The following is a recap of the significant items that impacted the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2020 period:
Interest income increased $724,000 and $5.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 and year to date December 31, 2020 periods, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2019, primarily due to higher average loan volume, partially offset by the impact of lower interest rates on average loans and on average deposits held in the Federal Reserve Bank. The Federal Reserve Board had reduced rates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also contributing to the increase in interest income for the fourth quarter and year to date December 31, 2020 were $594,000 and $1.4 million increase in interest and fees on loans from the SBA Paycheck Protection Program loans (“SBA PPP Loans”).
Interest expense decreased $1.7 million and $762,000 for the fourth quarter and the year to date periods ended December 31, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, primarily due to lower interest rates partially offset by an increase in average volume on deposits and other borrowings.
The provision for loan losses increased $1.2 million to $1.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. For the year to date period ended December 31, 2020, the provision for loan losses increased $4.9 million to $7.6 million, compared to year to date period ended December 31, 2019. The increase in the provision was primarily due to an increase in qualitative factors as economic uncertainty continues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic on our borrowers as of December 31, 2020.
For the fourth quarter of 2020, non-interest income increased $664,000, compared to the same period of 2019, primarily attributable to an increase in service fees from deposit accounts and a decrease on net losses on sale of other real estate owned (“OREO”). For the year to date period ended December 31, 2020, non-interest income increased $344,000, compared to the same period of 2019. The increase is primarily due to increase in service fees from deposit accounts, partially offset by a decrease in loan fees, and increased net losses on sale of OREO.
Non-interest expense increased $923,000 for the fourth quarter 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, primarily due to an increase in compensation, professional fees, and FDIC insurance assessment fee. For the year to date period ended December 31, 2020, non-interest expense increased $2.3 million, compared to the same periods of 2019, primarily attributable to an increase in compensation, FDIC insurance assessment fees, data processing cost, and occupancy and equipment cost. The increases in non-interest expenses mainly reflect the growth of the business.
Income tax expense increased $403,000 and $226,000 for the fourth quarter and the year to date period ended December 31, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019. The effective tax rates for fourth quarter and year to date December 31, 2020 were 25.7%, compared to 24.2 % and 24.4% for the same periods in 2019.
December 31, 2020 discussion of financial condition
| • | | Total assets increased to $2.08 billion at December 31, 2020, from $1.68 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $394.7 million, or 23.5%, primarily due to an increase in cash deposits with the Federal Reserve Bank, and an increase in loans, particularly a $91.2 million increase in SBA PPP loans. |
| • | | Cash and cash equivalents totaled $458.6 million at December 31, 2020, as compared to $191.6 million at December 31, 2019. |
| • | | The investment securities portfolio decreased to $21.1 million at December 31, 2020, from $27.8 million at December 31, 2019, a decrease of $6.7 million, or 24.0%, primarily due to pay downs of securities. |