Noninterest Expense
Total noninterest expenses were $31.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $216,000, or 0.7%, from the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Deposit insurance expense increased $666,000 and compensation and benefits increased $421,000, primarily reflecting increased mortgage origination commission partially offset by decreased payroll tax expense. There were additional decreases in occupancy and equipment expense of $407,000, reflecting recent cost saving measures.
Total noninterest expenses decreased $3.2 million, or 9.2%, from the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Compensation and benefits decreased $3.2 million, primarily reflecting decreased mortgage origination commission and incentive accruals, and professional fees decreased $566,000, partially offset by a deposit insurance expense increase of $822,000.
During the second quarter of 2023 the Bank took cost-saving and organizational efficiency measures with an estimated annual savings of $2.9 million and recognized severance expense of $452,000. Additionally, the Bank closed one branch and relocated another branch, which will both provide additional long-term expense savings.
Asset Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses
Total nonperforming assets were $20.2 million at June 30, 2023, compared to $12.3 million at March 31, 2023 and $24.4 million at June 30, 2022. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.36% at June 30, 2023, 0.22% at March 31, 2023, and 0.52% at June 30, 2022. During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, a $2.9 million charge off was recorded on a metro office space commercial real estate credit, and it was placed on nonaccrual. As of June 30, 2023, the carrying value of the credit is $7.0 million.
The provision for credit losses for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 was $3.3 million and primarily reflects replenishment as a result of the charge-off and provisioning for loan growth. Net charge-offs totaled $2.7 million, or 0.23% of average loans outstanding on an annualized basis, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Net recoveries totaled $11,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and $504,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.
The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) on loans was $47.8 million, or 1.02% of total loans, at June 30, 2023, compared to $47.0 million, or 1.02% of total loans, at March 31, 2023 and $43.6 million, or 1.11% of total loans, at June 30, 2022. The ACL on unfunded commitments, included in other liabilities on the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets, amounted to $4.8 million at June 30, 2023 as compared to $5.0 million at March 31, 2023 and $5.1 million at June 30, 2022.
We believe that we are well positioned to withstand a downturn in the credit cycle should one materialize. We continue to closely monitor our loan portfolio for signs of deterioration. Management continues to be focused on commercial real estate in light of speculation that commercial real estate values may deteriorate as the market adjusts to higher vacancies and rates. Our commercial real estate portfolio is centered in New England, with approximately 75% in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Approximately 60% of commercial real estate loans are fixed-rate loans with limited near-term maturity risk.
Management has also identified certain sectors within the commercial real estate segment that may be particularly susceptible to increased credit risk as a result of trends that were precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and may be exacerbated by current economic conditions. This includes business-oriented hotels, non-anchored retail space and metro office space. As of June 30, 2023, business-oriented hotels loans included 13 loans with a total outstanding balance of $114.8 million, non-anchored retail space loans included 28 loans with a total outstanding balance of $41.5 million, and metro office space loans included two loans with a total outstanding balance of $11.9 million. As of June 30, 2023, there was one metro office space loan with a carrying value of $7.0 million, that was rated doubtful and on nonaccrual and one business-oriented hotel credit with a carrying value of $1.8 million that was rated substandard and on nonaccrual. The other loans in these groups were performing in accordance with their terms.
Balance Sheet
Total assets increased $86.4 million, or 1.6%, to $5.66 billion at June 30, 2023, from $5.57 billion at March 31, 2023. The increase primarily reflects an increase of $75.6 million in loans.
Available-for-sale securities were $292.0 million and $303.1 million at June 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively. The unrealized loss on securities available for sale increased to $66.5 million as of June 30, 2023, as compared to $61.2 million of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2023. Securities held to maturity were $19.8 million, or 0.35% of total assets, with a fair value of $19.0 million.
Loans increased $75.6 million, or 1.6%, to $4.70 billion at June 30, 2023, from $4.62 billion at March 31, 2023. The increase in loans for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was primarily due to increases in commercial and industrial loans of $30.4 million, commercial construction loans of $16.2 million, and residential real estate loans of $33.8 million, partially offset by a decrease in consumer loans of $4.8 million. Management continues to seek prudent commercial lending opportunities to deepen relationships with existing customers and develop new relationships with strong borrowers.