| CUSIP No. | 27627N105 | 13G/A | Page 1 of 5 | ||||||||
| UNITED STATES | |||||||||||||||||
| SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION | |||||||||||||||||
| Washington, D.C. 20549 | |||||||||||||||||
| SCHEDULE 13G/A | |||||||||||||||||
| Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |||||||||||||||||
| (Amendment No. 4) | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Bankshares, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||
(Name of Issuer) | |||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | |||||||||||||||||
| (Title of Class of Securities) | |||||||||||||||||
| 27627N105 | |||||||||||||||||
| (CUSIP Number) | |||||||||||||||||
| September 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) | |||||||||||||||||
| Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: | |||||||||||||||||
| x | Rule 13d-1(b) | ||||||||||||||||
| o | Rule 13d-1(c) | ||||||||||||||||
| o | Rule 13d-1(d) | ||||||||||||||||
| The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). | |||||||||||||||||
| CUSIP No. | 27627N105 | 13G/A | Page 2 of 5 | ||||||||
| 1. | Name of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification No. of above persons (entities only). Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust Company dba Principal Trust Company as Directed Trustee for the Eastern Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan IRS No. 51-0099493 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group: (a) o (b) o | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. | SEC Use Only | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4. | Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: | 5. Sole Voting Power: | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6. Shared Voting Power: | 14,791,261 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7. Sole Dispositive Power: | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8. Shared Dispositive Power: | 14,791,261 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially owned by Each Reporting Person 14,791,261 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10. | Check if Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares: o | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 6.89% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12. | Type of Reporting Person: EP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CUSIP No. | 27627N105 | 13G/A | Page 3 of 5 | ||||||||
| Item 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) Name of Issuer: | Eastern Bankshares, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (b) Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices: | 265 Franklin Street | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston, MA 02110 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item 2. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) - (c) Name, Principal Business Address and Citizenship of Person Filing: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust Company dba Principal Trust Company as Directed Trustee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
for the Eastern Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1013 Centre Road Ste 300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wilmington DE 19805-1265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Citizenship: | Delaware | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (d) Title of Class of Securities: | Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (e) CUSIP Number: | 27627N105 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (f) | x | An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item 4. Ownership | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | The Eastern Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan. (“Plan”) is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust Company dba Principal Trust Company acts as the Directed Trustee of the Eastern Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan. (“Trust”). As of September 30, 2024, the trust held 14,791,261 shares of the Issuer's common stock. The securities reported include all shares held of record by the Trustee. The Trustee follows the directions of the investment fiduciary names in the Plan, or other parties designated in the Plan’s trust agreement with respect to voting and disposition of shares. The Trustee, however, is subject to certain fiduciary duties under ERISA as limited in the trust agreement. The Trustee disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock that are the subject of this Schedule 13G. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (b) | Percent of class: The 14,791,261 shares of common stock represent 6.89% of the Issuer’s outstanding shares of common stock. The percent of class is based on shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024, as provided by the Issuer. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CUSIP No. | 27627N105 | 13G/A | Page 4 of 5 | ||||||||
| (c) | Number of shares as to which the person has: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (i) | Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (ii) | Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: | 14,791,261 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (iii) | Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (iv) | Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: | 14,791,261 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Not Applicable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares as to which this Schedule 13G is filed are owned by the Plan on behalf of numerous participants, which participants receive dividends and the proceeds of the sale of such shares. No such participant is known to have such an interest with respect to more than 5% of the class, except as follows: None. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Not Applicable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Not Applicable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Not Applicable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item 10. Certification | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under §240.14a-11. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CUSIP No. | 27627N105 | 13G/A | Page 5 of 5 | ||||||||
| SIGNATURE | ||||||||||||||
| After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. | ||||||||||||||
| Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust Company | ||||||||||||||
| As Directed Trustee of the Eastern Bank | ||||||||||||||
| Employee Stock Ownership Plan | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Christopher Taylor | ||||||||||||||
| Christopher Taylor COO November 14, 2024 | ||||||||||||||