Persistent low inventory of for-sale residential real estate and elevated mortgage interest rates continued to impact the results of HarborOne Mortgage, with gain on loan sales of $2.0 million from mortgage loan closings of $102.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to $2.2 million from mortgage loan closings of $124.2 million on a linked-quarter basis. Slightly higher gain-on-sale margins partially offset seasonally lower production volume. Mortgage loan closings for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 were $125.6 million with a gain on loan sales of $2.2 million.
Total noninterest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 included a $305,000 gain on sale of a former bank branch, and $582,000 recognized on a Bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”) surrender and exchange strategy. BOLI income was offset by a $464,000 corresponding tax impact included in the provision for income taxes and a modified endowment contract charge included in noninterest expense. The quarter ended March 31, 2024 had no such income.
Total noninterest income increased $2.1 million, or 23.6%, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to a $1.6 million, or 58.0%, increase in mortgage banking income. The prior year quarter reflected a $1.3 million decrease in the MSR valuation.
Noninterest Expense
Total noninterest expense decreased $11.5 million, or 26.5%, to $31.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, from $43.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. Excluding the one-time $10.8 million goodwill impairment charge from the fourth quarter results, noninterest expenses decreased $704,000 on a linked-quarter basis. Compensation and benefits expenses decreased $1.6 million as the fourth quarter of 2023 included catch-up accrual adjustments for incentives and certain benefits. The fourth quarter of 2023 also included $118,000 in severance expense for a reduction in force at HarborOne Mortgage. Loan expense increased $688,000, as the fourth quarter of 2023 included a $629,000 reversal of repurchase reserve at HarborOne Mortgage based on updated assumptions used to determine the estimate.
Total noninterest expense increased $241,000, or 0.8%, compared to the prior year quarter of $31.5 million. Deposit insurance expense increased $654,000 partially offset by a $365,000 decrease in marketing expense.
Asset Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses
Total nonperforming assets were $12.2 million at March 31, 2024, compared to $17.6 million at December 31, 2023 and $12.3 million at March 31, 2023. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.21% at March 31, 2024, 0.31% at December 31, 2023, and 0.22% at March 31, 2023. During the first quarter of 2024, a single credit included in the metro office space loan segment with a carrying value of $5.7 million, considered nonperforming in the prior quarter, was paid with a partial recovery of $99,000.
The Company recorded a $168,000 negative provision for credit losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The provision for loan credit losses was $338,000, offset by a negative provision of $506,000 for unfunded commitments. The provision for credit losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 was $644,000, a result of a provision for loan credit losses of $970,000 partially offset by a $326,000 negative provision for unfunded commitments. The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $1.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, a result of a provision for loan credit losses of $1.7 million and a $119,000 provision for unfunded commitments. Net charge-offs totaled $125,000, or 0.01%, of average loans outstanding on an annualized basis, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. Net charge-offs totaled $1.3 million, or 0.11%, of average loans outstanding on an annualized basis, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, and net recoveries totaled $11,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Loan credit loss provisioning primarily reflects replenishment of the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) on loans due to charge-offs and loan growth.
The ACL on loans was $48.2 million, or 1.01% of total loans, at March 31, 2024, compared to $48.0 million, or 1.01% of total loans, at December 31, 2023 and $47.0 million, or 1.02% of total loans, at March 31, 2023. The ACL on unfunded commitments, included in other liabilities on the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets, amounted to $3.4 million at March 31, 2024, compared to $3.9 million at December 31, 2023 and $5.0 million at March 31, 2023.
Management continues to closely monitor the loan portfolio for signs of deterioration in light of speculation that commercial real estate values may deteriorate as the market adjusts to higher vacancies and interest rates. The commercial real estate portfolio is centered in New England, with approximately 75% of the portfolio secured by property located in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Approximately 60% of the commercial real estate loans are fixed-rate loans with, in the opinion of management, limited near-term maturity risk. As of March 31, 2024 commercial loans rated “watch” amounted to $67.9 million, compared to $30.6 million at December 31, 2023. Loans are rated “watch” at the point when there are signs of potential weakness. Approximately 41% of the increase is due to one credit included in the office category. Management performs comprehensive reviews and works proactively with creditworthy borrowers facing financial distress and implements prudent workouts and accommodations to improve the Bank’s prospects of contractual repayment.
Three sub-sectors that Management identified as potentially more susceptible to weakness includes business-oriented hotels, non-anchored retail space, and metro office space. As of March 31, 2024, business-oriented hotels loans included 14 loans with a total outstanding balance of $122.0 million, non-anchored retail space loans included 28 loans with a total outstanding balance of $44.6 million, and metro office space loans included one loan with a total outstanding balance of $5.1 million. There is one business-oriented