2015 or 2014. The yield on our investment securities decreased to 1.37% at December 31, 2015 from 1.39% at December 31, 2014 as a result of the pay downs and decreased yields on securities during the period. Net unrealized losses on securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income decreased $3,000 to an unrealized loss of $14,000 at December 31, 2015 compared to a unrealized loss of $17,000 at December 31, 2014, reflecting an increase in interest rates during the period. At December 31, 2015, investment securities classified as available-for-sale consisted entirely of government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities, government-sponsored debentures, municipal securities, and U.S. government and agency securities with a focus on suitable government-sponsored securities to augment risk-based capital.
Real Estate Owned and Other Repossessed Assets. Real estate owned held for sale decreased $205,000, or 43.9% to $262,000 at December 31, 2015 from $467,000 at December 31, 2014, as we sold $299,000 of foreclosed properties and foreclosed on $99,000 of non-performing loans, recorded $5,000 valuation adjustments and $167 in net losses on sales. At December 31, 2015 our real estate owned included one commercial real estate property and residential lots, the largest of which was a commercial property with a carrying value of $202,000.
Deposits. Deposits increased by $14.8 million, or 15.1%, to $113.3 million at December 31, 2015 from $98.5 million at December 31, 2014. Our core deposits increased $14.2 million, or 19.8%, to $85.8 million at December 31, 2015 from $71.6 million at December 31, 2014. Certificates of deposit increased $656,000 or 2.4%, to $27.5 million at December 31, 2015 from $26.9 million at December 31, 2014. The sale of our Decatur office, on January 24, 2014, resulted in a decrease of approximately $13.3 million in deposits, including $8.4 million in core deposits and $4.9 million in certificates of deposit.
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances and Other Liabilities. Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased $2.0 million, or 20%, to $8.0 million at December 31, 2015 from $10.0 million at December 31, 2014. We incurred $10.0 million in additional Federal Home Loan Bank advances in January, 2014 in order to fund the sale of our Decatur office that are now maturing and being paid off. Other liabilities which includes interest and accounts payable, customer escrow balances and accruals for items such as employee pension and insurance premiums were $672,000 on December 31, 2015 and $548,000 on December 31, 2014, a decrease of $125,000, or 22.8%.
Total Equity. Total equity increased $69,000, or .5%, to $13.3 million at December 31, 2015 from $13.3 million at December 31, 2014.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
General. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $42,000, compared to net loss of $816,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase to net income was primarily due to increases in interest income on loans and an increase in income related to mortgage banking activities.
Interest and Dividend Income. Total interest and dividend income increased $655,000, or 15.8%, to $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase was the result of a $709,000 increase in interest and fee income on loans receivable and a $55,000 decrease in interest on investment securities. Approximately, $119,000 of interest income was collected on a paid off nonaccrual loan. The average balance of loans during the year ended December 31, 2015 increased $13.3 million to $ 101.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $88.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, while the average yield on loans increased by 12 basis points to 4.49% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 4.37% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The average balance of investment securities decreased $2.2 million to $11.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $14.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, and the yield on investment securities decreased by 2 basis points to 1.37% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 1.39% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The slight decrease in average yield on securities was due to the pay downs of lower yielding securities, as well as our decision to manage liquidity by investing in shorter-term securities, which generally bear interest at a lower rate than longer-term securities.
Interest Expense. Total interest expense increased $43,000, or 8.8%, to $536,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $493,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. Interest expense on deposit accounts increased $24,000, or 6.2%, to $410,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $386,000 for