Non-interest expense of $23.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 increased by $1.7 million, or 8%, compared to $21.7 million for the same period of 2022. Excluding capitalized loan origination costs, non-interest expense was $24.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and $23.8 million for the same period in 2022 which reflects investment in infrastructure to support the continued growth of the Company.
The Company’s efficiency ratio, the ratio of non-interest expense to revenues, was 58.66%, 59.62%, and 61.41% for the quarters ended June 30, 2023, March 31, 2023, and June 30, 2022, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company’s efficiency ratio was 59.14% and 62.68%, respectively.
Balance Sheet:
Total assets of $2.01 billion as of June 30, 2023, represented a decrease of $45.1 million, or 2%, compared to $2.05 billion at March 31, 2023 and an increase of $120.3 million, or 6%, compared to $1.89 billion at June 30, 2022. The decrease in total assets from the prior quarter was primarily the result of a modest reduction in line utilization in our commercial loan portfolio. Compared to the same period in the prior year, total assets increased primarily due to strong loan growth in the commercial and real estate portfolios.
Total gross loans decreased by $33.6 million, or 2%, to $1.58 billion at June 30, 2023, from $1.62 billion at March 31, 2023 and increased by $83.3 million, or 6%, compared to $1.50 billion at June 30, 2022. During the second quarter of 2023, the reduction in gross loans was primarily the result of commercial loans decreasing by $34.2 million, or 5%. Compared to the same period in the prior year, commercial loans increased by $32.7 million, or 6%, and real estate other loans increased by $61.8 million, or 8%, primarily due to organic growth. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in SBA loans of $8.4 million, or 63%, primarily due to PPP loan forgiveness.
Total deposits increased by $20.7 million, or 1%, to $1.74 billion at June 30, 2023 from $1.72 billion at March 31, 2023, and increased by $186.2 million, or 12%, from $1.55 billion at June 30, 2022. The increase in total deposits from the end of the first quarter of 2023 was primarily due to an increase in money market and savings deposits of $16.8 million. Compared to the same period last year, the increase in total deposits was primarily concentrated in time deposits as a result of higher balances of short-term brokered certificates of deposits which were added to temporarily increase liquidity. Non-interest bearing deposits, primarily commercial business operating accounts, represented 42.7% of total deposits at June 30, 2023, compared to 43.1% at March 31, 2023 and 46.1% at June 30, 2022.
As of June 30, 2023, the Company had no outstanding borrowings, excluding junior subordinated debt securities, compared to $75.0 million at March 31, 2023 and $100.0 million at June 30, 2022. The decrease in borrowings during the second quarter of 2023 compared to the prior periods was primarily due to increased liquidity generated from the deposit portfolio.
Asset Quality:
The provision for credit losses on loans decreased to $340,000 for the second quarter of 2023 compared to $464,000 for the first quarter of 2023, and $925,000 for the second quarter of 2022. The Company did not have any loan charge-offs or recoveries during the second quarter of 2023, a loan charge-off of $247,000, or 0.02% of gross loans, and no recoveries during the first quarter of 2023, and no loan charge-offs or recoveries during the second quarter of 2022.