Comparison of Results of Operations for the Nine months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
General. We had net income of $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $11,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized $1.8 million in noninterest income related to a CDFI Rapid Response Program grant.
Interest Income. Total interest income decreased $683,000, or 10.5%, to $5.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $6.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This decrease was primarily attributable to a $594,000 decrease in interest income on loans receivable. The decrease in interest income on loans was primarily due to a reduction in the average balance of our loans of $20.3 million, or 12.6%, to $140.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $160.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
Interest Expense. Total interest expense decreased $716,000, or 53.7%, to $618,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Interest expense on FHLB advances decreased $392,000, or 65.8%, to $204,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $596,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. As a result of the prepayment of FHLB advances in the fourth quarter of 2020, the average balance of our FHLB advances was $8.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $25.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Interest expense on deposits was $414,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a decrease of $324,000, or 43.9%, compared to $738,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. While the average balance of our total interest-bearing deposits increased by $16.4 million, or 12.6%, to $147.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the average rate paid on deposits decreased by 37 basis points to 0.38% for the first nine months of 2021 compared to the first nine months of 2020.
Net Interest Income. Net interest income totaled $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, an increase of $33,000, or 0.6%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Our interest rate spread increased to 2.97% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from 2.88% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, while our net interest margin decreased to 3.13 % for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from 3.20% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
Provision for Loan Losses. We recorded a $286,000 reversal to the allowance for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to a $665,000 provision to the allowance for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The reversal during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 resulted from our analysis of the factors described in “– Critical Accounting Policies – Allowance for Loan Losses” and the decrease in loans outstanding. The provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily due to the expected economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.94% at September 30, 2021.
Non-interest Income. Non-interest income increased $1.9 million, or 340.7%, to $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $545,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in non-interest income in the 2021 period was due primarily to the recognition into income of the $1.8 million CDFI grant.
Non-interest Expense. Non-interest expense increased $576,000, or 11.5%, to $5.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $5.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
The Company completed its initial public offering and the mutual-to-stock conversion of the Bank on October 12, 2021. As a result, non-interest expense is expected to increase because of costs associated with operating as a public company, including increased salaries and benefits expense due to additional personnel and stock related compensation.
Salaries and employee benefits expense increased by $499,000, or 17.6%, primarily due to additional personnel employed during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Occupancy and equipment increased by $108,000, or 22.0%, primarily reflecting expense related to an additional branch location opened in 2020. Computer services expense increased $87,000, or 22.2%, and legal, accounting and consulting expenses increased by $90,000, or 54.5%, primarily due to the cost of software and professional services associated with operating as a public