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): January 28, 2009
                                                         ----------------

                               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))





Item 2.02   Results of Operation and Financial Condition.
            ---------------------------------------------

     On January 28, 2009,  ESSA  Bancorp,  Inc. (the  "Company")  issued a press
release reporting its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2008.

     A copy of the press release  announcing  the results is attached as Exhibit
99.1. The information in the preceding Item, as well as Exhibit 99.1,  shall not
be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, nor shall it be deemed  incorporated  by reference in any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933.



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                Press release issued by the
                                      Company on January 28, 2009 announcing its
                                      financial results for the quarter ended
                                      December 31, 2008.









                                   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.


                                            ESSA BANCORP, INC.



DATE:  February 2, 2009                     By: /s/ Gary S. Olson
                                                -------------------------------
                                               Gary S. Olson, President and
                                               Chief Executive Officer