Stockholders’ equity increased to $172.6 million at September 30, 2022 from $122.5 million at September 30, 2021, resulting in an increase in tangible book value per share over the past twelve months to $21.00 at September 30, 2022 from $18.49 at the comparable 2021 date. This increase was primarily due to a $27.7 million increase in common stock and surplus from the net proceeds from the public offering of our common stock in May 2022, coupled with net income earned during fiscal year 2022. Common shares outstanding were 7,285,648 and 5,563,426 at September 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Loan Portfolio Growth and Allowance for Loan Losses
On a linked quarter basis, the Company exhibited net loan growth, excluding PPP loans, of $217.9 million, a 62.5% increase on an annualized basis. For the twelve months ended September 30, 2022, the Bank’s loan portfolio grew to $1.62 billion. Year over year growth was concentrated primarily in multi-family, commercial real estate and residential loans. At September 30, 2022, the Company’s residential loan portfolio (including home equity) amounted to $516.3 million, with an average loan balance of $484 thousand and a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 56%. Commercial real estate and multifamily loans totaled $1.06 billion at September 30, 2022, with an average loan balance of $1.45 million and a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 61%. The Company’s commercial real estate concentration ratio was 453% of capital at September 30, 2022 versus 355% of capital at September 30, 2021. At September 30, 2022, the Company’s loan pipeline was approximately $315 million.
Historically, the Bank has generated additional income by strategically originating and selling its primary lending products to other financial institutions at premiums, while also retaining servicing rights in some sales. The Bank expects that it will continue to originate loans, for its own portfolio and for sale, which will result in continued growth in interest income while also realizing gains on sale of loans to others and recording servicing income. With respect to the Bank’s current residential growth strategy, management expects to originate more loans to retain in its portfolio as opposed to selling into the secondary market due to the continued projected increase in interest rates. Accordingly, we continue to expect a decrease in secondary market sales on a year-over-year basis in the current interest rate environment. During the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company sold $19.3 million in SBA loans and recorded gains on the sale of loans held-for-sale of $1.2 million. The Company recorded gains of $619 thousand on the sale of performing residential and SBA loans in the quarter ended September 30, 2021.
During the third calendar quarter of 2022, the Bank recorded a provision for loan losses expense of $2.1 million. The September 30, 2022, allowance for loan losses balance was $12.8 million versus $8.6 million at September 30, 2021. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans was 0.79% at September 30, 2022 versus 0.69% at September 30, 2021. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans excluding acquired loans (“originated loans”) was 0.94% at September 30, 2022. At September 30, 2022, non-performing loans totaled $13.5 million of which $9.7 million represented legacy Savoy originated loans that were either written down to fair value at the acquisition date or are 100% guaranteed by the SBA. The remaining $3.8 million of non-performing loans represent primarily Hanover originated residential credits with a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 55%.
Net Interest Margin
The Bank’s net interest margin was 4.04% during the third calendar quarter of 2022 versus 4.51% in the comparable 2021 quarter and 4.05% in the linked 2022 quarter. Excluding the impact of net purchase accounting accretion, the Company’s net interest margin was 3.93% and 3.76% in the quarters ended September 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively, and 3.94% in the linked 2022 quarter.
Operating Efficiency Ratio
The Bank’s operating efficiency ratio was 48.0% in the third calendar quarter of 2022 versus 44.6% a year ago. Excluding merger-related charges in each year, these ratios were 48.0% and 43.5%, respectively, in the quarters ended September 30, 2022, and 2021.