June 30, 2022. The increase in average yield on securities resulted from the effects of management’s purchasing of higher yielding variable rate securities during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year.
The average balance of other interest-bearing deposits, comprised primarily of certificates of deposit in other financial institutions, overnight deposits and stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank, decreased $3.0 million, or -12.9%, for the year ended June 30, 2023, while the average yield increased 289 basis points, to 3.40% for the year ended June 30, 2023 from 0.51% for the year ended June 30, 2022, reflecting the rise in the interest rate environment.
Interest Expense. Total interest expense increased $456,000, or 140.4%, to $780,000 for the year ended June 30, 2023 from $325,000 for the year ended June 30, 2022. The increase was primarily due to an increase of 41 basis points in the average cost of deposits to 0.72% for the year ended June 30, 2023, from 0.31% for the year ended June 30, 2022, reflecting how management has had to increase the offered rates to be competitive in the current rising interest rate environment.
Net Interest Income. Net interest income increased $1.3 million, or 47.2%, to $4.2 million for the year ended June 30, 2023 compared to $2.9 million for the year ended June 30, 2022. The increase reflected an increase in the interest rate spread to 2.74% for the year ended June 30, 2023, 2.14% for the year ended June 30, 2022. Our net interest margin increased to 2.93% for the year ended June 30, 2023, from 2.19% for the year ended June 30, 2022. The interest rate spread and net interest margin were impacted by the addition of variable rate securities that benefited from the rising interest rate environment throughout the year.
Provision for Loan Losses. Based on an analysis of the factors described in “Critical Accounting Policies—Allowance for Loan Losses,” management concluded that a provision for loan losses of $40,000 was required for the year ended June 30, 2023. No provision was required for the year ended June 30, 2022. The allowance for loan losses was $263,000 and $223,000 at June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and represented 0.29% of total loans at June 30, 2023, and 0.27% of total loans at June 30, 2022. The determination over the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses was due primarily to the low balances of nonperforming loans, delinquent loans and no net charge-offs in both periods.
Total nonperforming loans were $304,000 at June 30, 2023, compared to $360,000 at June 30, 2022. Classified loans totaled $67,000 at June 30, 2023, compared to $123,000 at June 30, 2022, and total loans past due greater than 30 days were $734,000 and $307,000 at those respective dates. As a percentage of nonperforming loans, the allowance for loan losses was 86.6% at June 30, 2023 compared to 62.0% at June 30, 2022.
The allowance for loan losses reflects the estimate management believes to be appropriate to cover incurred probable losses which were inherent in the loan portfolio at June 30, 2023 and 2022. While management believes the estimates and assumptions used in the determination of the adequacy of the allowance are reasonable, such estimates and assumptions could be proven incorrect in the future, and the actual amount of future provisions may exceed the amount of past provisions, and the increase in future provisions that may be required may adversely impact the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. In addition, bank regulatory agencies periodically review the allowance for loan losses and may require an increase in the provision for possible loan losses or the recognition of loan charge-offs, based on judgments different than those of management.
Non-Interest Income. Non-interest income totaled $208,000 for the year ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $9,000, or -3.8%, from $217,000 for the year ended June 30, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to normal fluctuations in the volume of fees on loans and deposits.
Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense increased $2.0 million, or 65.1%, to $5.2 million for the year ended June 30, 2023, compared to $3.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2022. The increase reflects $651,000, or 43.8%, increase in salaries and employee benefits, primarily attributable to additional hiring to support the strategic growth plans of the Company and a one-time expense of $226,000 for a contract termination, a $309,000, or 146.4%, increase in professional services due primarily to increased costs of operating and the reporting requirements of a public stock company. There were also certain one-time expenses incurred during the year ended June 30, 2023 totaling $1.4 million. Those expenses consisted of $1.1 million for pension plan withdrawal expenses associated with withdrawing from the