…PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES… The Company recorded a $100,000 provision for loan losses in the first nine months of 2018 compared to a $750,000 provision for loan losses in the first nine months of 2017, or a decrease of $650,000 between periods. The lower 2018 loan loss provision reflects our overall strong asset quality, the successful workout of several criticized loans, and reduced loan portfolio balances. Also, for the first nine months of 2018, the Company experienced net loan charge-offs of $875,000, or 0.13%, of total loans, compared to net loan charge-offs of $336,000, or 0.05%, in 2017. The higher 2018 net loan charge-offs reflect the final work-out of several non-performing loans on which reserves had previously been established. Overall, the Company continued to maintain strong asset quality as its nonperforming assets totaled $1.1 million, or only 0.12% of total loans, at September 30, 2018.
…NON-INTEREST INCOME… Non-interest income for the first nine months of 2018 totaled $10.9 million and nearly matched the 2017 level, decreasing slightly by $44,000. Factors contributing to this slightly lower level of non-interest income for the first nine months included:
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a $474,000 increase in Wealth Management fees was primarily due to the Company benefitting from increased market values for assets under management in 2018 and stronger sales of insurance related products by its financial services professionals;
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a $263,000 reduction in the net realized gain/loss on investment securities as the market value of sold securities decreased since last year due to the higher interest rate environment. Management viewed the gain recognized on the sale of equity securities, described in the next bulleted item, as an opportunity to rid the investment securities portfolio of certain investments having a low yield and a small balance;
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a $227,000 increase in other income primarily due to a $156,000 gain realized on the sale of certain equity securities that the Company owned from a previous acquisition. The Company also benefitted from higher interchange fees as well as increased revenue from business services;
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a $194,000 decrease in revenue from bank owned life insurance (BOLI) after the Company received a death claim in 2017 and there was no such claim this year;
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a combined $186,000 decrease in net gains on loans sold into the secondary market and mortgage related fees due to lower production and reduced refinance activity of residential mortgage loans; and
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a $102,000 decrease in deposit service charges due to reduced overdraft fees.
…NON- INTEREST EXPENSE … Non-interest expense for the first nine months of 2018 totaled $30.5 million and increased by only $28,000, or 0.1%, from the prior year. Factors contributing to the slightly higher non-interest expense in the first nine months included:
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a $318,000, or 1.8%, increase in salaries & benefits expense due to higher salaries and incentive compensation as a result of the typical annual salary merit increases and additional incentives paid primarily within our Wealth Management division due to the increased level of fee income mentioned previously;
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a combined $173,000 reduction in occupancy & equipment costs is primarily attributable to the Company’s ongoing efforts to carefully manage and contain non-interest expense. Specifically, a branch office closure in Cambria County along with a branch consolidation in the State College market resulted in reduced rent expense and other occupancy related costs; and
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a $71,000, or 1.9%, decrease in professional fees due to reduced legal costs and lower expense for outsourced professional services.
…INCOME TAX EXPENSE… Overall for the nine-month period, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $1,133,000, or an effective tax rate of 16.2%, in 2018 compared to an income tax expense of $1,949,000, or an effective tax rate of 31.2%, in 2017. The lower effective tax rate and income tax expense in 2018 reflects the benefits of corporate tax reform as a result of the enactment of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” late in the fourth quarter of 2017, which lowered the corporate income tax rate from 34% to 21%. As previously discussed in the M.D. & A., the Company recognized an income tax benefit in 2018 as the result of an additional $2.5 million contribution made to our defined benefit pension plan.