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 decreased by $15,000, or 20.00%, to $60,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from a provision for loan losses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 of $75,000. We recorded net charge-offs of $50,000 for each of the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018.Non-performing loans totaled $929,000 at June 30, 2018 compared to $673,000 million at June 30, 2018. The increase of $256,000 innon-performing loans was the result of an increase of $484,000 innon-performing nonresidential loans offset by a decrease of $238,000 innon-performingone-to four-family loans. Ournon-performing loans to total loans increased to 0.64% at June 30, 2019 from 0.48% at June 30, 2018. We have provided for losses that are probable and reasonably estimable at June 30, 2019.
Non-interest Income.Non-interest income decreased by $40,000, or 27.59%, to $105,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from $145,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease of $39,000 in gain on sale of loans to $19,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from $58,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018.
Non-interest Expense.Non-interest expense increased by $401,000, or 28.96%, to $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Salaries, director fees and employee benefits increased $249,000, or 31.24%, to $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from $797,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 due primarily to the recording of $205,000 in stock-based compensation expense relating to the ESOP and 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. Professional fees increased $80,000, or 97.56%, to $162,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from $82,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 primarily due to increased consulting fees relating to information technology system enhancements, the increased expenses relating to reporting requirements associated with the Company’s public company status offset by a recovery of legal fee expenses relating to past due loan relationships that were resolved in the second quarter of 2019. Marketing expenses increased $11,000, or 28.95%, to $49,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $38,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 primarily due to marketing outlays to generate organic growth and investments in new products and services. Provision for losses and costs on foreclosed real estate increased by $20,000 to $26,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from $6,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 due to a writedown in the valuation of the foreclosed real estate to its current fair market value. Other operating expenses increased by $49,000, or 32.03%, to $202,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from $153,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 primarily due to an increase in insurance costs as well as an increase in software maintenance costs.
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense decreased by $17,000, or 23.29%, to $56,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from $73,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018. The effective tax rate was 24.46% and 25.30% for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in tax expense was the result of a decrease in income before income taxes of $108,000 to $228,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 from $290,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018
General. Net income was $444,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $473,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The decrease was due primarily to an increase innon-interest expense and a decrease innon-interest income offset by an increase in net interest income.Non-interest expenses increased by $595,000, or 22.33%, to $3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $2.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018.Non-interest income decreased $100,000, or 33.67%, to $197,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $297,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018. Net interest income increased $664,000, or 21.12%, to $3.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from $3.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
Interest Income. Interest and dividend income increased $883,000, or 24.62%, to $4.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The increase in interest income was due primarily to the increase in average interest-earning assets for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the average interest earnings assets for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
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