Non-Interest Income:
The Company’s non-interest income for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, and March 31, 2023 was $1.7 million, $1.3 million, and $1.1 million, respectively. The increase in non-interest income from the fourth quarter of 2023 and the same period in the prior year was primarily due to an increase in service charges and loan related fees.
Net interest income and non-interest income comprised total revenue of $19.4 million, $19.9 million, and $19.9 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, and March 31, 2023, respectively.
Non-Interest Expense:
The Company’s non-interest expense for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, and March 31, 2023 was $13.7 million, $12.2 million, and $11.8 million, respectively. The increase in non-interest expense from the prior periods was primarily due to the recognition of merger related expenses, combined with a decrease in capitalized loan origination costs. Additionally, compared to the same period in the prior year, the Company incurred increases in salaries and benefits as well as premises and equipment. Excluding capitalized loan origination costs and the impact of merger related expenses, non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2024, the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2023 was $13.1 million, $13.0 million, and $12.5 million, respectively (See Interim Consolidated Non-GAAP Data).
The Company’s efficiency ratio, the ratio of non-interest expense to revenues, was 70.57%, 61.36%, and 59.62% for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, and March 31, 2023, respectively. Excluding the impact of merger related expenses, the Company’s efficiency ratio was 65.29% for the first quarter of 2024 (See Interim Consolidated Non-GAAP Data).
Balance Sheet:
Total assets of $1.92 billion as of March 31, 2024 represented a decrease of $63.4 million compared to $1.99 billion at December 31, 2023, and a decrease of $128.2 million compared to total assets of $2.05 billion at March 31, 2023. The decrease in total assets from the prior periods was primarily due to conservative new loan production, combined with decreased liquidity related to a reduction in other borrowings.
Total gross loans decreased by $38.6 million, or 2%, to $1.52 billion at March 31, 2024, from $1.56 billion at December 31, 2023 and decreased $96.4 million, or 6%, from $1.62 billion at March 31, 2023. During the first quarter of 2024, commercial loans decreased by $16.2 million, or 3%, real estate related loans decreased by $23.5 million, or 3%, and other loans increased $1.1 million, or 2%. Compared to the same period in the prior year, commercial, real estate other, real estate construction and land, and other loans decreased by $46.1 million, or 7%, $19.3 million, or 2%, $28.0 million, or 44%, and $3.0 million, or 7%, respectively.
Total deposits increased by $14.3 million, or 1%, to $1.64 billion at March 31, 2024 from $1.63 billion at December 31, 2023, and decreased by $78.1 million, or 5%, from $1.72 billion at March 31, 2023. The increase in total deposits during the first quarter of 2024 was primarily due to an increase in money market and savings accounts of $25.2 million, or 4%, and an increase in time deposits of $17.7 million, or 6%, partially offset by a decrease in demand deposits of $28.6 million, or 4%. The decrease in demand deposits was primarily due to the seasonal outflow of deposits that occurs at the beginning of the year for many of our business clients. Compared to the same period last year, the decrease in total deposits was primarily concentrated in noninterest-bearing demand deposits, partially offset by an increase in money market and savings accounts. Noninterest-bearing deposits, primarily commercial business operating accounts, represented 38.6% of total deposits at March 31, 2024, compared to 40.4% at December 31, 2023 and 43.1% at March 31, 2023.