Oct. 23. Cornelius-based Aquesta Financial Holdings has declared a cash dividend of 12 cents per share to shareholders of record as of Nov. 6. The eighth annual consecutive dividend is payable on Nov. 20. Earlier this week Aquesta posted higher third-quarter earnings.

CEO Jim Engel said, adjusted for stock splits, the dividend has been increased each year. “This level of dividend allows us to reward our shareholders today while retaining sufficient capital to fund our continued growth,” he said.

Aquesta’s subsidiary, Aquesta Bank, has branches in Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Mooresville, Charlotte, and Wilmington, as well as loan production offices in Raleigh, Charleston and Greenville, SC.