The Company’s efficiency ratio, the ratio of non-interest expense to revenues, was 69.42%, 67.63%, and 86.32% for the quarters ended September 30, 2021, June 30, 2021, and September 30, 2020, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s efficiency ratio was 69.25% and 77.71%, respectively.
Balance Sheet:
Total assets of $2.05 billion as of September 30, 2021, represented an increase of $180.0 million, or 10%, compared to $1.87 billion at June 30, 2021 and an increase of $76.3 million, or 4%, compared to $1.97 billion at September 30, 2020. The increase in total assets was primarily due to excess liquidity, partially offset by a decrease in loan balances.
Total gross loans decreased by $50.7 million, or 4%, to $1.30 billion at September 30, 2021 compared to $1.35 billion at June 30, 2021 and decreased by $53.2 million, or 4%, compared to $1.36 billion at September 30, 2020. During the third quarter of 2021, SBA loans decreased by $97.6 million primarily due to PPP loan forgiveness. Partially offsetting this decrease, the real estate other portfolio increased by $47.8 million due to organic growth.
Year-over-year, the decrease in the loan portfolio was primarily due to a decrease in SBA loans of $266.8 million as a result of loan forgiveness offset by increases in commercial loans and real estate other loans of $48.8 million and $124.7 million, respectively. The Company also purchased two additional portfolios of residential solar loans totaling approximately $35.5 million.
As a result of the CARES Act PPP, which was launched in April 2020 and re-launched in January 2021, the Company funded approximately $491.3 million in loans. Approximately $393.8 million of those balances have been granted forgiveness by the SBA as of September 30, 2021.
Total deposits increased by $62.3 million, or 4%, to $1.74 billion at September 30, 2021, from $1.68 billion at June 30, 2021 and $304.8 million, or 21%, over $1.44 billion at September 30, 2020. The increase in total deposits from the end of the second quarter of 2021 was primarily due to the growth in money market and savings deposits of $75.7 million, partially offset by a decrease in time deposits of $15.9 million.
Compared to the same period last year, deposit growth was primarily concentrated in noninterest-bearing demand and money market deposits as the result of funding PPP loans combined with organic growth. Non-interest bearing deposits, consisting primarily of commercial business operating accounts, represented 45.4% of total deposits at September 30, 2021, compared to 47.1% at June 30, 2021 and 44.1% at September 30. 2020.
As of September 30, 2021, the Company had borrowing arrangements, excluding junior subordinated debt securities, of $79.5 million compared to no borrowings at June 30, 2021 and $352.7 million as of September 30, 2020. The increase in borrowings during the third quarter of 2021 was comprised primarily of PPPLF activity.
Asset Quality:
The provision for loan losses increased to $300,000 for the third quarter of 2021 compared to $(1.1) million for the second quarter of 2021 and decreased from $850,000 for the third quarter of 2020. Net loan recoveries in the third quarter of 2021 were $31,000, or 0.00% of gross loans, compared to net charge-offs of $237,000, or 0.02% of gross loans, in the second quarter of 2021 and net recoveries of $11,000, or 0.00% of gross loans, in the third quarter 2020.