Results of Operations— Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
Overview
We recorded net income of $4.7 million, or $0.32 per diluted common share, for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to net income of $3.9 million, or $0.28 per diluted common share, for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was impacted by one-time accelerated recognition of debt issuance costs of $380 thousand (associated with our redemption of our 2016 subordinated debt issuance during the third quarter of 2021) and merger and acquisition expenses of $1.1 million, neither of which occurred during the comparable 2020 period. Net interest income increased $884 thousand to $14.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $13.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. No provision for loan losses was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $1.7 million for the same period of 2020. Noninterest income was $1.1 million compared to $770 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Noninterest expense was $9.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $7.7 million for the same three month period of 2020.
The annualized return on average assets for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was 0.91% and 0.89%, respectively. The annualized return on average equity for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was 9.18% and 8.44%, respectively.
Operating earnings, which exclude merger-related expenses and accelerated debt issuance costs, net of tax, for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were $5.8 million and $3.9 million, respectively, an increase of $1.9 million, or 51%. Diluted earnings per share excluding merger-related expenses and accelerated debt issuance costs, net of tax, for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were $0.40 and $0.28, respectively. Operating earnings annualized return on average assets for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was 1.14% and 0.89%, respectively. Operating earnings annualized return on average equity for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was 11.46% and 8.44%, respectively. We believe that operating earnings is a financial measure that is more reflective of our operating performance than net income. Operating earnings is determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable financial measures in accordance with GAAP can be found in the table below.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recorded net income of $15.4 million, or $1.06 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $10.5 million, or $0.74 per diluted common share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was impacted by the aforementioned one-time accelerated recognition of debt issuance costs of $380 thousand and merger and acquisition expenses of $1.1 million, neither of which occurred during the comparable 2020 period. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was impacted by one-time branch closure costs of $676 thousand and increased provision for loan losses, neither of which occurred during the year-to-date 2021 period. Net interest income increased $4.2 million to $42.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $38.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a result of an increase in interest-earning assets through organic growth and a decrease in deposit interest expense year-over-year. No provision for loan losses was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $4.5 million for the same period of 2020. Noninterest income increased $386 thousand to $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to $2.2 million for 2020. Noninterest expense was $25.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $23.0 million for the same nine month period of 2020.
The annualized return on average assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was 1.05% and 0.84%, respectively. The annualized return on average equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was 10.35% and 7.72%, respectively.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, operating earnings (which excludes merger-related expenses and accelerated debt issuance costs during 2021, and branch closure costs recorded during 2020) was $16.6 million and $11.0 million, respectively, an increase of $5.6 million, or 50%. Diluted earnings per share on an operating earnings basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were $1.14 and $0.78, respectively. Operating earnings annualized return on average assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was 1.13% and 0.88%, respectively. Operating earnings annualized return on average equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was 11.13% and 8.11%, respectively.