securities was to conform to our policy of 10% or less of securities to total assets and to take advantage of higher yielding securities in a rising rate environment. A portion of our securities portfolio is used to collateralize FHLB advances.
Total deposits increased $10.1 million, or 8.5%, to $129.6 million at December 31, 2017 from $119.5 million at December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in certificates of deposit, which increased $13.3 million, or 23.1%, to $70.9 million at December 31, 2017 from $57.6 million at December 31, 2016. This increase was primarily due to a special certificate of deposit rate promotion during the first quarter of 2017 and the increase of $1.3 million in CDARS deposits at December 31, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016. Additionally, we experienced an increase in NOW accounts of $1.8 million, or 16.2%, to $12.9 million at December 31, 2017 from $11.1 million at December 31, 2016. The increase in NOW accounts was primarily due to the addition of new commercial deposit accounts and increased marketing efforts to increase deposit accounts with our residential mortgage customers. We are offering new products and services to attract commercial checking accounts in 2018. Business online internet banking, ACH origination and wire services, remote deposit capture, mobility business services, check free small business bill payment and delivery and mobile source capture, are products targeting the growth of our business deposit accounts.
Total borrowings from the FHLB of New York decreased $3.5 million, or 12.5%, to $24.5 million at December 31, 2017 from $28.0 million at December 31, 2016 as we repaid shorter-term borrowings due to the growth in our deposits.
Total stockholders’ equity increased $7.6 million, or 70.4%, to $18.4 million at December 31, 2017 from $10.8 million at December 31, 2016. The increase was due to the combined effect of our initial public stock offering net of expenses and ESOP of $7.1 million, net income of $524,000, and other comprehensive income of $13,000.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
General. Net income decreased $3,000, or 0.6%, to $524,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $527,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was due to a decrease in non-interest income, an increase in non-interest expense and an increase in the provision for income tax, offset by an increase in net interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses.
Interest Income. Interest income increased $984,000, or 17.2%, to $6.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 from $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Our average balance of interest-earning assets increased $21.5 million, or 15.1%, to $163.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 from $142.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 due primarily to the increase in the average balance of loans. Our average yield of interest-earning assets increased six basis points to 4.18% for the year ended December 31, 2017 from 4.12% for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Interest income on loans increased $827,000, or 14.5%, to $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 from $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 due to the increase in the average balance of loans. Our average balance of loans increased $18.9 million, or 15.8%, to $138.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 from $119.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in the average balance of loans resulted from our continued emphasis on growing our one- to four-family residential real estate portfolio and our recent increased focus on commercial lending. Our average yield on loans decreased by two basis points to 4.55% for the year ended December 31, 2017 from 4.57% for the year ended December 31, 2016, as higher-yielding loans have been repaid or refinanced and were replaced with lower-yielding loans, reflecting the current interest rate environment.
Interest income on securities increased $141,000, or 36.9%, to $523,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017 from $382,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The average balance of available-for-sale securities increased $1.6 million, or 8.0%, to $21.5 million in 2017 from $19.9 million in 2016 due primarily to securities purchases partially offset by sales and maturities. The average yield we earned on available-for-sale securities increased by 34 basis points to 1.90% for the year ended December 31, 2017 from 1.56% for the year ended December 31, 2016 as yields on available-for- sale securities increased with new purchases at higher yields replacing lower yielding maturing or sold investments.