The provision for loan losses was $226,000 for the first half of 2020 as compared to $1,000 for the first half of 2019. The allowance for loan losses was $3,494,000 as of June 30, 2020, which represented 0.84% of total loans outstanding. In comparison, the allowance for loan losses was $3,472,000 or 0.88% of total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2019. Loans with deferred payments due to the pandemic totaled $35,663,000 or 9% of the total loan portfolio as of June 30, 2020. The portion of the allowance balance allocated to “pandemic deferrals” was $185,000, and as of June 30, 2020 the majority of these loans were in the process of resuming regular payments. Non-performing loans to total loans increased slightly to 0.37% as of June 30, 2020 compared to 0.29% as of year-end 2019. Allowance coverage of non-performing loans as of June 30, 2020 decreased to 225% from 306% as of year-end 2019. Management views the allowance balance as of June 30, 2020 as being sufficient to offset potential future losses associated with problem loans.
Noninterest income for the first half of 2020 increased $271,000 or approximately 12% to $2,539,000 from $2,268,000 for the first half of 2019. This improvement was mainly driven by an $115,000 increase in loan fees primarily associated with the origination of over $28 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) and guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. The Company also experienced a $90,000 increase in income derived from the Bank’s investment in Bankers Insurance, LLC, a $34,000 increase in investment and insurance sales commissions and a $42,000 increase in fees generated from sales of mortgage loans.
Noninterest expense for the first half of 2020 increased $1,321,000 or approximately 17% to $9,241,000 from $7,920,000 for the first half 2019. As previously stated, the increase is primarily attributed to $678,000 in merger related legal, accounting and investment banking fees. The Company also experienced a $352,000 increase in salaries and benefits and a $94,000 increase in furniture and equipment expense, primarily associated with strategic growth initiatives referenced earlier.
Total assets as of June 30, 2020 were $563,898,000, up $63,368,000 or 13% from $500,530,000 as of December 31, 2019. The growth in assets occurred in the second quarter of 2020 as total assets were $500,448,000 on March 31, 2020. The principal components of the Company’s assets as of June 30, 2020 were $415,862,000 in total loans, $45,503,000 in securities and $72,703,000 in cash and cash equivalents. During the first half of 2020, cash and cash equivalents increased $39,800,000 or 121% from $32,903,000 as of December 31, 2019 due to an influx of deposits discussed below. Total loans increased $22,342,000, or 6%, from $393,520,000 as of December 31, 2019, primarily due to the origination of over $28 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans. Securities increased $545,000, or approximately 1%, from $44,958,000.
Total liabilities as of June 30, 2020 were $516,876,000, up $61,791,000 or 14% from $455,085,000 as of December 31, 2019. The growth of liabilities was driven by a $37,508,000, or 15%, increase in savings and NOW accounts and a $24,703,000, or 22%, increase in demand deposits since year-end as a result of federal government stimulus in response to the pandemic, an overall “flight to safety” by depositors and relationships moved to the Bank as a result of branch closures in the Bank’s markets served by larger national financial institutions.
Total stockholders’ equity as of June 30, 2020 was $47,022,000 and consisted primarily of $43,083,000 in retained earnings. In comparison, as of December 31, 2019, total stockholders’ equity was $45,445,000. Both the Company and Bank remain “well capitalized” per all regulatory definitions.
In other news, the Company and Virginia Bank jointly announced in a press release issued on June 9, 2020 that the proposed merger between the companies will be moving forward and that the companies had amended the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization initially executed on January 21, 2020. Mr. Hall commented, “We are more confident than ever in the benefits of this strategic partnership and the resulting position the combined company will have in the Virginia community bank landscape.”
2