loans. The increase in average loans primarily reflects a net increase in commercial loans and to a lesser extent, a net increase in residential loans. The net interest spread on an annualizedtax-equivalent basis was 2.42 percent and 2.41 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For the quarter ended March 31, 2019, the Company’s net interest margin on atax-equivalent basis increased to 2.67 percent as compared to 2.58 percent for the same three-month period in fiscal 2018.
Net interest income both as reported and on a fully tax equivalent basis, anon-GAAP measure, was $14.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2019. Net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis, anon-GAAP measure increased $1.2 million, or 9.5 percent, from $13.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. The change for the six months ended March 31, 2019 primarily was the result of an increase of $109.1 million in the average balance of loans. The net interest spread on an annualizedtax-equivalent basis was 2.40 percent and 2.36 percent for the six months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Company’s net interest margin on atax-equivalent basis increased to 2.66 percent as compared to 2.52 percent for the samesix-month period in fiscal 2018.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, total interest income both as reported and on a fullytax-equivalent basis, anon-GAAP measure, was $11.6 million. Total interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis, anon-GAAP measure, increased $1.9 million, or 19.3 percent, from $9.7 million for three months ended March 31, 2018, primarily due to a $129.3 million increase in the average balance of our loans. Total interest expense increased by $1.2 million, or 38.8 percent, to $4.4 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in fiscal 2018, primarily due to an increase of $116.8 million in deposits and the increase in average rates. The increase in deposits reflects an increase in interest-bearing demand and time deposits.
The average cost of funds was 1.85 percent for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019 compared to 1.39 percent for the same three-month period in fiscal 2018 and, on a linked sequential quarter basis, increased from 1.76 percent or nine basis points compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2019.
For the six months ended March 31, 2019, total interest income both as reported and on a fully tax equivalent basis, anon-GAAP measure, was $22.5 million. Total interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis, anon-GAAP measure, increased $3.3 million, or 17.1 percent, from $19.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. Interest income rose for the six months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the comparable period in fiscal 2018 primarily due to a $109.1 million increase in average loan balances. Compared to the six months ended March 31, 2018, average interest earning assets increased $39.3 million, the net interest spread increased on an annualizedtax-equivalent basis by four basis points and the net interest margin increased on an annualizedtax-equivalent basis by fourteen basis points at six months ended March 31, 2019. Total interest expense increased by $2.1 million, or 32.8 percent, to $8.3 million, for the six months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the comparable period in fiscal 2018.
Other Income
Other income decreased $8,000, or 1.8 percent, during the second fiscal quarter of 2019 compared with the same period in 2018. The decrease in total other income was due to a $7,000 decrease in net gains on sale of loans, and a $3,000 decrease in rental income, partially offset by a $1,000 increase in service charges and other fees and a $1,000 increase in earnings on bank-owned life insurance.
For the six months ended March 31, 2019, total other income decreased $573,000 compared to the same period in 2018. This decrease was primarily a result of a $1.2 million gain recorded in 2018 on the sale of the Exton, Pennsylvania branch location. Additionally, there was a $56,000 decrease in net gains on sale of loans and a $2,000 decrease in rental income, partially offset by an increase of $670,000 in service charges and a $1,000 increase in earnings on bank-owned life insurance. Thenon-proportional increase in service charges and other fees during the six months ended March 31, 2019 is primarily due to the recognition of approximately $708,000 of net swap fees through the Bank’s commercial loan hedging program during the first fiscal quarter of 2019. The primary benefit of the loan hedging program is to eliminate the interest rate risk on long term fixed rate loans while allowing the Bank to compete more effectively in our markets.
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