Provision for loan losses decreased by $250,000, or 76.92%, to $75,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from a provision for loan losses for the three months ended June 30, 2017 of $325,000. We recorded net charge-offs of $50,000 and $0 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.Non-performing loans totaled $673,000 at June 30, 2018 compared to $2.1 million at June 30, 2017. The decrease of $1.4 million innon-performing loans was the result of a decrease of $1.6 million innon-performing construction and land development loans offset by an increase of $212,000 innon-performingone-to four-family loans. Ournon-performing loans to total loans decreased to 0.48% at June 30, 2018 from 1.48% at June 30, 2017. We reported a higher provision during the three months ended June 30, 2017 due to higher levels ofnon-performing and impaired loans at June 30, 2017. We have provided for losses that are probable and reasonably estimable at June 30, 2018.
Non-interest Income.Non-interest income decreased by $29,000, or 16.67%, to $145,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from $174,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease was primarily due to decreases of $13,000 and $12,000 in the cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance and gain on sale of loans, respectively.
Non-interest Expense.Non-interest expense increased by $101,000, or 7.77%, to $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. Salaries, director fees and employee benefits increased $68,000, or 9.33%, to $797,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from $729,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 due to our investment in our employee base, including the senior management team and our sales and relationship management personnel, to help support our continued growth strategy. Professional fees increased $14,000, or 20.59%, to $82,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from $68,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to increased consulting fees relating to information technology system enhancements. Marketing expenses increased $13,000, or 52.00%, to $38,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $25,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to marketing outlays to generate organic growth and investments in new products and services. We recorded a loss of $14,000 on the sale of foreclosed real estate for the three months ended June 30, 2017. We did not sell any foreclosed real estate during the three months ended June 30, 2018.
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense increased by $38,000 to $73,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from $35,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The effective tax rate was 25.17% and 28.93% for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The increase in tax expense was the result of an increase in income before income taxes of $169,000 to $290,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from $121,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 offset by a decrease in the tax rate as the result of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Job Act (the “Act”) that was signed into law on December 22, 2017. The Act amended the Internal Revenue Code to reduce income tax rates and modify policies, credits and deductions for individuals and businesses. For businesses, the Act reduces the federal corporate tax rate from a maximum 35% to a flat 21% tax rate. The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was lower due to the higher level of nontaxable income during the three months ended June 30, 2017 with respect to the net income before taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2017.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017
General. Net income was $473,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $265,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was due primarily to an increase in net interest income of $160,000, or 5.33%, to $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and a decrease in the provision for loan losses of $225,000, or 60.00%, to $150,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from $375,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was offset by an increase innon-interest expense of $157,000, or 6.28%, to $2.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from $2.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Interest Income. Interest and dividend income increased $224,000, or 6.59%, to $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from $3.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in interest income was due primarily to the increase in average interest-earning assets for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the average interest earnings assets for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Interest income on loans increased $151,000, or 4.87%, to $3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from $3.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the average balance of our loans as well as an increase in the average yield on our loans. Our average balance of loans increased $3.0 million, or 2.20%, to $139.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from $136.1 million for the six months ended June 30,
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