Total interest expense for the first six months of 2021 decreased by $1.7 million, or 30.0%, when compared to 2020, due to lower levels of both deposit and borrowing interest expense. Through six months, deposit interest expense in 2021 is lower by $1.6 million, or 37.4%, despite the previously mentioned record increase in deposits that occurred. The deposit growth reflects new deposit inflows as well as the loyalty of the bank’s core deposit base. Management continues to effectively execute several deposit product pricing reductions to address the net interest margin challenges presented by the low interest rate environment. As a result, the Company experienced deposit cost relief. Specifically, our total deposit cost averaged 0.48% in the first half of 2021 compared to 0.86% in the first half of 2020, representing a meaningful decrease of 38 basis points. As previously mentioned, the Company is planning to use a significant portion of the additional deposits from the branch acquisition to replace higher cost funds later during the third quarter of 2021, which will result in further deposit interest cost savings. Total borrowings interest expense in 2021 is lower by $114,000, or 7.8%, compared to the same time frame in 2020. The current strong liquidity position has allowed the Company to paydown Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances, which typically cost more than similar term deposit products. On an end of period basis, at June 30, 2021, total FHLB advances were $48.1 million, which is $14.2 million, or 22.8%, lower than the June 30, 2020 level.
The Company recorded a $100,000 provision expense for loan losses in the second quarter of 2021 as compared to a $450,000 provision expense recorded in the second quarter of 2020. For the first six months of 2021, the Company recorded a $500,000 provision expense for loan losses compared to a $625,000 provision expense recorded in the first six months of 2020. The 2021 provision for both time periods reflects an improved credit quality outlook for the overall portfolio as both classified and criticized assets levels as well as non-accrual loan balances have demonstrated improvement during the second quarter. This is a reflection of the Company’s loan officers working effectively with our customers as the economy improves and as businesses begin to open to full capacity. The Company continues to believe that a strong allowance for loan losses is needed until certain borrowers have fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, non-performing assets remain well controlled and total $3.7 million, or 0.38% of total loans, on June 30, 2021 compared to $3.3 million, or 0.34% of total loans, at December 31, 2020. The Company experienced low net loan charge-offs of $92,000, or 0.02% of total loans, in the first half of 2021 which compare favorably to net loan charge-offs of $205,000, or 0.05% of total loans, for the first half of 2020. Since the end of the second quarter of 2020, the balance of the allowance for loan losses increased by $2.1 million, or 21.2%, to $11.8 million at June 30, 2021. Management continues to carefully monitor asset quality with a particular focus on loan customers that have requested an additional payment deferral. The Asset Quality Task Force is meeting at least monthly to review these particular relationships, receiving input from the business lenders regarding their ongoing discussions with the borrowers. In summary, the allowance for loan losses provided 315% coverage of non-performing assets, and 1.18% of total loans, on June 30, 2021, compared to 341% coverage of non-performing assets, and 1.16% of total loans, on December 31, 2020. Note that the reserve coverage of total loans, excluding PPP loans, is 1.24%(1) on June 30, 2021. The Small Business Administration guarantees 100% of the PPP loans made to eligible borrowers which minimizes the level of credit risk associated with these loans.
Total non-interest income in the second quarter of 2021 increased by $632,000, or 16.8%, from the prior year's second quarter, and increased by $1.4 million, or 18.6%, in the first half of 2021 when compared to the first half of 2020. Wealth management fees increased by $551,000, or 22.3%, in the second quarter of 2021 and by $869,000, or 17.3%, for the first half of 2021 compared to the same time periods in 2020. The entire wealth management group has performed exceptionally well through the pandemic, actively working with clients to increase the value of their holdings in the financial markets and adding new business. The fair market value of wealth management assets has increased for the fifth consecutive quarter and is now in excess of $2.6 billion and improved from the early pandemic fair market value low point at March 31, 2020, exceeding by 31.8%. Other income improved by $142,000, or 29.1%, for the quarter and also improved by $222,000, or 22.4%, for the six months when compared to 2020 primarily due to higher interchange fee income that resulted from increased usage of debit cards as the pandemic caused consumers to increase online purchases and many businesses to implement contactless services by not accepting cash due to health safety concerns. Another indication that consumers are becoming more active and increasing their spending habits is service charges on deposit accounts comparing favorably for the quarter by $48,000, or 27.3%. Revenue from bank owned life insurance increased by $66,000, or 43.4%, for the quarter and by $273,000, or 98.6%, for the six months due to the receipt of a $159,000 death claim early in the year and 2021 income being positively impacted by a financial floor taking hold which caused increased earnings and a higher rate of return on certain policies. Finally, the Company recognized an $84,000 gain on investment security sales in 2021 as compared to last year when no securities were sold. Partially offsetting these favorable items was net realized gains on loans held for sale decreasing for the quarter by $213,000, or 63.6%, due to the previously mentioned shift in strategy to retain more residential mortgage loan production in the loan portfolio.
The Company's total non-interest expense in the second quarter of 2021 increased by $1.0 million, or 9.4%, when compared to the second quarter of 2020 and increased in the first half of 2021 by $1.7 million, or 7.9%, when compared to 2020. Other expenses increased by $637,000, or 33.0%, for the quarter and increased by $779,000, or 21.6%, for the first six months. The primary reason for the increase in both time periods was the Company having to recognize an $851,000 settlement charge in connection with its defined benefit pension plan in the second quarter of 2021. A settlement charge must be recognized when the total dollar amount of lump sum distributions paid from the pension plan to retired employees exceed a threshold of expected annual service and interest costs in the current year. So far in 2021, all employees that retired have elected to take a lump sum distribution as opposed to collecting future monthly annuity payments since the value of the lump sums is elevated due to the historically low interest rates. It is anticipated that the Company will be required to recognize additional settlement charges