For the first quarter of 2021, we reported net earnings of $63.9 million, compared with $50.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $38.0 million for the first quarter of 2020. Diluted earnings per share were $0.47 for the first quarter, compared to $0.37 for the prior quarter and $0.27 for the same period last year.
The first quarter of 2021 included a $19.5 million recapture of provision for credit losses, due to the improvement in our economic forecast of certain macroeconomic variables, which were impacted by
COVID-19.
In comparison, there was no provision for credit losses recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020, while the first quarter of 2020 included a $12.0 million provision for credit losses at the start of the pandemic. During the first quarter of 2021, we experienced credit charge-offs of $2.5 million and total recoveries of $88,000, resulting in net charge-offs of $2.4 million. Gross charge-offs during the first quarter include one commercial and industrial loan, previously rated substandard, that was
charged-off
in total for approximately $2.5 million. Of the 4,100 SBA PPP loans we originated in 2020, $582.8 million was outstanding at March 31, 2021. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company originated, approximately 1,500 PPP loans in round two, with a loan balance, at amortized cost, of $314.9 million at March 31, 2021. Interest and fee income from PPP loans was $10.4 million for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $10.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2020.
At March 31, 2021, total assets of $14.84 billion increased $421.1 million, or 2.92%, from total assets of $14.42 billion at December 31, 2020. Interest-earning assets of $13.62 billion at March 31, 2021 increased $399.9 million, or 3.02%, when compared with $13.22 billion at December 31, 2020. The increase in interest-earning assets was primarily due to a $921.8 million increase in investment securities, partially offset by a $450.3 million decrease in interest-earning balances due from the Federal Reserve, and a $55.8 million decrease in total loans.
Total investment securities were $3.90 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $921.8 million, or 30.96%, from $2.98 billion at December 31, 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, we purchased $1.23 billion of securities, with an average expected yield of approximately 1.57%. At March 31, 2021, investment securities
(“HTM”) totaled $1.09 billion. At March 31, 2021, investment securities
(“AFS”) totaled $2.81 billion, inclusive of a net
pre-tax
unrealized gain of $14.4 million, which decreased $40.4 million from December 31, 2020. HTM securities increased by $508.4 million, or 87.86%, and AFS securities increased by $413.4 million, or 17.23%, from December 31, 2020. Our tax equivalent yield on investments was 1.65% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 1.81% for the fourth quarter of 2020 and 2.45% for the first quarter of 2020.
Total loans and leases, net of deferred fees and discounts (amortized cost), of $8.29 billion at March 31, 2021 decreased by $55.8 million, or 0.67%, from December 31, 2020. The $55.8 million decrease in total loans included decreases of $100.1 million in dairy & livestock and agribusiness loans due to seasonal pay downs, $58.4 million in commercial and industrial loans, $15.1 million in SFR mortgage loans, and $7.3 million in other loans, partially offset by increases of $95.3 million in commercial real estate loans, $14.7 million in PPP loans, $11.2 million in construction loans, and $3.8 million in SBA loans. After adjusting for seasonality and PPP loans, our loans grew by $29.6 million, or 0.42%, from the end of the fourth quarter of 2020. Our yield on loans was 4.50% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 4.56% for the fourth quarter of 2020 and 4.95% for the first quarter of 2020. The significant decline in interest rates since the start of the pandemic has had a negative impact on loan yields, which after excluding discount accretion, nonaccrual interest income, and the impact from PPP loans, declined by 15 basis points and 44 basis points compared to the fourth quarter and first quarter of 2020, respectively. Interest income for yield adjustments related to discount accretion on acquired loans was $4.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $4.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2020.
Noninterest-bearing deposits were $7.58 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $122.5 million, or 1.64%, when compared to December 31, 2020. At March 31, 2021, noninterest-bearing deposits were 62.74% of total deposits, compared to 63.52% at December 31, 2020. Our average cost of total deposits was 0.06% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 0.09% for the fourth quarter of 2020 and 0.19% for the first quarter of 2020.
Customer repurchase agreements totaled $506.3 million at March 31, 2021, compared to $439.4 million at December 31, 2020. Our average cost of total deposits including customer repurchase agreements was 0.06% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 0.09% for the fourth quarter of 2020 and 0.20% for the first quarter of 2020.