the Restructuring were redeployed into the loan growth anticipated in last quarter’s earnings release and enabled us to enhance our earning asset yield. Part of the Restructuring proceeds were utilized to pay down higher cost wholesale funding, which we expect will slow the rate of increase on our cost of funds. Part of the proceeds are awaiting redeployment, but are earning a higher yield than they were prior to the Restructuring. We anticipate putting these funds to work in the fourth quarter, as our loan pipeline remains strong. In addition, we are encouraged by our core non-maturing deposit growth and improved funding mix during the quarter. Our balance sheet remains strong. We continue to have excellent asset quality and robust liquidity. While the quarter’s reported results reflect the non-recurring impact of the Restructuring, core operating performance of the Company remains strong and we have enhanced our ability to drive earnings growth.”
Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Credit Quality
Total assets were $2.30 billion at September 30, 2023, $2.36 billion at June 30, 2023 and $2.31 billion at September 30, 2022. As discussed in more detail below, the Company reduced wholesale deposits by $58.7 million during the quarter.
Total loans, net of unearned income, increased $95.0 million or 5.5% to $1.82 billion at September 30, 2023, compared to $1.73 billion at September 30, 2022 and $50.3 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2023 or 11.3% annualized from $1.77 billion at June 30, 2023. The increase in loans during both comparative periods was primarily attributable to growth in the residential mortgage and commercial investor real estate loan portfolios.
The carrying value of the Company’s fixed income securities portfolio was $265.4 million at September 30, 2023, $422.7 million at June 30, 2023 and $467.1 million at September 30, 2022. The reduction in the portfolio resulted from the Restructuring, which was previously disclosed in our July 21, 2023 earnings release. As of September 30, 2023, 96.2% of our bond portfolio was covered by the implied guarantee of the United States government or one of its agencies. At September 30, 2023, nearly 67% of the fixed income portfolio was invested in amortizing bonds, which provides the Company with a source of steady cash flow. At September 30, 2023, the fixed income portfolio had an estimated weighted average life of 4.5 years. The available-for-sale portfolio comprised approximately 66% of the fixed income securities portfolio and had a weighted average life of 3.2 years at September 30, 2023. The held-to-maturity portfolio comprised approximately 34% of the fixed income securities portfolio and had a weighted average life of 7.0 years at September 30, 2023. The Company did not purchase any fixed income securities during the three or nine month periods ended September 30, 2023.
The Company’s balance sheet remains highly liquid. The Company’s liquidity position, defined as the sum of cash, unencumbered securities and available secured borrowing capacity, totaled $742.5 million as of September 30, 2023 compared to $839.4 million as of June 30, 2023 and represented 32.3% and 35.5% of total assets, respectively. Wholesale deposits, defined as brokered and QwickRate certificates of deposit, decreased $58.7 million or 16.3% from $359.1 million at June 30, 2023 to $300.5 million at September 30, 2023. As discussed above, the Company also funded $50.3 million of net loan growth during the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
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| | Liquidity Trends |
| | | September 30, 2023 | | | June 30, 2023 | | | March 31, 2023 | | | December 31, 2022 | | | September 30, 2022 | |
(Dollars in thousands) | | | Amount | % of Assets | | | Amount | % of Assets | | | Amount | % of Assets | | | Amount | % of Assets | | | Amount | % of Assets | |
Cash | | $ | 192,656 | 8.4 | % | $ | 129,551 | 5.5 | % | $ | 103,359 | 4.4 | % | $ | 61,599 | 2.6 | % | $ | 74,756 | 3.2 | % |
Unencumbered Securities | | | 80,267 | 3.5 | % | | 233,695 | 9.9 | % | | 298,194 | 12.7 | % | | 313,618 | 13.4 | % | | 345,987 | 15.0 | % |
Available Secured Borrowing Capacity | | | 469,524 | 20.4 | % | | 476,144 | 20.1 | % | | 451,008 | 19.2 | % | | 388,257 | 16.5 | % | | 401,828 | 17.4 | % |
Total Liquidity | | $ | 742,447 | 32.3 | % | $ | 839,390 | 35.5 | % | $ | 852,561 | 36.3 | % | $ | 763,474 | 32.5 | % | $ | 822,571 | 35.6 | % |
If the Company were to avail itself of additional Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”) funding, we estimate an incremental increase in our liquidity position of approximately $13.4 million, increasing our potential liquidity to $755.8 million as of September 30, 2023. In addition to available secured borrowing capacity, the Bank had available federal funds lines of $110.0 million at September 30, 2023.
Total deposits were $1.98 billion at September 30, 2023, $2.05 billion at June 30, 2023 and $2.06 billion at September 30, 2022. Total deposits decreased $64.7 million or 3.2% when compared to June 30, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a managed reduction in costlier wholesale deposits of $58.7 million or 16.3% during the quarter. NOW deposits increased $34.3 million or 11.0% to partially offset the decrease in wholesale deposits. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $614.0 million of deposits that were not insured or not collateralized by securities compared to $697.0