Provisions for Loan Losses. Provisions for loan losses are charged to operations to establish an allowance for loan losses at a level necessary to absorb known and inherent losses in our loan portfolio that are both probable and reasonably estimable at the date of the financial statements. In evaluating the level of the allowance for loan losses, management analyzes several qualitative loan portfolio risk factors, including, but not limited to, management’s ongoing review and grading of loans, facts and issues related to specific loans, historical loan loss and delinquency experience, trends in past due andnon-accrual loans, existing risk characteristics of specific loans or loan pools, the fair value of underlying collateral, current economic conditions and other qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect potential credit losses. The allowance for loan losses is assessed on a quarterly basis and provisions are made for loan losses as required in order to maintain the allowance.
Provision for loan losses increased by $15,000, or 20.00%, to $90,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from a provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 of $75,000. We did not record net charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and net charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were $21,000.Non-performing loans totaled $1.2 million at March 31, 2019 compared to $794,000 at March 31, 2018. The increase of $440,000 innon-performing loans was primarily the result of a increase of $484,000 innon-performing nonresidential loans relating to one loan which has been written down to its current fair market value. Ournon-performing loans to total loans increased to 0.84% at March 31, 2019 from 0.56% at March 31, 2018. The increase in provision for loan losses was necessary due to an increase in our loan balances as well as an increase in our delinquent loans,non-performing loans and impaired loans during the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the loan balances, delinquent loans,non-performing loans and impaired loans during the three months ended March 31, 2018. We have provided for losses that are probable and reasonably estimable at March 31, 2019.
Non-interest Income.Non-interest income decreased by $59,000, or 39.07%, to $92,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $151,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease of $50,000 on the gain on sale of loans.
Non-interest Expense.Non-interest expense increased by $193,000, or 14.78%, to $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Salaries, director fees and employee benefits increased $105,000, or 13.44%, to $886,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $781,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 due primarily to the recording of $109,000 in stock-based compensation expense relating to the ESOP. Premises and equipment expenses increased $14,000, or 13.33%, to $119,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $105,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 due primarily to an increase in equipment maintenance costs. Legal and professional expenses increased $47,000, or 61.84%, to $123,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $76,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily due to increased consulting fees relating to information technology system enhancements and the increased expenses relating to reporting requirements associated with the Company’s public company status. Marketing expenses decreased $13,000, or 36.11%, to $23,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to $36,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily due to the timing of the expense for marketing outlays which are used to generate organic growth and investments in new products and services. Other operating expenses increased $36,000, or 25.35%, to $178,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $142,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily due to an increase in insurance costs as well as an increase in software maintenance costs.
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense increased $15,000, or 18.75%, to $95,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $80,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The effective tax rate was 25.97% and 23.85% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in tax expense was the result of an increase in income before income taxes of $31,000, or 9.23%, to $367,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to $336,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
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