Noninterest expense decreased $2,549 thousand to $10,640 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2018, from $13,189 thousand for the same period last year. The decrease in noninterest expense for the quarter was due primarily to recognizing merger related expenses in the fourth quarter of 2017 of $3,299 thousand. For the twelve months ended December 31, noninterest expense increased to $38,925 thousand in 2018 compared to $28,560 thousand in 2017. The majority of this increase relates to salaries and employee benefit expense, which was a result of the merger with CBT and related costs. Additions to facilities as a result of the CBT merger along with offices to support lending teams were primarily responsible for the $882 thousand increase in occupancy and equipment costs. The majority of the $2,409 thousand increase in other expenses comparing 2018 and 2017 was a result of the business combination with CBT.
BALANCE SHEET REVIEW
Total assets, loans, net and deposits totaled $1.1 billion, $893.2 million, and $1.0 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2018. For the three months ended December 31, 2018, total assets, loans, net and deposits decreased $19.1 million, $22.3 million and $16.2 million, respectively. For the year loans, net, decreased $62.8 million comparing the end of the fourth quarter of 2018 to year end 2017. All major categories of loans declined in 2018. Business lending, including commercial and commercial real estate loans decreased $45.8 million while retail lending, including residential mortgages and consumer loans decreased $17.0 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. Loan originations during the year of 2018 represented a more moderate pace as compared to 2017. The reduction in loan growth was a result of merger related attrition including payoffs on acquired purchase credit impaired loans and management’s steadfast adherence to both strong credit quality underwriting standards and pricing discipline. Total investments were $104.7 million at December 31, 2018, compared to $93.2 million at December 31, 2017. Total deposits decreased $21.9 million in 2018. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased $6.7 million, while interest-bearing deposits decreased $28.6 million. As a percentage of total deposits, noninterest-bearing deposits amounted to 16.2% at December 31, 2018 and 15.2% at December 31, 2017.
Stockholders’ equity totaled $113.9 million, or $12.49 per share, at December 31, 2018, $112.0 million, or $12.30 per share, at September 30, 2018, and $106.3 million, or $11.72 per common share, at December 31, 2017. The increase in equity in the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was a result primarily of net income of $10.9 million offset partially by an increase of $1.0 million in the accumulated other comprehensive loss and dividends declared of $2.7 million. Tangible stockholders’ equity per common share increased to $9.39 at December 31, 2018, compared to $9.17 at September 30, 2018 and $8.50 at December 31, 2017. Dividends declared for the fourth quarter of 2018 amounted to $0.10 per share representing a dividend payout ratio of 37.0%.
ASSET QUALITY REVIEW
Nonperforming assets were $7.2 million, or 0.81% of loans, net and foreclosed assets at December 31, 2018 compared to $8.3 million or 0.91% at September 30, 2018 and $8.2 million, or 0.85% at December 31, 2017. Adjusting for accruing restructured loans, nonperforming assets were $4.3 million, or 0.48% of loans, net and foreclosed assets at December 31, 2018, $3.7 million, or 0.40%, at September 30, 2018 and $2.7 million, or 0.28%, at December 31, 2017. The allowance for loan losses equaled $6.3 million, or 0.71%, of loans, net at December 31, 2018, compared to $6.5 million, or 0.71%, at September 30 2018 and $6.3 million, or 0.66%, at December 31, 2017. Adding purchase accounting adjustments for credit deterioration on acquired loans to the allowance for loan losses would result in a ratio of 1.12% as a percentage of loans, net at December 31, 2018. The coverage ratio, allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming assets, was 88.1% at December 31, 2018. Excluding accruing restructured loans, the coverage ratio would be 148.0% at December 31, 2018. Loanscharged-off, net of recoveries, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, equaled $124 thousand and $573 thousand, compared to $98 thousand and $160 thousand for the same period last year.
Riverview Financial Corporation is the parent company of Riverview Bank and its operating divisions Citizens Neighborhood Bank, CBT Bank, Riverview Wealth Management and CBT Financial and Trust Management. An independent community bank, Riverview Bank serves the Pennsylvania market areas of Berks, Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Lycoming, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill and Somerset Counties through 30 community banking offices and three limited purpose offices. Each office, interdependent with the community, offers a comprehensive array of financial products and services to individuals, businesses,not-for-profit organizations and government entities. The Wealth