The following discussion and analysis also identifies significant factors that have affected our financial position and operating results during the periods included in the accompanying financial statements. We encourage you to read this discussion and analysis in conjunction with our financial statements and the other statistical information included in our filings with the SEC.
Effect of Economic Trends
The twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and the first six months of 2012 continue to reflect the tumultuous economic conditions which have negatively impacted our clients' liquidity and credit quality. Concerns regarding increased credit losses from the weakening economy have negatively affected capital and earnings of most financial institutions. Financial institutions have experienced significant declines in the value of collateral for real estate loans, heightened credit losses, which have resulted in record levels of non-performing assets, charge-offs and foreclosures.
Liquidity in the debt markets remains low in spite of efforts by the Treasury and the Federal Reserve to inject capital into financial institutions. The federal funds rate set by the Federal Reserve has remained at 0.25% since December 2008, following a decline from 4.25% to 0.25% during 2008 through a series of seven rate reductions.
In response to the challenges facing the financial services sector, beginning in 2008 a multitude of new regulatory and governmental actions have been announced, including the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the "EESA"), the Troubled Asset Relief Program (the "TARP"), the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Recovery Act"), the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") and related economic recovery programs. Some of the more recent actions include those described in Part I. Item 1. Business - Supervision and Regulation of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 as filed with the SEC.
In addition, on April 5, 2012, the U.S. President signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startup Act (the "JOBS Act"), which is intended to stimulate economic growth by helping smaller and emerging growth companies access the U.S. capital markets. The JOBS Act amends various provisions of, and adds new sections to, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In addition, under the JOBS Act, a bank or bank holding company is permitted to have 2,000 shareholders before being subject to public company requirements and to deregister from the SEC when its shareholder count falls below 1,200. The SEC has been directed to issue rules implementing these amendments by April 5, 2013. We are currently evaluating the effects that these amendments, as well as the full JOBS Act, will have on the Company.
Future regulations, or enforcement of the terms of programs already in place, may require financial institutions to raise additional capital and result in the conversion of preferred equity issued under TARP or other programs to common equity. There can be no assurance as to the actual impact of the EESA, the TARP, the Recovery Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the JOBS Act or any governmental program on the financial markets.
The weak economic conditions are expected to continue through the remainder of 2012 and into 2013. Financial institutions likely will continue to experience heightened credit losses and higher levels of non-performing assets, charge-offs and foreclosures. In light of these conditions, financial institutions also face heightened levels of scrutiny from federal and state regulators. These factors negatively influenced, and likely will continue to negatively influence, earning asset yields at a time when the market for deposits is intensely competitive. As a result, financial institutions experienced, and are expected to continue to experience, pressure on credit costs, loan yields, deposit and other borrowing costs, liquidity, and capital.
EARNINGS REVIEW
Our net income was $815,000 and $628,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, an increase of $187,000. After our dividend payment to the Treasury as preferred shareholder, net income to common shareholders was $589,000, or diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $0.15, for the second quarter of 2012 as compared to net income to common shareholders of $343,000, or diluted EPS of $0.09 for the same period in 2011. The increase in net income resulted primarily from increases in net interest income and noninterest income as well as a decrease in noninterest expense, partially offset by an increase in the provision for loan losses.
Our net income for the first six months of 2012 was $1.5 million compared to $1.2 million for the first six months of 2011. Net income to common shareholders was $988,000, or diluted EPS of $0.25, for the six months ended June 30, 2012, and $596,000, or diluted EPS of $0.15, for the six months ended June 30, 2011.