to service their loans. Despite these potential hurdles, I remain confident in our people and our business model. We believe with our liquid, well-capitalized balance sheet, strong asset quality, robust underwriting and conservative culture that we are well prepared to manage for the potential challenges ahead.”
Balance Sheet and Credit Quality
Total assets were $2.35 billion at December 31, 2022, $2.31 billion at September 30, 2022 and $2.15 billion at December 31, 2021. During the fourth quarter of 2022, assets increased $42.7 million or 7.4% annualized primarily due to an increase in loans. Asset growth from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022 was $198.9 million or 9.3%.
Total loans, net of unearned income, increased by 7.4% to $1.79 billion at December 31, 2022, compared to $1.67 billion at December 31, 2021. The year-over-year increase in the loan portfolio was primarily attributable to growth in the investor real estate and residential mortgage portfolios.
Total loans, net of unearned income, increased $64.4 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2022 or 14.8% annualized from $1.73 billion at September 30, 2022. The increase in loans was primarily attributable to growth in the investor real estate, residential mortgage, and commercial owner-occupied real estate loan portfolios.
The Company’s portfolio of investments in fixed income securities was $457.0 million at December 31, 2022, $467.1 million at September 30, 2022, and $344.8 million at December 31, 2021. All but $11.3 million of the fixed income portfolio is backed by the explicit or implicit guarantees of the United States Government or one of its agencies. Nearly 70% of the fixed income portfolio is invested in amortizing investments, which provides the Company with a source of steady cash flow to reinvest each month. For 2023, the Company anticipates primarily reinvesting fixed income cash flows into loans. At December 31, 2022, the fixed income portfolio had an estimated weighted average life of 4.5 years.
The Company’s balance sheet remains highly liquid. In addition to deposits in banks and cash flows from fixed income securities, liquidity needs are also met with cash and cash equivalents and unencumbered securities classified as available-for-sale. Liquid assets totaled $335.8 million as of December 31, 2022 compared to $299.3 million at December 31, 2021. These amounts represented 14.3% and 16.8% of total assets as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. In addition, the Bank had secured borrowing capacity of $388 million at December 31, 2022.
Total deposits were $2.07 billion at December 31, 2022, $2.06 billion at September 30, 2022, and $1.88 billion at December 31, 2021. Deposit growth was 9.9% during the past twelve months, as time deposits grew 22.3% and interest-bearing demand deposits grew 9.2%.
Total borrowings, defined as federal funds purchased, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, and subordinated debt, increased by $25.5 million to $50.1 million at December 31, 2022 compared to $24.6 million at September 30, 2022. The increase during the quarter was due to $25.5 million in federal funds purchased. Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased from $18.0 million at December 31, 2021 to zero at December 31, 2022 and were unchanged from September 30, 2022.
Shareholders’ equity increased $4.3 million or 2.1% to $212.8 million at December 31, 2022 compared to $208.5 million at December 31, 2021, as a result of increases in retained earnings and additional paid-in capital, which were partially offset by the increase in the unrealized loss on our available-for-sale investment portfolio. Book value per share was $15.09 as of December 31, 2022 compared to $15.17 as of December 31, 2021. The year-over-year change in book value per share was primarily due to increased accumulated other comprehensive loss, increased share count from shareholder option exercises and restricted share award issuances, and cash dividends paid, partially offset by the Company’s earnings over the previous twelve months. The increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss was primarily attributable to increases in unrealized losses on our available-for-sale investment portfolio due to market value changes as a result of rising interest rates. Book value per share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss (a non-GAAP financial measure which is defined in the tables below) was $17.13 at December 31, 2022 compared to $15.20 at December 31, 2021. The Bank’s capital ratios remain well above regulatory thresholds for well-capitalized banks. As of December 31, 2022, the Bank’s total risk-based capital ratio was 15.6%, compared to 15.3% at December 31, 2021.
The Company recorded no net charge-offs during the fourth quarter of 2022, the third quarter of 2022, and the fourth quarter of 2021. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had no non-accrual loans, no loans more than 30 days past due, and no other real estate owned assets.