Earning Assets, Sources of Funds and Net Interest Margin
Total average interest-earning assets increased $819.1 million, or 9.5%, to $9.5 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to $8.7 billion for the same period in 2019. The average amortized cost balance of PPP loans in the second quarter of 2020 was $579.5 million. Total average interest-bearing liabilities increased $33.8 million to $6.5 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019. Average noninterest-bearing deposits increased $724.8 million, or 41.5%, to $2.5 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to $1.7 billion for the same period of 2019. Total average interest-earning assets increased $772.5 million, or 9.2%, to $9.2 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to $8.4 billion for the same period in 2019. Total average interest-bearing liabilities increased $239.8 million to $6.5 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to $6.3 billion for the same period of 2019.
Net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased $2.7 million to $71.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to $74.2 million for the same period of 2019, and decreased $1.6 million to $141.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to $143.3 million for the same period of 2019.
Net interest margin, our net interest income expressed as a percentage of average earning assets stated on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased to 3.03% for the three months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to 3.43% for the same period of 2019 and 3.11% for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to 3.45% for the same period of 2019. Excluding purchase accounting accretion,(1) the net interest margin for the three months ended June 30, 2020 was 2.93%, a decrease from 3.27% for the same period in 2019, and was 3.00% for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to 3.29% for the same period of 2019.
The Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) lowered Federal Funds Target Rates for the first time in 11 years on July 31, 2019 and then again on September 18, 2019 and October 30, 2019, for a combined decrease of 75 basis points during 2019. In response to the potential economic risks posed by COVID-19, the FOMC took further action during the first quarter of 2020 by lowering the Federal Funds Target Rate by 50 basis points on March 3, 2020, followed by an additional 100 basis point reduction on March 15, 2020. These rate cuts contributed to the reported decline in net interest margin, as assets, in particular commercial loans, repriced more quickly and to a greater extent than liabilities.
Other factors contributing to the reported decline in net interest margin during the second quarter of 2020 include lower accretion income, the sizeable balance of lower-yielding PPP loans, the Company’s significant liquidity position, lower line utilization by commercial loan customers and the issuance of subordinated debt completed during the second quarter. The quarterly net interest margins were as follows:
| | | | | |
| | 2020 | | 2019 | |
First Quarter | | 3.20 | % | 3.46 | % |
Second Quarter | | 3.03 | % | 3.43 | % |
Third Quarter | | — | % | 3.35 | % |
Fourth Quarter | | — | % | 3.27 | % |
The net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average rate earned on earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, was 2.83% for the three months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to 3.16% in the same period of 2019 and was 2.89% for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to 3.17% in the same period of 2019.
Management attempts to mitigate the effects of the interest-rate environment through effective portfolio management, prudent loan underwriting and operational efficiencies. However, as a result of the reductions in the target interest rate, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our net interest income and margin may continue to decline in future periods. Please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2019 Form 10-K for a description of accounting policies underlying the recognition of interest income and expense.
(1) | A non-GAAP financial measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. |