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): August 1, 2018

ESSA Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Pennsylvania
001-33384
20-8023072
(State or Other Jurisdiction)
(Commission File No.)
(I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)
  
Identification No.)
     
 200 Palmer Street, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
  
18360
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (570) 421-0531

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[  ]  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))

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

Item 8.01 Other Events

On August 1, 2018, the Board of Directors of ESSA Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") approved a stock repurchase program pursuant to which the Company may repurchase up to 400,000 shares of its common stock.

A copy of the press release announcing the stock repurchase program is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)
Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.  Not applicable.

(b)
Pro Forma Financial Information.  Not applicable.

(c)
Shell Company Transactions.  Not applicable.

(d)
Exhibits.

   Exhibit No. Description

       99.1





SIGNATURES

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.





DATE:  August 1, 2018
 
 
By:  
ESSA BANCORP, INC.
 
 /s/ Gary S. Olson 
   
Gary S. Olson, President and
   
Chief Executive Officer