Deposits. Deposits increased $384.7 million, or 11.4%, to $3.77 billion as of March 31, 2024 from $3.39 billion as of December 31, 2023. Core deposits (which we define as all deposits including certificates of deposit, other than brokered deposits) increased $268.3 million, or 8.4%, to $3.47 billion as of March 31, 2024 from $3.20 billion as of December 31, 2023. The increase in deposits was the result of growth in customer deposits, primarily certificates of deposit, which increased $150.2 million, or 11.4% from the prior quarter, along with money market accounts and noninterest-bearing demand deposit accounts, which increased $76.3 million, or 8.6%, and $51.3 million, or 9.7%, respectively, from December 31, 2023. Additionally, brokered deposits increased $116.4 million, or 63.4%, from December 31, 2023, as a result of lower rates versus alternative funding sources and to support overall liquidity.
The Company had $315.5 million and $277.2 million in deposits from the cannabis industry as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
FHLB Borrowings. FHLB borrowings decreased $222.5 million, or 78.5%, to $60.8 million as of March 31, 2024 from $283.3 million as of December 31, 2023. The decrease in FHLB borrowings was the result of growth in brokered deposits due to lower rates and overall deposit growth.
Accrued expenses and other liabilities. Accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased $20.6 million, or 25.3%, to $60.8 million as of March 31, 2024 from $81.3 million as of December 31, 2023. The decrease resulted from $15.8 million in IPO-related and other accrued expenses and $9.5 million in incentive bonuses being paid during the three months ended March 31, 2024; offset in part by increased accruals for federal taxes of $1.4 million resulting from increased effective tax rates, increased fair value of derivative liabilities of $1.5 million resulting from market conditions and interest rate movements and increased accrued payroll of $1.1 million due to increased headcount.
Shareholders’ Equity. Total shareholders’ equity decreased $24.1 million, or 3.2%, to $733.8 million as of March 31, 2024 from $758.0 million at December 31, 2023, due to the $32.8 million increase in the unallocated common shares held by the ESOP resulting from the purchase of shares on the open market to fund the ESOP as a result of the conversion; offset partially by $8.7 million in net income the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023
Net Income. Net income was $8.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to net income of $8.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, a decrease of approximately $51,000, or 1.0%. The decrease was primarily due to a $2.5 million, or 11.0%, increase in noninterest expense, a $2.4 million, or 40.3% decrease in non-interest income, a $2.3 million, or 113.8%, increase in the provision for credit losses and a $210,000, or 6.5%, increase in income tax expense, partially offset by a $7.4 million, or 23.8% increase in net interest income.
Interest and Dividend Income. Interest and dividend income increased $22.2 million, or 48.2%, to $68.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 from $46.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to a $20.2 million, or 46.3% increase in interest and fees on loans. The increase in interest and fees on loans was primarily due to an increase of $809.3 million in the average balance of the loan portfolio to $3.90 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 from $3.09 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and an increase of 86 basis points in the weighted average yield for the loan portfolio to 6.60% for March 31, 2024 from 5.74% for March 31, 2023, reflecting the growth of our consumer and commercial portfolios.
Average interest-earning assets increased $886.1 million, to $4.31 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 from $3.42 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The yield on interest-earning assets increased 91 basis points to 6.36% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 from 5.45% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
Interest Expense. Total interest expense increased $14.8 million, or 99.7%, to $29.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 from $14.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Interest expense on deposit accounts increased $15.9 million, or 129.5%, to $28.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 from $12.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, due to an increase in the weighted average rate on certificates of deposit of 192 basis points to 4.89% as of March 31, 2024 from 2.97% as of March 31, 2023, an increase in the weighted average rate on money market accounts of 207 basis points to 3.67% as of March 31, 2024 from 1.60% as of March 31, 2023 and an increase in the average balance of certificates of deposit of $346.7 million to $1.67 billion as of March 31, 2024 from $1.32 billion as of March 31, 2023.