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)	October 31, 2025

Catalyst Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Louisiana	001-40893	86-2411762
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)


235 N. Court Street, Opelousas, Louisiana	70570
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code	(337) 948-3033

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))

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


Title of each Class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	CLST	Nasdaq Capital Market

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 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

On October 31, 2025, the partners and professional staff of HORNE LLP (“HORNE”), which was engaged as the independent registered public accounting firm of the registrant, Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), joined BDO USA, P.C. (“BDO”). As a result of this transaction, HORNE resigned as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm on October 31, 2025. On November 5, 2025, following the resignation of HORNE, the Company, through and with the approval of its Audit Committee, appointed BDO as its independent registered public accounting firm.

As previously reported on Form 8-K, HORNE was approved as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm on November 20, 2024 for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. As a result of their resignation, HORNE has not issued reports on the financial statements of the Company.

During the period beginning on March 28, 2025 and through October 31, 2025, there were no disagreements between the Company and HORNE on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of HORNE, would have caused HORNE to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its audit reports on the Company’s financial statements. During the period beginning on March 28, 2025 and through October 31, 2025, HORNE did not advise the Company of any of the matters specified in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The Company provided HORNE with a copy of this report on Form 8-K in accordance with Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and requested that HORNE furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the above statements and, if it does not agree, the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of the letter from HORNE is filed as Exhibit 16.1 hereto.

During the Company’s two most recently completed fiscal years and through the date of engagement of BDO, neither the Company nor anyone on behalf of the Company consulted with BDO regarding (a) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements as to which the Company received a written report or oral advice that was an important factor in reaching a decision on any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (b) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event as defined in Items 304(a)(1)(iv) and (v), respectively, of Regulation S-K.

ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

The following exhibits are included herein:


Exhibit Number		Description
16.1		Letter from HORNE LLP, dated November 1, 2025
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File. Embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

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.


		CATALYST BANCORP, INC.

Date:	November 6, 2025	By:	/s/ Joseph B. Zanco
			Joseph B. Zanco
			President and Chief Executive Officer

Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. 8-K