Securities available for sale decreased by $1.8 million, or 4.00%, to $43.5 million at December 31, 2024 from $45.3 million at September 30, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to principal paydowns and maturities along with a decrease in the market value on the portfolio, partially offset by reinvested principal proceeds.
The Bank held no foreclosed real estate at December 31, 2024 or September 30, 2024.
Total deposits decreased by $0.2 million, or 0.14%, to $159.7 million at December 31, 2024 from $159.9 million at September 30, 2024. The decrease in deposits can primarily be attributed to a $1.9 million decrease in non-maturing deposits, due to seasonal fluctuations, partially offset by an $1.7 million increase in time deposits. The increase in time deposits can primarily be attributed to offering rates remaining higher as market and competitor rates have increased throughout the past year. Uninsured deposits, which are the portion of deposit accounts that exceed the FDIC insurance limit, currently set at $250,000 per insured account, were approximately $36.9 million at December 31, 2024 and $37.2 million at September 30, 2024. Municipal deposits held at GS&L Municipal Bank accounted for approximately $19.2 million and $19.3 million of the uninsured deposits at December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, respectively. At December 31, 2024, we had $58.9 million in available liquidity with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and $7.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, which was sufficient to cover 100% of our uninsured and uncollateralized deposits. Municipal deposits held by GS&L Municipal Bank are fully collateralized by available for sale government and collateralized mortgage obligation securities.
The bank held no Federal Home Loan Bank advances or brokered deposits at December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024.
Shareholders’ equity decreased by $1.0 million, or 3.12%, to $31.7 million at December 31, 2024 from $32.8 million at September 30, 2024. The decrease in shareholders’ equity was primarily a result of a $1.1 million decrease to the market value adjustment on the securities portfolio included in the accumulated other comprehensive income component. The Company also declared dividends of $0.08 per share totaling $89,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2024.
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Financial Highlights
Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was $160,000 compared to $118,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was higher than the three months ended December 31, 2023 primarily due to a $134,000 decrease in the unrealized loss on interest rate swap agreements as of December 31, 2024. The Company also made a $15,000 provision for credit losses for the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to a $70,000 provision for credit losses for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Interest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was $401,000 compared to $324,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to a $158,000 increase in interest expense on deposits, partially offset by a $131,000 decrease in interest expense on Federal Home Loan Bank advances.
Net Interest Income
Net interest income totaled $1.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and also for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Net interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2024 decreased by $39,000, or 2.16%, primarily due to an increase in deposit interest expense of $158,000 and a decrease in interest income on the swap agreements hedged against borrowings and deposits of $40,000, partially offset by an increase in interest income of $38,000 and a decrease in borrowing interest expense of $131,000.
Interest income increased by $38,000, or 1.79%, for the three months ended December 31, 2024 due to an increase in market rates resulting in higher interest rates on loan originations and loan repricing.
Interest expense increased by $77,000, or 23.77%, due to the increase in interest expense on deposits and decrease in income earned on swap agreements hedged against certain borrowings offset by a decrease in Federal Home Loan Bank borrowing interest expense.