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Noninterest expense of $20.1 million, which represented an increase of $5.9 million, or 41.4%, compared to the same period in 2018. This increase was primarily due to increased employee headcount, opening additional bank locations and preparations to open our Digital Innovation Center.
Financial Condition
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Total assets increased to $963.2 million, which represented an increase of $233.6 million, or 32.0%, compared to December 31, 2018. This increase was largely attributable to net loan growth of $163.2 million.
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Net loans increased to $764.7 million, an increase of $163.2 million, or 27.1%, compared to December 31, 2018. We experienced growth across all loan categories, with the largest growth experienced in commercial real estate, residential, and construction and development.
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Nonperforming assets totaled $4.7 million, which includes two loans being classified as nonperforming as well as two accruing loans over 90 days past due. There were no nonperforming assets as of December 31, 2018.
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As of September 30, 2019, we were well-capitalized, with a total risk-based capital ratio of 12.5%, a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 11.5%, a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 11.5%, and a leverage ratio of 8.4%. As of September 30, 2019, all of our regulatory capital ratios exceeded the thresholds to be well-capitalized under the applicable bank regulatory requirements.
Other Highlights
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In January 2019, we hired a private banking team from a large South Florida-based bank to establish our Doral, FL loan production office, which opened in July 2019.
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In May 2019, we converted our Boca Raton, FL loan production office into a full-service branch and we opened our fifth branch in Miami, FL (Dadeland).
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In May 2019, we hired the former president of a South Florida-based community bank and a banking team from a large national bank to establish our Wellington, FL loan production office, which opened in July 2019.
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In August 2019, we entered into a merger agreement to acquire Marquis Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Marquis Bank, for shares of our Class A Common Stock.
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In October 2019, we opened our Digital Innovation Center in Cleveland, OH.
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On November 12, 2019 and December 10, 2019 we received approval for our planned merger with MBI from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, respectively.
The Merger
On August 9, 2019, we entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire MBI and its wholly owned subsidiary, Marquis Bank, headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida. The acquisition of Marquis Bank will add three branches to our Miami-Dade MSA footprint, and on a pro forma basis would make us the 12th largest independent community bank based in Florida and the fourth largest independent community bank based in South Florida. Pursuant to the merger agreement, each share of MBI common stock outstanding, other than shares with respect to which appraisal rights have been properly exercised, will be converted into the right to receive 1.2048 shares of our Class A Common Stock, with cash paid in lieu of any fractional shares. If the merger had been completed on September 30, 2019, we expect that we would have issued approximately 4,119,438 shares of our Class A Common Stock, assuming none of the MBI shareholders exercised appraisal rights. In addition, all stock options of MBI granted and outstanding prior to the merger will be converted into an option to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock based on the exchange ratio. Upon completion of this acquisition, which is subject to several customary closing conditions, including, among others, regulatory approval, both companies’ shareholder approvals, the closing of this initial public offering, and the filing of an effective registration statement on Form S-4 with