental dilution can be material; investors should monitor future option grants and burn rate. Still, equity-based pay is preferable to cash outlays given capital constraints. No red flags on legal, accounting, or governance aspects appear in the filing. Impact on valuation is modest today but warrants tracking in future proxy statements.

Registration No. 333-_________

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2025

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

___________________

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Carver Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware		13-3904174
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

75 West 125th Street

New York, New York 10027

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Carver Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

Copies to:

Mr. Donald Felix		Lawrence M.F. Spaccasi, Esquire
President and		Marc P. Levy, Esquire
Chief Executive Officer		Luse Gorman, PC
Carver Bancorp, Inc.		5335 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Suite 780
75 West 125th Street		Washington, DC 20015-2035
New York, New York 10027		(202) 274-2000
(718) 230-2900
(Name, Address and Telephone
Number of Agent for Service)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”):

Large accelerated filer ☐	Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer  ⌧	Smaller reporting company⌧
Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

PART I.

Items 1 and 2.  Plan Information, and Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information

The documents containing the information specified in Parts I and II of Form S-8 have been or will be sent or given to participants in the Carver Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan  (the “Equity Plan”) as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

Such documents are not being filed with the Commission, but constitute (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II.

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

The following documents previously or concurrently filed with the Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

a) The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 (File No. 001-13007), filed with the Commission on June 24, 2025, pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”);

b) The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 (File No. 001-13007), filed with the Commission on July 29, 2025, pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act;

c) The Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 16, 2025 (File No. 001-13007); and

d) The description of the Company’s common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 originally filed with the Commission on June 7, 1996, as amended on June 27, 1996 (File No. 333-05559), and as updated by Exhibit 4.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020, filed with the Commission on August 6, 2020 (File No. 001-13007).

All documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date hereof, and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part thereof from the date of the filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in the documents incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference herein or therein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement and the prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or therein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein or therein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement and the prospectus.

All information appearing in this Registration Statement and the prospectus is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information, including financial statements, appearing in the documents incorporated herein or therein by reference.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

None.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Articles IX and X of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company set forth circumstances under which directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company may be insured or indemnified against liability which they incur in their capacities as such.

Article IX. Limitation of Director Liability  

A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is expressly prohibited by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.

Any amendment, termination or repeal of this Article IX or any provisions hereof shall not adversely affect or diminish in any way any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to the time of the final adoption of such amendment, termination or repeal.

In addition to any requirements of law or of any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than eighty percent (80%) of the total number of votes eligible to be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of Capital Stock entitled to vote thereon shall be required to amend, alter, rescind or repeal any provision of this Article IX.

Article X.    Indemnification

Section 1. Actions, Suits or Proceedings Other than by or in Right of the Corporation. To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Corporation who was or is made a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, and the Corporation may indemnify any other person who is or was or has agreed to become an employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made a party to or is threatened to made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal or administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to become an employee or agent of the Corporation, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against costs, charges, expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article X, but subject to Section 7 hereof, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer in connection with an action, suit or proceeding, or part thereof, initiated by such person against the Corporation unless such action, suit or proceeding, or part thereof, was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Actions or Suits by or in the Right of the Corporation. To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Corporation who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, and the corporation may indemnify any other person who is or was or has agreed to become an employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by

or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was or has agreed to become an employee or agent of the Corporation, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with defense or settlement of such action or suit and any appeal therefrom, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, except no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of such liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such costs, charges and expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article X, but subject to Section 7 hereof, the corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director of officer in connection with an action or suit, or part thereof, initiated by such person against the Corporation unless such action or suit, or part thereof, was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Indemnification for Costs, Charges and Expenses of a Successful Party. To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful, on the merits or otherwise (including, without limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice), in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1 or 2 of this Article X, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against all costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection therewith.

Section 4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. To the extent that any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Corporation is made a witness to any action, suit or proceeding to which he or she is not a party by reason of the fact that he or she was, is or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, at the written request of the Corporation, such person shall be indemnified against all costs, charges and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection therewith.

To the extent that any person who is or was or has agreed to become an employee or agent of the Corporation is made a witness to any action, suit or proceeding to which he or she is not a party by reason of the fact that he or she was, is or has agreed to become an employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, at the written request of the Corporation, such person may be indemnified against all costs, charges and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection herewith.

*  *   *

Section 6. Advancement of Costs, Charges and Expenses. Costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by or on behalf of a director or officer in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1 or 2 of this Article X shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding; provided, however, that the payment of such costs, charges and expenses incurred by or on behalf of a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced in the event that it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article X or by law. No security shall be required for such undertaking and such undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the recipient’s financial ability to make repayment. The majority of the directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding may, upon approval of such director or officer of the Corporation, authorize the Corporation’s counsel to represent such person, in any action, suit or proceeding, whether or not the Corporation is a party to such action, suit or proceeding.

*  *   *

Section 9. Other Rights; Continuation of Right to Indemnification; Individual Contracts. The indemnification and advancement of costs, charges and expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article X shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those persons seeking indemnification or advancement of

costs, charges and expenses may be entitled under law (common or statutory) or by any Bylaw, agreement, policy of indemnification insurance or vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in any other capacity while holding office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the legatees, heirs, distributes, executors and administrators of such person. Nothing contained in this Article X shall be deemed to prohibit the Corporation from entering into, and the Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into, agreements with directors, officers, employees and agents providing indemnification rights and procedures different from those set forth herein. All rights to indemnification under this Article X shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this Article X is in effect.

*  *   *

Section 11. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation against any costs, charges or expenses, liability or loss incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such costs, charges or expenses, liability or loss under the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law; provided, however, that such insurance is available on acceptable terms as determined by the Board. To the extent that any director, officer, employee or agent is reimbursed by an insurance company under an indemnification insurance policy for any costs, charges, expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article X, the Bylaws, any agreement, the policy or indemnification insurance or otherwise, the Corporation shall not be obligated to reimburse the person to be indemnified in connection with such proceeding.

Item 7.  Exemption From Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

Regulation S-K Exhibit Number		Document		Reference to Prior Filing or Exhibit No. Attached Hereto
4		Form of Common Stock Certificate		*
5		Opinion of Luse Gorman, PC		Attached as Exhibit 5
10.1		Carver Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan		**
10.2		Form of Incentive Stock Option Award Agreement for the Carver Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan		Attached as Exhibit 10.2
10.3		Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Award Agreement for the Carver Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan		Attached as Exhibit 10.3
10.4		Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for the Carver Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan		Attached as Exhibit 10.4
10.5		Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for the Carver Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan		Attached as Exhibit 10.5
23.1		Consent of Luse Gorman, PC		Contained in Exhibit 5
23.2		Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		Attached as Exhibit 23.2

24		Power of Attorney		Contained on Signature Page
107		Filing Fee Table		Attached as Exhibit 107

_________________________

* Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-05559) filed by the Company under the Securities Act, with the Commission on June 7, 1996, as amended on June 27, 1996 and all amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

** Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Carver Bancorp, Inc. (File No. 001-13007), filed by the Company under the Exchange Act on October 31, 2024.

Item 9.  Undertakings

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 (i) to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (section 230.424(b)) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fees” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs 1(i) and 1(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by these paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Plan;

4. That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

5. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

The Registrant.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on this 7th day of August, 2025.

	CARVER BANCORP, INC.
By:	/s/ Donald Felix
	Donald Felix
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	(Duly Authorized Representative)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

We, the undersigned directors and officers of Carver Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby severally constitute and appoint Donald Felix, as our true and lawful attorney and agent, to do any and all things in our names in the capacities indicated below which said Donald Felix may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Company to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with the registration of shares of common stock to be issued upon the exercise of stock options and the award of restricted stock under the Carver Bancorp, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan, including specifically, but not limited to, power and authority to sign for us in our names in the capacities indicated below the registration statement and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto; and we hereby approve, ratify and confirm all that said Donald Felix shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signatures		Title		Date
/s/ Donald Felix		President and Chief Executive Officer		August 7, 2025
Donald Felix		(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Christina L. Maier		First Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		August 7, 2025
Christina L. Maier		(Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Lewis P. Jones III		Chairman		August 7, 2025
Lewis P. Jones III

Signatures		Title		Date
/s/ Colvin W. Grannum		Director		August 7, 2025
Colvin W. Grannum
/s/ Dr. Pazel G. Jackson, Jr.		Director		August 7, 2025
Dr. Pazel G. Jackson, Jr.
/s/ Jillian E. Joseph		Director		August 7, 2025
Jillian E. Joseph
/s/ Kenneth J. Knuckles		Director		August 7, 2025
Kenneth J. Knuckles
/s/ Craig C. MacKay		Director		August 7, 2025
Craig C. MacKay
Robin L. Nunn		Director

FAQ

Why did Carver Bancorp (CARV) file a Form S-8 on August 7 2025?

To register common shares that may be issued under the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan for employee and director compensation.

Does the S-8 filing raise new capital for Carver Bancorp?

No. A Form S-8 only registers shares for compensation purposes; it does not involve a cash offering.

Will the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan dilute current CARV shareholders?

Yes, once options or RSUs are exercised or vest, the total share count will increase, diluting existing ownership.

Which documents are incorporated by reference in this registration?

CARV’s FY 2025 Form 10-K, Form 10-K/A, a May 16 2025 Form 8-K, and prior S-4 filings describing the common stock.

Who signed the S-8 filing for Carver Bancorp?

President & CEO Donald Felix, CFO Christina L. Maier, Chairman Lewis P. Jones III, and the board of directors.