Registration No. 333-_________

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2009

                                 UNITED STATES
                            SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                   COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                              ___________________
                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                               ESSA Bancorp, Inc.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

           Pennsylvania                              20-8023072
(State or Other Jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)

                                200 Palmer Street
                         Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                          ESSA Bank & Trust 401(k) Plan
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                   Copies to:

      Mr. Gary S. Olson                            Marc P. Levy, Esquire
  President and Chief Executive Officer    Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.
        ESSA Bancorp, Inc.                  5335 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Suite 780
      200 Palmer Street                          Washington, DC 20015-2035
 Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360                (202) 274-2000
     (570) 421-0531
  (Name, Address and Telephone
    Number of Agent for Service)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large  accelerated  filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated  filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of "large accelerated  filer,"  "accelerated filer" and "smaller
reporting  company" in Rule 12b-2 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer [ ]   Accelerated filer [x]   Non-accelerated filer [ ]
Smaller reporting company [ ]
                  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

                      ------------------------------------

If any of the  securities  being  registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the  Securities  Act of
1933 check the following box. [X]


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>   <C>             <C>                   <C>                    <C>                     <C>

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

====================================================================================================================

         Title of                                     Proposed               Proposed
        Securities                Amount               Maximum                Maximum               Amount of
          to be                   to be            Offering Price            Aggregate            Registration
        Registered            Registered(1)           Per Share           Offering Price               Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Interests             (1)                  __                     __                     (2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

-----------------------

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration
     statement covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold
     pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.
(2)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(3) no registration fee is required to be paid.

                           --------------------------

     This   Registration   Statement  shall  become  effective  upon  filing  in
accordance  with Section 8(a) of the  Securities  Act of 1933 and 17 C.F.R.  ss.
230.462.

                                       2

<PAGE>


PART I.

Items 1 and 2. Plan  Information  and Registrant  Information  and Employee Plan
               Annual Information

     This Registration Statement relates to the registration of an indeterminate
number of  participation  interests  in the ESSA Bank & Trust  401(k)  Plan (the
"Plan").  Documents  containing  the  information  required  by  Part  I of  the
Registration Statement have been or will be sent or given to participants in the
Plan, as specified  Rule  428(b)(1)  promulgated  by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission")  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act").

     Such  documents  are not being filed with the  Commission,  but  constitute
(along with the  documents  incorporated  by  reference  into this  Registration
Statement  pursuant  to Item 3 of Part II  hereof) a  prospectus  that meets the
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II.

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     The  following   documents   previously  or  concurrently  filed  with  the
Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

     a) The Company's Prospectus (Commission File No. 333-139157) filed with the
Commission  on February 22, 2007  pursuant to Rule  424(b)(3) of the  Securities
Act;

     b) The Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  September
30, 2009 (File No.  001-33384),  filed with the Commission on December 11, 2009,
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

     c) The  Company's  Form 11-K for the ESSA Bank & Trust  401(k) Plan for the
year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 001-33384),  filed with the Commission on
June 29, 2009, pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended;

     d) All other  reports  filed by the Company  pursuant  to Section  13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  since the end of the
year covered by the Annual Report on Form 10-K referred to in (a) above;  and

     e)  The  description  of  the  Company's  common  stock  contained  in  the
Registration  Statement on Form 8-A filed with the  Commission on March 27, 2007
(File No. 001-33384).

     All  documents  subsequently  filed  by the  Company  with  the  Commission
pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934,  as  amended,  after  the date  hereof,  and  prior to the  filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which  deregisters all securities then remaining  unsold,  shall be
deemed  incorporated by reference into this  Registration  Statement and to be a
part  thereof  from the date of the  filing  of such  documents.  Any  statement
contained  in the  documents  incorporated,  or  deemed to be  incorporated,  by
reference  herein or therein  shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded  for
purposes of this Registration  Statement and the prospectus to the extent that a
statement  contained  herein  or  therein  or in any  other  subsequently  filed
document which also is, or is deemed to be,  incorporated by reference herein or
therein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded  shall  not be  deemed,  except  as so  modified  or  superseded,  to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement and the prospectus.

     All information appearing in this Registration Statement and the prospectus
is qualified in its entirety by the detailed  information,  including  financial
statements,  appearing  in the  documents  incorporated  herein  or  therein  by
reference.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

         Not applicable.

                                       3
<PAGE>

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

         None.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Indemnification of Directors and Officers of ESSA Bancorp,  Inc. Article VI
of  the  bylaws  of  ESSA  Bancorp,   Inc.,  a  Pennsylvania   corporation  (the
"Corporation")  set  forth  circumstances   under  which  directors,   officers,
employees and agents of the  Corporation  may be insured or indemnified  against
liability which they incur in their capacities as such.

                           Article VI; Indemnification

     6.1 Persons Covered.  Subject to, and in accordance with, the provisions of
this  Article VI, the  Corporation  shall  indemnify  any person who was or is a
party  or is  threatened  to be  made a party  to any  threatened,  pending,  or
completed action,  suit, or proceeding,  including actions by or in the right of
the Corporation, whether civil, criminal,  administrative,  or investigative, by
reason of the fact that such  person is or was a  director,  officer,  employee,
fiduciary,  trustee,  or agent of the  Corporation,  or is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, trustee,
or agent of another  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust, or other
enterprise.

      6.2 Derivative Actions.

     (a) In the case of a threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or
in the right of the Corporation  against a person named in Section 6.1 by reason
of such person  holding a position named in Section 6.1, the  Corporation  shall
indemnify such person if such person  satisfies the standard in Section  6.2(b),
for expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees) actually and reasonably  incurred by
such person in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit.

     (b) In the case of a threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or
in the  right  of the  Corporation,  a  person  named in  Section  6.1  shall be
indemnified  only if:

     (1) such person is successful on the merits or otherwise; or

     (2) such person acted in good faith in the transaction  that is the subject
of the suit or  action,  and in a manner  reasonably  believed  to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of the  Corporation.  However,  such person shall
not be  indemnified in respect of any claim,  issue,  or matter as to which such
person  has been  adjudged  liable to the  Corporation  unless  (and only to the
extent  that)  the  court of  common  pleas or the  court in which  the suit was
brought shall  determine,  upon  application,  that despite the  adjudication of
liability  but in view of all the  circumstances,  such  person  is  fairly  and
reasonably  entitled  to  indemnity  for such  expenses  as the court shall deem
proper.

      6.3 Third-Party Actions.

     (a) In case  of a  threatened,  pending,  or  completed  suit,  action,  or
proceeding (whether civil, criminal,  administrative,  or investigative),  other
than a suit by or in the right of the Corporation,  together  hereafter referred
to as a third-party  action,  against a person named in Section 6.1 by reason of
such person  holding a position  named in Section  6.1,  the  Corporation  shall
indemnify such person if such person  satisfies the standard in Section  6.3(b),
for amounts  actually and reasonably  incurred by such person in connection with
the defense or settlement of the third-party action,  including, but not limited
to (i) expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees), (ii) amounts paid in settlement,
(iii) judgments, and (iv) fines.

     (b) In case of a third-party action, a person named in Section 6.1 shall be
indemnified  only if:

     (1) such person is successful on the merits or otherwise; or

     (2) such person acted in good faith in the transaction  that is the subject
of the third-party action and in a manner such person reasonably  believed to be
in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the  Corporation  and, with respect
to any criminal  action or  proceeding,  such person had no reasonable  cause to
believe such person's  conduct was unlawful.  The  termination  of a third-party
action  by  judgment,  order,  settlement,  conviction,  or upon a pleas of nolo
contendere or its equivalent shall not, in itself, create a presumption that the
person failed to satisfy the standard of this Section 6.3(b).

                                       4
<PAGE>

     6.4  Determination  That  Standard Has Been Met. A  determination  that the
standard of either  Section 6.2(b) or 6.3(b) has been satisfied may be made by a
court,  or,  except as stated in the  record  sentence  of Section  6.2(b),  the
determination may be made by:

          (1) the Board of Directors by a majority  vote of a quorum  consisting
     of directors of the Corporation  who were not parties to the action,  suit,
     or proceeding;

          (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if obtainable and a majority
     of a quorum of  disinterested  directors so directs,  by independent  legal
     counsel in a written opinion; or

          (3) the shareholders of the Corporation.

     6.5  Proration.  Anyone  making  a  determination  under  Section  6.4  may
determine  that a person has met the  standard as to some  matters but not as to
others, and may reasonably prorate amounts to be indemnified.

     6.6 Advancement of Expenses.  Reasonable  expenses  incurred by a director,
officer,  employee, or agent of the Corporation in defending a civil or criminal
action,  suit,  or  proceeding  described  in  Section  6.1 shall be paid by the
Corporation  in  advance  of the final  disposition  of such  action,  suit,  or
proceeding  upon  receipt of an  undertaking  by or on behalf of such  person to
repay such amount if it shall  ultimately be  determined  that the person is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.

     6.7 Other Rights. The  indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by or pursuant  to this  Article VI shall not be deemed  exclusive  of any other
rights to which those seeking  indemnification or advancement of expenses may be
entitled  under  any  insurance  or other  agreement,  vote of  shareholders  or
directors, or otherwise, both as to actions in their official capacity and as to
actions in another capacity while holding an office,  and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director,  officer,  employee,  or agent and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such person.

     6.8  Insurance.  The  Corporation  shall  have the  power to  purchase  and
maintain  insurance  on behalf of any person who is or was a director,  officer,
employee,   director,  officer,  employee,  or  agent  of  another  corporation,
partnership,  joint venture,  trust, or other enterprise,  against any liability
asserted  against such person and incurred by such person in any such  capacity,
or arising out of such person's  status as such,  whether or not the Corporation
would have the power to indemnify such person  against such liability  under the
provisions of this Article VI.

     6.9  Security  Fund;  Indemnity  Agreements.  By  action  of the  Board  of
Directors  (notwithstanding their interest in the transaction),  the Corporation
may  create  and fund a trust  fund or fund of any  nature,  and may enter  into
agreements with its officers,  directors,  employees, and agents for the purpose
of securing or insuring in any manner its  obligation  to  indemnify  or advance
expenses provided for in this Article VI.

     6.10  Modification.  The  duties of the  Corporation  to  indemnify  and to
advance  expenses to any person as  provided in this  Article VI shall be in the
nature of a  contract  between  the  Corporation  and each such  person,  and no
amendment  or repeal of any  provision  of this  Article VI, and no amendment or
termination  of any trust fund or other fund  created  pursuant  to Section  6.9
hereof,  shall alter to the detriment of such person the right of such person to
the  advancement of expenses or  indemnification  related to a claim based on an
act or  failure  to act which took place  prior to such  amendment,  repeal,  or
termination.

     6.11  Proceedings  Initiated by Indemnified  Persons.  Notwithstanding  any
other  provision  in this  Article  VI, the  Corporation  shall not  indemnify a
director,  officer,  employee, or agent for any liability incurred in an action,
suit,  or  proceeding  initiated  by  (which  shall  not be  deemed  to  include
counter-claims  or affirmative  defenses) or participated in as an intervenor or
amicus curiae by the person seeking indemnification unless such initiation of or
participation in the action, suit, or proceeding is authorized, either before or
after its  commencement,  by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors
then in office.

     6.12  Savings  Clause.  If this  Article VI or any portion  hereof shall be
invalidated  on any  ground by any  court of  competent  jurisdiction,  then the
Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director,  officer,  employee, and
agent  of  the  Corporation  as  to  costs,  charges,  and  expenses  (including
attorneys' fees), judgments,  fines, and amounts paid in settlement with respect
to any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,  administrative, or
investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the
fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VI that shall
not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

     If the laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  are  amended  to permit
further indemnification of the directors, officers, employees, and agents of the
Corporation,  then the  Corporation  shall indemnify such persons to the fullest

                                       5
<PAGE>

extent  permitted by law. Any repeal or  modification  of this Article VI by the
Board of Directors or the  shareholders of the  Corporation  shall not adversely
affect  any right or  protection  of a  director,  officer,  employee,  or agent
existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

Item 7.  Exemption From Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  List of Exhibits.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>     <C>        <C>                                               <C>

Regulation S-K                                                                 Reference to Prior Filing or
Exhibit Number                      Document                                   Exhibit No. Attached Hereto
--------------                      --------                                   ---------------------------

         4        Form of Common Stock Certificate                              *

         5        Opinion of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.                Attached as Exhibit 5

         23.1     Consent of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.                Contained in Exhibit 5

         23.2     Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm      Attached as Exhibit 23.2

         24       Power of Attorney                                             Contained on Signature Page

         99       Prospectus Supplement                                         **

     -------------------------
</TABLE>

*    Incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit 4 to the  Registration  Statement on
     Form S-1 (File No.  333-139157)  originally  filed by the Company under the
     Securities  Act with the Commission on December 7, 2006, and all amendments
     or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

**   Incorporated by reference to the Pre-effective  Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1
     (Commission File No.  333-139157) filed by the Company under the Securities
     Act with the Commission on January 22, 2007.

Item 9.  Undertakings

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     1. To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being made,  a
post-effective  amendment to this Registration Statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
this  Registration  Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement;

     2. That, for the purpose of determining  any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
Registration  Statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof;

     3. To remove from  registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
Plan;

     4. That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, each filing of the Company's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that is  incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

     5. Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of
the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions,  or otherwise, the Company has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange  Commission such
indemnification  is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in the  Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against

                                       6
<PAGE>

such liabilities  (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or
paid  by a  director,  officer  or  controlling  person  of the  Company  in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered,  the Company  will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                       7

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES


     The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the  requirements  for  filing  on  Form  S-8 and has  duly  caused  this
registration  statement  on  Form  S-8  to  be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Stroudsburg, Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, on this 15th day of December, 2009.



                                          ESSA BANCORP, INC.




                                   By:    /s/ Gary S. Olson
                                          Gary S. Olson
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer
                                              (Duly Authorized Representative)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     We, the  undersigned  directors  and officers of ESSA  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  hereby  severally  constitute and appoint Gary S. Olson, as our true
and  lawful  attorney  and  agent,  to do any and all things in our names in the
capacities  indicated  below  which  said Gary S.  Olson may deem  necessary  or
advisable to enable the Company to comply with the  Securities  Act of 1933, and
any  rules,   regulations  and  requirements  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, in connection with the registration of participation interests under
the ESSA Bank & Trust 401(k) Plan, including  specifically,  but not limited to,
power  and  authority  to sign for us in our names in the  capacities  indicated
below  the  registration   statement  and  any  and  all  amendments  (including
post-effective  amendments) thereto;  and we hereby approve,  ratify and confirm
all that said Gary S. Olson shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>  <C>                              <C>                                          <C>

Signatures                                  Title                                          Date
----------                                  -----                                          ----



/s/ Gary S. Olson                           President and Chief Executive Officer       December 15, 2009
------------------------------------        (Principal Executive Officer)
Gary S. Olson




/s/ Allan A. Muto                           Executive Vice President and                December 15, 2009
------------------------------------        Chief Financial Officer
Allan A. Muto                               (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                            Officer)



/s/ John E. Burrus                          Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------

John E. Burrus



/s/ William P. Douglass                     Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
William P. Douglass


<PAGE>


/s/ Daniel J. Henning                       Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
Daniel J. Henning




/s/ Frederick E. Kutteroff                  Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
Frederick E. Kutteroff




/s/ Robert C. Selig, Jr.                    Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
Robert C. Selig, Jr.



/s/ John S. Schoonover, Jr.                Director                                     December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
John S. Schoonover, Jr.



/s/ William A. Viechnicki                   Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
William A. Viechnicki




/s/ Elizabeth B. Weekes                     Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
Elizabeth B. Weekes

</TABLE>


<PAGE>



         The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the trustees (or other persons who administer the Plan) have duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Stroudsburg, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
on December 15, 2009.



                                                 ESSA Bank & Trust 401(k) Plan




                                            By:     /s/ Thomas J. Grayuski
                                                    ---------------------------
                                            Title:  Plan Administrator
                                                    ---------------------------

<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>  <C>          <C>                                             <C>

Regulation S-K                                                                 Reference to Prior Filing or
Exhibit Number                      Document                                   Exhibit No. Attached Hereto
--------------                      --------                                   ---------------------------


         4        Form of Common Stock Certificate                              *

         5        Opinion of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.                Attached as Exhibit 5

         23.1     Consent of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.                Contained in Exhibit 5

         23.2     Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm      Attached as Exhibit 23.2

         24       Power of Attorney                                             Contained on Signature Page

         99       Prospectus Supplement                                         **
</TABLE>
-----------------------

     *    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the  Registration  Statement
          on Form S-1  (File No.  333-139157)  originally  filed by the  Company
          under the  Securities Act with the Commission on December 7, 2006, and
          all  amendments  or reports  filed for the  purpose of  updating  such
          description.

     **   Incorporated by reference to the Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Form
          S-1 (Commission  File No.  333-139157)  filed by the Company under the
          Securities Act with the Commission on January 22, 2007.
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ESSA Bancorp, Inc.", "cik": "0001382230", "assigned-sic": "6036", "irs-number": "000000000", "state-of-incorporation": "PA", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-163761", "film-number": "091244285"}, "business-address": {"street1": "200 PALMER STREET", "city": "STROUDSBURG", "state": "PA", "zip": "18360", "phone": "(570) 421-0531"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "200 PALMER STREET", "city": "STROUDSBURG", "state": "PA", "zip": "18360"}}
Registration No. 333-_________

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2009

                                 UNITED STATES
                            SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                   COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                              ___________________
                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                               ESSA Bancorp, Inc.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

           Pennsylvania                              20-8023072
(State or Other Jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)

                                200 Palmer Street
                         Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                          ESSA Bank & Trust 401(k) Plan
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                   Copies to:

      Mr. Gary S. Olson                            Marc P. Levy, Esquire
  President and Chief Executive Officer    Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.
        ESSA Bancorp, Inc.                  5335 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Suite 780
      200 Palmer Street                          Washington, DC 20015-2035
 Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360                (202) 274-2000
     (570) 421-0531
  (Name, Address and Telephone
    Number of Agent for Service)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large  accelerated  filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated  filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of "large accelerated  filer,"  "accelerated filer" and "smaller
reporting  company" in Rule 12b-2 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer [ ]   Accelerated filer [x]   Non-accelerated filer [ ]
Smaller reporting company [ ]
                  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

                      ------------------------------------

If any of the  securities  being  registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the  Securities  Act of
1933 check the following box. [X]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

====================================================================================================================

         Title of                                     Proposed               Proposed
        Securities                Amount               Maximum                Maximum               Amount of
          to be                   to be            Offering Price            Aggregate            Registration
        Registered            Registered(1)           Per Share           Offering Price               Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Interests             (1)                  __                     __                     (2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration
     statement covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold
     pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.
(2)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(3) no registration fee is required to be paid.

                           --------------------------

     This   Registration   Statement  shall  become  effective  upon  filing  in
accordance  with Section 8(a) of the  Securities  Act of 1933 and 17 C.F.R.  ss.
230.462.

                                       2
PART I.

Items 1 and 2. Plan  Information  and Registrant  Information  and Employee Plan
               Annual Information

     This Registration Statement relates to the registration of an indeterminate
number of  participation  interests  in the ESSA Bank & Trust  401(k)  Plan (the
"Plan").  Documents  containing  the  information  required  by  Part  I of  the
Registration Statement have been or will be sent or given to participants in the
Plan, as specified  Rule  428(b)(1)  promulgated  by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission")  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act").

     Such  documents  are not being filed with the  Commission,  but  constitute
(along with the  documents  incorporated  by  reference  into this  Registration
Statement  pursuant  to Item 3 of Part II  hereof) a  prospectus  that meets the
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II.

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     The  following   documents   previously  or  concurrently  filed  with  the
Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

     a) The Company's Prospectus (Commission File No. 333-139157) filed with the
Commission  on February 22, 2007  pursuant to Rule  424(b)(3) of the  Securities
Act;

     b) The Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  September
30, 2009 (File No.  001-33384),  filed with the Commission on December 11, 2009,
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

     c) The  Company's  Form 11-K for the ESSA Bank & Trust  401(k) Plan for the
year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 001-33384),  filed with the Commission on
June 29, 2009, pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended;

     d) All other  reports  filed by the Company  pursuant  to Section  13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  since the end of the
year covered by the Annual Report on Form 10-K referred to in (a) above;  and

     e)  The  description  of  the  Company's  common  stock  contained  in  the
Registration  Statement on Form 8-A filed with the  Commission on March 27, 2007
(File No. 001-33384).

     All  documents  subsequently  filed  by the  Company  with  the  Commission
pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934,  as  amended,  after  the date  hereof,  and  prior to the  filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which  deregisters all securities then remaining  unsold,  shall be
deemed  incorporated by reference into this  Registration  Statement and to be a
part  thereof  from the date of the  filing  of such  documents.  Any  statement
contained  in the  documents  incorporated,  or  deemed to be  incorporated,  by
reference  herein or therein  shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded  for
purposes of this Registration  Statement and the prospectus to the extent that a
statement  contained  herein  or  therein  or in any  other  subsequently  filed
document which also is, or is deemed to be,  incorporated by reference herein or
therein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded  shall  not be  deemed,  except  as so  modified  or  superseded,  to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement and the prospectus.

     All information appearing in this Registration Statement and the prospectus
is qualified in its entirety by the detailed  information,  including  financial
statements,  appearing  in the  documents  incorporated  herein  or  therein  by
reference.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

         Not applicable.

                                       3
Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

         None.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Indemnification of Directors and Officers of ESSA Bancorp,  Inc. Article VI
of  the  bylaws  of  ESSA  Bancorp,   Inc.,  a  Pennsylvania   corporation  (the
"Corporation")  set  forth  circumstances   under  which  directors,   officers,
employees and agents of the  Corporation  may be insured or indemnified  against
liability which they incur in their capacities as such.

                           Article VI; Indemnification

     6.1 Persons Covered.  Subject to, and in accordance with, the provisions of
this  Article VI, the  Corporation  shall  indemnify  any person who was or is a
party  or is  threatened  to be  made a party  to any  threatened,  pending,  or
completed action,  suit, or proceeding,  including actions by or in the right of
the Corporation, whether civil, criminal,  administrative,  or investigative, by
reason of the fact that such  person is or was a  director,  officer,  employee,
fiduciary,  trustee,  or agent of the  Corporation,  or is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, trustee,
or agent of another  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust, or other
enterprise.

      6.2 Derivative Actions.

     (a) In the case of a threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or
in the right of the Corporation  against a person named in Section 6.1 by reason
of such person  holding a position named in Section 6.1, the  Corporation  shall
indemnify such person if such person  satisfies the standard in Section  6.2(b),
for expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees) actually and reasonably  incurred by
such person in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit.

     (b) In the case of a threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or
in the  right  of the  Corporation,  a  person  named in  Section  6.1  shall be
indemnified  only if:

     (1) such person is successful on the merits or otherwise; or

     (2) such person acted in good faith in the transaction  that is the subject
of the suit or  action,  and in a manner  reasonably  believed  to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of the  Corporation.  However,  such person shall
not be  indemnified in respect of any claim,  issue,  or matter as to which such
person  has been  adjudged  liable to the  Corporation  unless  (and only to the
extent  that)  the  court of  common  pleas or the  court in which  the suit was
brought shall  determine,  upon  application,  that despite the  adjudication of
liability  but in view of all the  circumstances,  such  person  is  fairly  and
reasonably  entitled  to  indemnity  for such  expenses  as the court shall deem
proper.

      6.3 Third-Party Actions.

     (a) In case  of a  threatened,  pending,  or  completed  suit,  action,  or
proceeding (whether civil, criminal,  administrative,  or investigative),  other
than a suit by or in the right of the Corporation,  together  hereafter referred
to as a third-party  action,  against a person named in Section 6.1 by reason of
such person  holding a position  named in Section  6.1,  the  Corporation  shall
indemnify such person if such person  satisfies the standard in Section  6.3(b),
for amounts  actually and reasonably  incurred by such person in connection with
the defense or settlement of the third-party action,  including, but not limited
to (i) expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees), (ii) amounts paid in settlement,
(iii) judgments, and (iv) fines.

     (b) In case of a third-party action, a person named in Section 6.1 shall be
indemnified  only if:

     (1) such person is successful on the merits or otherwise; or

     (2) such person acted in good faith in the transaction  that is the subject
of the third-party action and in a manner such person reasonably  believed to be
in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the  Corporation  and, with respect
to any criminal  action or  proceeding,  such person had no reasonable  cause to
believe such person's  conduct was unlawful.  The  termination  of a third-party
action  by  judgment,  order,  settlement,  conviction,  or upon a pleas of nolo
contendere or its equivalent shall not, in itself, create a presumption that the
person failed to satisfy the standard of this Section 6.3(b).

                                       4
6.4  Determination  That  Standard Has Been Met. A  determination  that the
standard of either  Section 6.2(b) or 6.3(b) has been satisfied may be made by a
court,  or,  except as stated in the  record  sentence  of Section  6.2(b),  the
determination may be made by:

          (1) the Board of Directors by a majority  vote of a quorum  consisting
     of directors of the Corporation  who were not parties to the action,  suit,
     or proceeding;

          (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if obtainable and a majority
     of a quorum of  disinterested  directors so directs,  by independent  legal
     counsel in a written opinion; or

          (3) the shareholders of the Corporation.

     6.5  Proration.  Anyone  making  a  determination  under  Section  6.4  may
determine  that a person has met the  standard as to some  matters but not as to
others, and may reasonably prorate amounts to be indemnified.

     6.6 Advancement of Expenses.  Reasonable  expenses  incurred by a director,
officer,  employee, or agent of the Corporation in defending a civil or criminal
action,  suit,  or  proceeding  described  in  Section  6.1 shall be paid by the
Corporation  in  advance  of the final  disposition  of such  action,  suit,  or
proceeding  upon  receipt of an  undertaking  by or on behalf of such  person to
repay such amount if it shall  ultimately be  determined  that the person is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.

     6.7 Other Rights. The  indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by or pursuant  to this  Article VI shall not be deemed  exclusive  of any other
rights to which those seeking  indemnification or advancement of expenses may be
entitled  under  any  insurance  or other  agreement,  vote of  shareholders  or
directors, or otherwise, both as to actions in their official capacity and as to
actions in another capacity while holding an office,  and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director,  officer,  employee,  or agent and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such person.

     6.8  Insurance.  The  Corporation  shall  have the  power to  purchase  and
maintain  insurance  on behalf of any person who is or was a director,  officer,
employee,   director,  officer,  employee,  or  agent  of  another  corporation,
partnership,  joint venture,  trust, or other enterprise,  against any liability
asserted  against such person and incurred by such person in any such  capacity,
or arising out of such person's  status as such,  whether or not the Corporation
would have the power to indemnify such person  against such liability  under the
provisions of this Article VI.

     6.9  Security  Fund;  Indemnity  Agreements.  By  action  of the  Board  of
Directors  (notwithstanding their interest in the transaction),  the Corporation
may  create  and fund a trust  fund or fund of any  nature,  and may enter  into
agreements with its officers,  directors,  employees, and agents for the purpose
of securing or insuring in any manner its  obligation  to  indemnify  or advance
expenses provided for in this Article VI.

     6.10  Modification.  The  duties of the  Corporation  to  indemnify  and to
advance  expenses to any person as  provided in this  Article VI shall be in the
nature of a  contract  between  the  Corporation  and each such  person,  and no
amendment  or repeal of any  provision  of this  Article VI, and no amendment or
termination  of any trust fund or other fund  created  pursuant  to Section  6.9
hereof,  shall alter to the detriment of such person the right of such person to
the  advancement of expenses or  indemnification  related to a claim based on an
act or  failure  to act which took place  prior to such  amendment,  repeal,  or
termination.

     6.11  Proceedings  Initiated by Indemnified  Persons.  Notwithstanding  any
other  provision  in this  Article  VI, the  Corporation  shall not  indemnify a
director,  officer,  employee, or agent for any liability incurred in an action,
suit,  or  proceeding  initiated  by  (which  shall  not be  deemed  to  include
counter-claims  or affirmative  defenses) or participated in as an intervenor or
amicus curiae by the person seeking indemnification unless such initiation of or
participation in the action, suit, or proceeding is authorized, either before or
after its  commencement,  by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors
then in office.

     6.12  Savings  Clause.  If this  Article VI or any portion  hereof shall be
invalidated  on any  ground by any  court of  competent  jurisdiction,  then the
Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director,  officer,  employee, and
agent  of  the  Corporation  as  to  costs,  charges,  and  expenses  (including
attorneys' fees), judgments,  fines, and amounts paid in settlement with respect
to any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,  administrative, or
investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the
fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VI that shall
not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

     If the laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  are  amended  to permit
further indemnification of the directors, officers, employees, and agents of the
Corporation,  then the  Corporation  shall indemnify such persons to the fullest

                                       5
extent  permitted by law. Any repeal or  modification  of this Article VI by the
Board of Directors or the  shareholders of the  Corporation  shall not adversely
affect  any right or  protection  of a  director,  officer,  employee,  or agent
existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

Item 7.  Exemption From Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  List of Exhibits.
Regulation S-K                                                                 Reference to Prior Filing or
Exhibit Number                      Document                                   Exhibit No. Attached Hereto
--------------                      --------                                   ---------------------------

         4        Form of Common Stock Certificate                              *

         5        Opinion of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.                Attached as Exhibit 5

         23.1     Consent of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.                Contained in Exhibit 5

         23.2     Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm      Attached as Exhibit 23.2

         24       Power of Attorney                                             Contained on Signature Page

         99       Prospectus Supplement                                         **

     -------------------------
*    Incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit 4 to the  Registration  Statement on
     Form S-1 (File No.  333-139157)  originally  filed by the Company under the
     Securities  Act with the Commission on December 7, 2006, and all amendments
     or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

**   Incorporated by reference to the Pre-effective  Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1
     (Commission File No.  333-139157) filed by the Company under the Securities
     Act with the Commission on January 22, 2007.

Item 9.  Undertakings

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     1. To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being made,  a
post-effective  amendment to this Registration Statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
this  Registration  Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement;

     2. That, for the purpose of determining  any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
Registration  Statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof;

     3. To remove from  registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
Plan;

     4. That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, each filing of the Company's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that is  incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

     5. Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of
the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions,  or otherwise, the Company has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange  Commission such
indemnification  is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in the  Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against

                                       6
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or
paid  by a  director,  officer  or  controlling  person  of the  Company  in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered,  the Company  will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                       7
SIGNATURES

     The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the  requirements  for  filing  on  Form  S-8 and has  duly  caused  this
registration  statement  on  Form  S-8  to  be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Stroudsburg, Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, on this 15th day of December, 2009.

                                          ESSA BANCORP, INC.

                                   By:    /s/ Gary S. Olson
                                          Gary S. Olson
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer
                                              (Duly Authorized Representative)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     We, the  undersigned  directors  and officers of ESSA  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  hereby  severally  constitute and appoint Gary S. Olson, as our true
and  lawful  attorney  and  agent,  to do any and all things in our names in the
capacities  indicated  below  which  said Gary S.  Olson may deem  necessary  or
advisable to enable the Company to comply with the  Securities  Act of 1933, and
any  rules,   regulations  and  requirements  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, in connection with the registration of participation interests under
the ESSA Bank & Trust 401(k) Plan, including  specifically,  but not limited to,
power  and  authority  to sign for us in our names in the  capacities  indicated
below  the  registration   statement  and  any  and  all  amendments  (including
post-effective  amendments) thereto;  and we hereby approve,  ratify and confirm
all that said Gary S. Olson shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signatures                                  Title                                          Date
----------                                  -----                                          ----

/s/ Gary S. Olson                           President and Chief Executive Officer       December 15, 2009
------------------------------------        (Principal Executive Officer)
Gary S. Olson

/s/ Allan A. Muto                           Executive Vice President and                December 15, 2009
------------------------------------        Chief Financial Officer
Allan A. Muto                               (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                            Officer)

/s/ John E. Burrus                          Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------

John E. Burrus

/s/ William P. Douglass                     Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
William P. Douglass
/s/ Daniel J. Henning                       Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
Daniel J. Henning

/s/ Frederick E. Kutteroff                  Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
Frederick E. Kutteroff

/s/ Robert C. Selig, Jr.                    Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
Robert C. Selig, Jr.

/s/ John S. Schoonover, Jr.                Director                                     December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
John S. Schoonover, Jr.

/s/ William A. Viechnicki                   Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
William A. Viechnicki

/s/ Elizabeth B. Weekes                     Director                                    December 15, 2009
------------------------------------
Elizabeth B. Weekes
The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the trustees (or other persons who administer the Plan) have duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Stroudsburg, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
on December 15, 2009.

                                                 ESSA Bank & Trust 401(k) Plan

                                            By:     /s/ Thomas J. Grayuski
                                                    ---------------------------
                                            Title:  Plan Administrator
                                                    ---------------------------
EXHIBIT INDEX
Regulation S-K                                                                 Reference to Prior Filing or
Exhibit Number                      Document                                   Exhibit No. Attached Hereto
--------------                      --------                                   ---------------------------

         4        Form of Common Stock Certificate                              *

         5        Opinion of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.                Attached as Exhibit 5

         23.1     Consent of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.                Contained in Exhibit 5

         23.2     Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm      Attached as Exhibit 23.2

         24       Power of Attorney                                             Contained on Signature Page

         99       Prospectus Supplement                                         **
-----------------------

     *    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the  Registration  Statement
          on Form S-1  (File No.  333-139157)  originally  filed by the  Company
          under the  Securities Act with the Commission on December 7, 2006, and
          all  amendments  or reports  filed for the  purpose of  updating  such
          description.

     **   Incorporated by reference to the Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Form
          S-1 (Commission  File No.  333-139157)  filed by the Company under the
          Securities Act with the Commission on January 22, 2007.