loan portfolio relative to loan mix, economic conditions and historical loss experience. See “Non-Performing and Problem Assets” for additional information.
Noninterest Income. Noninterest income increased $705,000, or 16.2%, to $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily the result of a $714,000, or 147.5%, change in net equity securities fair value adjustments from a loss of $484,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018 to a gain of $230,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019 related to fluctuations in the market prices of the equity securities. Additionally, there were increases in loan sale gains, service charges and investment management fees of $202,000 or 284.5%, $76,000 or 2.6%, and $51,000 or 7.9%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. The increase in loan sale gains for the year was reflective of the Bank’s business strategy to continue to expand it’s product mix and capacity to sell residential loans in the secondary mortgage market. Those increases were partially offset by there being no gains on the sales of equity securities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 compared to $394,000 in the prior year.
Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expenses decreased $442,000, or 2.0%, to $21.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $22.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Included in the fluctuation for the year were decreases in other operating expenses, core deposit amortization, premises and occupancy expenses, and federal deposit insurance of $385,000 or 8.1%, $209,000 or 25.0%, $210,000 or 8.0%, and $188,000 or 64.2%, respectively, compared to the prior year. These decreases were offset to a large extent by increases in compensation and benefits of $394,000, or 3.2%, as well as increases in automatic teller machine and data processing expenses of $83,000 or 16.2% and $73,000 or 11.3%, respectively, compared to the prior year. The lower federal deposit insurance was due to the application of small bank credits to the third and fourth quarter’s assessment.
Income Tax Expense. The Company recorded a provision for income tax of $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The effective tax rate was 21.0% for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 20.3% for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Non-Performing and Problem Assets
When a residential mortgage loan, home equity loan or line of credit or consumer loan is past due, the Company sends a late notice and contacts the borrower to inquire as to why the loan is past due. When a loan is 30 days or more past due, a second late notice is mailed and additional personal, direct contact with the borrower is attempted to determine the reason for the delinquency and establish the procedures by which the borrower will bring the loan current. When the loan is 45 days past due, the Company explores the customer’s situation and repayment options and inspects the collateral. In addition, when a loan reaches 90 days past due, management determines and recommends to the Loan Committee whether to initiate foreclosure proceedings, which will be initiated by counsel if the loan is not brought current. Procedures for avoiding foreclosure can include restructuring the loan in a manner that provides concessions to the borrower to facilitate payment.
Commercial business loans and commercial real estate loans are generally handled in the same manner as the loans discussed above. Additionally, when a loan is 30 days past due, the borrower is contacted, the property is visually inspected and inquiries are made with the principals as to the status of the loan and what actions are being implemented to bring the loan current. Depending on the type of loan, the borrower’s cash flow statements, internal financial statements, tax returns, rent rolls, new or updated independent appraisals, online databases and other relevant information in Bank and third-party loan reviews are analyzed to help determine a course of action. In addition, legal counsel is consulted and an approach for resolution is determined and aggressively pursued.
Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when payment of principal or interest is 90 days or more delinquent. Loans are also placed on non-accrual status if collection of principal or interest in full is in doubt. When loans are placed on a non-accrual status, unpaid accrued interest is fully reversed, and interest is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method until qualifying for return to accrual. The loan may be returned to accrual status once it is brought current, six months of on-time payments have been received and full payment of principal and interest is expected.