James S. Abernethy, a director at Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, has filed a notice to sell 1,000 shares of the bank's common stock. The shares are valued at approximately $43,130.64, based on the filing dated October 28, 2026. This transaction is significant as it may indicate a personal investment strategy shift for Abernethy, who has been involved with the bank since its inception.

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina operates within the state commercial banks sector, providing a range of financial services to its customers. The bank is headquartered in Newton, North Carolina, and is publicly traded on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol PEBK. The recent filing is part of a series of transactions by Abernethy, who has sold shares on multiple occasions in the past few months.

The filing reveals that Abernethy acquired the shares through inheritance from Christine S. Abernethy on November 30, 2020. The approximate sale date for this transaction is also noted as October 28, 2026. In the past three months, Abernethy has sold additional shares, indicating a pattern of divestment. For instance, he sold 1,000 shares on July 28, 2026, and 1,000 shares on July 30, 2026, among others.

This move may affect investor sentiment towards Peoples Bancorp, as insider selling can sometimes be interpreted as a lack of confidence in the company's future performance. However, it is also important to consider that such transactions can be part of personal financial planning or liquidity needs.

Looking ahead, it remains unclear what Abernethy's future plans are regarding his remaining shares in the bank. The filing does not specify any further actions or intentions following this sale.