Earning Assets, Sources of Funds and Net Interest Margin
Total average interest-earning assets increased $1.7 billion, or 23.1%, to $8.8 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2019, as compared to $7.1 billion for the same period in 2018. Total average interest-earning assets increased $1.5 billion, or 21.1%, to $8.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, as compared to $7.0 billion for the same period of 2018.
Total average interest-bearing liabilities increased $1.3 billion, or 23.6%, to $6.6 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $5.3 billion for the same period in 2018. Total average interest-bearing liabilities increased $1.2 billion, or 22.1%, to $6.4 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $5.2 billion for the same period of 2018. Average noninterest-bearing deposits increased $287.9 million, or 19.3%, to $1.8 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2019, as compared to $1.5 billion for the same period of 2018. Average noninterest-bearing deposits increased $221.7 million, or 14.8%, to $1.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, as compared to $1.5 billion for the same period of 2018.
Interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, increased $19.2 million, or 26.1%, to $92.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $73.3 million in the same period of 2018. Interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, increased $56.3 million, or 26.3%, to $269.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $213.4 million in same period of 2018. The interest income increase related primarily to the increase in average loan balances. Interest expense increased during the three months ended September 30, 2019 by $6.2 million to $18.2 million, compared to $12.0 million in the same period of 2018. Interest expense increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 by $21.4 million to $52.2 million, compared to $30.8 million in the same period of 2018.
Net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, increased $12.9 million, or 21.0%, for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the same period of 2018. Net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, increased $34.9 million, or 19.1%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the same period of 2018.
Net interest margin, our net interest income expressed as a percentage of average earning assets stated on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased to 3.35% for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to 3.41% for the same period of 2018, and decreased to 3.42% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to 3.47% for the same period of 2018. Net of purchase accounting accretion and amortization,(1) the net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was 3.22%, a decrease from 3.29% for the same period in 2018, and was 3.27% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, a decrease from 3.31% for the same period of 2018.
Higher aggregate yields from loan production partially offset increases in funding costs in 2019 as compared to 2018. Funding costs in 2019 increased from 2018, primarily due to resetting of time deposit rates to reflect market rates and additional borrowings in conjunction with funding the Banc Ed acquisition. The Federal Open Market Committee lowered Federal Funds Target rates for the first time in 11 years on July 31, 2019 and then again on September 18, 2019, for a combined decrease of 50 basis points during the third quarter. This contributed to the decline in net interest margin for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2019, as assets, in particular commercial loans, repriced more quickly and to a greater extent than liabilities. Subsequent to quarter end, on October 30, 2019, the Federal Open Market Committee lowered Federal Funds Target rates another 25 basis points.
The quarterly net interest margins were as follows:
| | | | | |
| | 2019 | | 2018 | |
First Quarter | | 3.46 | % | 3.51 | % |
Second Quarter | | 3.43 | % | 3.50 | % |
Third Quarter | | 3.35 | % | 3.41 | % |
Fourth Quarter | | — | % | 3.38 | % |
(1) | For a reconciliation of net interest margin net of purchase accounting accretion and amortization, a non-GAAP financial measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. |