The decrease in noninterest income for the current quarter compared to the previous quarter was primarily due to a $1.1 million decrease in gain on sale of loans, primarily due to a decrease in volume of loans sold this quarter, and a $273,000 decrease in income from our SBIC investment. The decrease in noninterest income for the current quarter compared to the same period in 2020 was primarily due to a $399,000 decrease in income from our investment in SBIC fund, and $206,000 decrease in loan servicing fees and other fees, partially offset by a $284,000 increase in gain on sale of loans.
Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2021 decreased $125,000, or 0.9%, to $13.8 million compared to $13.9 million for the third quarter in 2021 and decreased $154,000, or 1.1%, compared to $13.9 million for the same quarter in 2020. The decrease in noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the previous quarter primarily was the result of a $152,000, or 10.2% decrease in data processing expense related to reversing over accrued merger data processing expenses related to our GMB acquisition due to actual expenses being lower than original estimates, a $171,000 decrease, or 8.8% decrease in occupancy expense related to reduced common area maintenance costs under certain lease agreements and the closure of one branch on September 30, 2021, and a $242,000, or 10.6% decrease in other expenses. The decrease was partially offset by a $440,000 net increase in salaries and employees benefits primarily due to final year-end accrual adjustments for employee incentives and commissions earned in 2021 related to increased loan production and the Company’s financial performance.
Noninterest expenses for the fourth quarter of 2021 decreased $154,000 or 1.1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, primarily due a $175,000, or 11.6% decrease in data processing expense and a $102,000, or 4.7% decrease in other expense, partially offset by a $103,000, or 1.2%, increase in salaries and employee benefits expense.
The provision for income taxes increased $100,000 to $2.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the third quarter of 2021, and increased $1.1 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. The increase in income tax provision in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the prior quarter was due to a slight increase in the effective tax rate related to decreased tax-exempt income. The increase in income tax provision in the current quarter compared to the same quarter of 2020 was due primarily to an increase in taxable income. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2021 was 27.7% compared to 26.8% for the third quarter of 2021 and 18.1% for the same quarter a year ago. The effective rate for the fourth quarter of 2020 was lower primarily due to post closing adjustments related to prior acquisitions.
Loans and Credit Quality
Loans, net of deferred fees, increased $24.1 million to $1.7 billion at December 31, 2021, compared to September 30, 2021, and increase $21.6 million compared to December 31, 2020. The increase in loans at December 31, 2021 compared to September 30, 2021, was primarily due to loan originations totaling $171.4 million, partially offset by loan repayments totaling $96.1 million, including $43.6 million in PPP loan forgiveness repayments from the SBA, and $9.8 million in loan sales. As of December 31, 2021, there was a total of 323 PPP loans outstanding totaling $69.6 million, compared to $113.2 million at September 30, 2021 and $135.6 million at December 31, 2020.
Nonperforming loans, consisting of non-accrual loans and accruing loans that are 90 days or more past due, totaled $6.9 million or 0.41% of total loans at December 31, 2021, compared to $8.3 million or 0.50% of total loans at September 30, 2021, and $8.4 million or 0.53% of total loans at December 31, 2020. The portion of nonaccrual loans guaranteed by government agencies totaled $822,000, $841,000, and $850,000 at December 31, 2021, September 30, 2021, and December 30, 2020, respectively. There were no loans that were 90 days or more past due and still accruing at December 31, 2021, compared to one loan totaling $1.0 million at September 30, 2021, and one loan totaling $233,000 at December 31, 2020. Accruing loans past due between 30 and 89 days at December 31, 2021, were $3.8 million, compared to $10.0 million at September 30, 2021, and $734,000 at December 31, 2020. The decrease in loans past due between 30 and 89 days from previous quarter was due to two matured loans which were in the process of renewal at September 30, 2021 and subsequently renewed.
At December 31, 2021, the Company’s allowance for loan losses was $17.7 million, or 1.06% of total loans, compared to $17.3 million, or 1.05% of total loans, at September 30, 2021, and $17.5 million, or 1.06% of total loans, at December 31, 2020. We recorded net charge-offs of $95,000 for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to net charge-offs $177,000 in the previous quarter and net recoveries of $216,000 in the same quarter in 2020.