Provision for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses based on management’s evaluation of the risk inherent in its loan portfolio and the general economy. Such evaluation considers numerous factors including general economic conditions, loan portfolio composition and prior loss experience, the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral and other factors that warrant recognition in providing for an adequate loan loss allowance. The Company determined that an additional $204,000 in provision for loan loss was required for the nine month period ended September 30, 2018 compared to a $421,000 provision for loan loss expense for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017.
Non-Interest Expenses.For the nine month period ended September 30, 2018,non-interest expenses were $22.6 million, representing an increase of $536,000, or 2.4%, compared to the nine month period ended September 30, 2017. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2018, total salaries and benefits expense increased by $235,000, or 1.9%, compared to the nine month period ended September 30, 2017. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2018, data processing expenses increased by $251,000 as a result of aone-time reimbursement of $225,000 from a vendor in 2017. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2018, professional services increased by $233,000 to $1.5 million as a result of an increase in legal expenses.
Income Taxes. The effective tax rate for the nine month periods ending September 30, 2018 was 14.7% due to the reduction in the Company’s effective tax rate from 34% to 21% as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2017, the Company’s effective tax rate was 22.1% due to the receipt of proceeds from a bank owned life insurance policy.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Month Periods Ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017.
The Company’s net income was $1.2 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2018, compared to net income of $1.4 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2017. The decline in net income for the three month period ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three month period ended September 30, 2017 was largely the result of a $344,000 increase innon-interest expenses and a $157,000 decline in gains on the sale of securities.
The Company’s total interest income for the three month period ended September 30, 2018 was $9.3 million, compared to $8.6 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2017. The increase in net interest income for the three month period ended September 30, 2018 compared to September 30, 2017 was largely due to the $33.4 million increase in the average balance of loans.
For the three month period ended September 30, 2018, total interest expense was $2.2 million compared to $1.5 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2017. For the three month period ended September 30, 2018, total interest bearing liabilities were $683.6 million, representing a decline of $4.3 million compared to the three month period ended September 30, 2017. The increase in interest expense despite a decline in the average balance of interest bearing liabilities is the result of increases in short term interest rates spurred by the decision of the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors to increase its stated overnight Federal Funds (“Fed Funds”) rate. For the three month period ended September 30, 2018, the cost of average total deposits was 0.93% compared to 0.65% for the three month period ended September 30, 2017.
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