Esquire Financial (NASDAQ: ESQ) lifts quarterly dividend 14% to $0.20

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors approved a 14% increase in the regular quarterly dividend to $0.20 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on March 2, 2026 to stockholders of record as of February 13, 2026. This higher payout reflects an updated capital return to shareholders while maintaining the company’s regular quarterly dividend framework.

Positive

• Dividend increase: The Board approved a 14% increase in the regular quarterly dividend to $0.20 per share, indicating confidence in ongoing earnings and providing higher recurring cash returns to common shareholders.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Banking & income-investor analyst

Esquire boosts its regular quarterly dividend by 14% to $0.20 per share.

Esquire Financial Holdings is increasing its regular quarterly dividend to $0.20 per share, a 14% raise. A higher recurring dividend typically signals management’s confidence in the bank’s earnings capacity and capital position, as regular dividends are hard to reverse without sending a negative message.

Because this is described as a regular quarterly dividend, it implies an ongoing higher cash return to common shareholders rather than a one-time special payment. The actual long-term impact will depend on the bank’s ability to sustain earnings and capital levels that comfortably support this higher payout.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 8.01, 9.01

2 items

Item 8.01 Other Events Other

Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): January 30, 2026

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Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)

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Maryland	001-38131	27-5107901
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

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100 Jericho Quadrangle, Suite 100	​	​
Jericho, New York	​	11753
(Address of principal executive offices)	​	(Zip Code)

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(516) 535-2002

(Registrant’s telephone number)

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N/A

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

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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 (See General Instruction A.2. below):

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☐	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-4c)

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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		​ ​
Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value		ESQ		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

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Emerging growth company ☐

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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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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Item 8.01 Other Events.

On February 2, 2026, Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), the financial holding company for Esquire Bank, National Association (“Esquire Bank” or the “Bank”), announced that, on January 30, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an increase to its regular quarterly dividend by 14% to $0.20 per share of common stock, payable on March 2, 2026, to each stockholder of record on February 13, 2026.

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

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(d) Exhibits.

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Exhibit No.	​	Description
99.1	​	Press Release dated February 2, 2026.
104	​	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

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SIGNATURES

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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, hereunto duly authorized.

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​	ESQUIRE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
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Dated:  February 2, 2026	By:/s/ Andrew C. Sagliocca
​	Andrew C. Sagliocca
​	Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

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FAQ

What dividend change did Esquire Financial Holdings (ESQ) announce?

Esquire Financial Holdings approved a 14% increase in its regular quarterly dividend to $0.20 per share. This higher payout reflects an updated return of capital to shareholders and suggests confidence in the company’s ability to sustain its earnings and capital base.

When will Esquire Financial’s increased $0.20 dividend be paid?

The increased $0.20 per share regular quarterly dividend will be payable on March 2, 2026. Shareholders who are on the company’s records as of the specified record date will be eligible to receive this higher cash dividend payment.

What is the record date for Esquire Financial’s new quarterly dividend?

Stockholders of Esquire Financial must be on record as of February 13, 2026 to receive the increased $0.20 per share dividend. Investors holding shares on or before the ex-dividend date preceding this record date will typically qualify for the payout.

Is Esquire Financial’s $0.20 dividend described as a regular or special dividend?

The company describes the $0.20 per share payout as a regular quarterly dividend, not a special one-time distribution. This language suggests an ongoing, recurring level of shareholder cash returns, subject to future Board decisions each quarter.

How much did Esquire Financial increase its dividend in percentage terms?

Esquire Financial’s Board approved a 14% increase in the regular quarterly dividend, bringing it to $0.20 per share. A double-digit percentage raise typically indicates management’s positive view of the company’s earnings power and balance sheet resilience.