balance of loans decreased $1.2 million, or 0.2%, to $496.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, from $498.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, while the average yield on loans was 4.62% for both periods.
Interest Expense.Interest expense decreased $60,000, or 2.6%, to $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily due to a 9 basis point decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by a $15.3 million increase in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities.
Interest expense on interest-bearing deposits increased by $171,000, or 9.4%, to $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. This increase was due to a $37.2 million, or 7.6%, increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits to $524.4 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $487.2 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, as well as, a 3 basis point, or 2.0%, increase in the average cost of interest-bearing deposits to 1.53% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from 1.50% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Interest expense on borrowings decreased by $231,000, or 52.5%, to $209,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $440,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. This decrease was due to a 77 basis point, or 28.8%, decrease in the average cost of borrowings to 1.91% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from 2.68% for the three months ended March 31, 2019, as well as a decrease in the average balance of borrowings of $21.9 million, or 33.3%, to $43.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, from $65.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Provision for Loan Losses. We recorded a provision for loan losses of $282,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to a provision for loan losses of $61,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, $30,000 and $2,000 in net charge-offs were recorded, respectively. See “Allowance for Loan Loss Activity” below for a discussion of the amount of the allowance and provision for loan losses.
Noninterest Income.Noninterest income increased $404,000, or 52.6%, to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $768,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net realized gains on sales ofavailable-for-sale securities, an increase in gain on sale of loans, and an increase in gain (loss) on sale of foreclosed assets, net, partially offset by a decrease in mortgage banking income, net. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, net realized gains on sales ofavailable-for-sale securities increased $146,000 to $146,000, gain on sale of loans increased $100,000 to $148,000, gain (loss) on sale of foreclosed assets, net, increased $80,000 to $(2,000), and other income increased $84,000 to $273,000, while mortgage banking income, net, decreased $27,000 to $(2,000). The increase in net realized gains on sales ofavailable-for-sale securities was due to securities sold or called for a net gain in the nine months ended March 31, 2020, while the increase in gain on sale of loans resulted from an increase in the loans sold and the increase in gain (loss) on sale of foreclosed assets, net, was due to more properties sold for a loss in the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in mortgage banking income was the result of a decrease in the valuation of mortgage servicing rights.
Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense increased $293,000, or 7.2%, to $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The largest components of this increase were compensation and benefits, which increased $262,000, or 10.0%, equipment expense, which increased $54,000, or 15.7%, and advertising, which increased $32,000, or 24.6%. These increases were partially offset by a $41,000, or 100.0%, decrease in federal deposit insurance. Compensation and benefits increased due to staffing changes, normal salary increases and increased medical costs. Equipment expense and advertising increased as a result of the addition of the new Champaign office. The federal deposit insurance premium decreased as a result of receiving an FDIC small bank assessment credit in the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Income Tax Expense.We recorded a provision for income tax of $316,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to a provision for income tax of $286,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, reflecting effective tax rates of 28.0% and 26.2%, respectively.
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