The decrease in FDIC insurance fees was primarily due to lower insurance premiums. The decrease in advertising expenses was primarily due to lower vendor expenses in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021. The decrease in other operating expenses was primarily due to lower check printing expense as a result of contract renegotiations that took place in the second half of 2021 and lower Virginia Bankers Insurance assessments.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense increased $456 thousand or 32.2% to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was 19.6%, compared to 21.8% for the same period ended March 31, 2021. The decrease in our effective tax rate was primarily due to tax benefits realized in connection with the exercise of certain nonqualified stock options in the current quarter.
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
Assets, Liabilities, and Shareholders’ Equity
The Company’s total assets increased $100.3 million or 4.7% to $2.25 billion at March 31, 2022 compared to $2.15 billion at December 31, 2021. The increase in total assets was primarily funded by increases in deposits resulting in an increase in interest-bearing deposits in banks of $73.3 million and an increase in the carrying value of the Company’s fixed income investment portfolio of $57.5 million. The increase was partially offset due to a decrease in loans, net of unearned income of $35.2 million, primarily as a result of PPP loan payoffs, which totaled $60.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
The Company’s total liabilities increased $103.9 million or 5.4% to $2.04 billion at March 31, 2022 compared to $1.94 billion at December 31, 2021. The increase in total liabilities was primarily attributable to an increase in total deposits of $101.5 million with the largest contributor being interest-bearing deposits of $126.2 million, which was partially offset by a decrease in time deposits of $44.7 million.
The Company’s total shareholders’ equity decreased $3.6 million or 1.7% to $204.9 million at March 31, 2022 compared to $208.5 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease in total shareholders’ equity was primarily due to an increase in the net unrealized loss on the Company’s available-for-sale investement portfolio and the one-time special divided declared during the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in retained earnings attributable to the first quarter’s net income and an increase in additional paid-in capital due to stock option exercises. Total common shares outstanding increased from 13,745,598, including 75,826 shares relating to unvested stock awards, at December 31, 2021, to 13,950,570, including 60,366 shares relating to unvested stock awards, at March 31, 2022.
Investment Securities
The Company maintains a fixed income investment securities portfolio that had a total carrying value of $402.3 million at March 31, 2022 and $344.8 million at December 31, 2021. The investment portfolio is used as a source of liquidity, interest income, and credit risk diversification, as well as to manage rate sensitivity and provide collateral for secured public funds. Investment securities are classified as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity based on management’s investment strategy and management’s assessment of the intent and ability to hold the securities until maturity. Investment securities that we may sell prior to maturity in response to changes in management’s investment strategy, liquidity needs, interest rate risk profile or for other reasons are classified as available-for-sale. The Company also had restricted stock and equity securities within its investment securities portfolio with total carrying values of $5.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2022 and $5.0 million and $1.9 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2021.
The Company purchased $88.2 million of investment securities during the three months ended March 31, 2022, which were comprised of $57.7 million of mortgage-backed securities, $20.7 million of U.S. Treasuries, $4.8 million of U.S. government and federal agency securities, $3.0 million of collateralized mortgage obligation securities, and $2.0 million of corporate bonds. The Company had $17.2 million in maturities, calls and principal repayments on securities during the three months ended March 31, 2022, which was comprised of $7.3 million of mortgage-backed securities, $5.8 million of U.S. government and federal agency securities, and $4.1 million of collateralized mortgage obligation securities.