…..INCOME TAX EXPENSE…..The Company recorded an income tax expense of $520,000, or an effective tax rate of 20.0%, in the first quarter of 2021. This compares to an income tax expense of $366,000, or an effective tax rate of 20.6%, for the first quarter of 2020.
…..SEGMENT RESULTS.….. The community banking segment reported a net income contribution of $3,320,000 in the first quarter of 2021 which was higher by $796,000 from the first quarter of last year. The improvement between years is due to a higher level of total revenue which more than offset an increased level of non-interest expense as well as a higher provision exense for loan losses. Net interest income improved between years as the reduction to total interest expense more than offset the reduction to total interest income. The additional processing fee income and interest income that the Company recorded from PPP lending activity, which totaled $897,000 for the first quarter, nearly offset the unfavorable impact that the lower interest rate environment had on the Company’s earning asset margin performance. As a result, total loan interest income remained relatively consistent between years. Also favorably impacting net interest income was this segment experiencing deposit cost relief as total deposit interest expense decreased between years due to management’s action to lower pricing of several deposit products, given the declining interest rate environment. The decrease to total deposit interest expense occurred even though total deposits reached a record level which is described previously in the MD&A. Also favorably impacting net income from this segment was a greater level of non-interest income. The exceptionally strong level of residential mortgage loan activity in 2021 resulted in this segment recognizing a higher gain on the sale of residential mortgage loans in the secondary market and a corresponding greater level of mortgage related fee income. This segment also benefitted from the greater level of Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) revenue. These favorable items were partially offset by the Company recording a $400,000 provision expense for loan losses for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a $175,000 provision expense in the first quarter of 2020. This was discussed previously in the Provision for Loan Losses section within this document. Finally, and also unfavorably impacting net income were higher expenses for total employee costs, professional fees, FDIC insurance expense and additional costs associated with our upcoming branch acquisition.
The wealth management segment’s net income contribution was $662,000 in the first quarter of 2021 which was $175,000 higher than the first quarter of 2020. The increase is due to wealth management fees increasing as the entire wealth management division has been resilient since the pandemic began and is performing well managing client accounts and adding new business despite the major market value decline that occurred in late March 2020. The wealth management division also benefitted from a lower level of meals & travel related expenses due to travel restrictions from the pandemic. Slightly offsetting these favorable items were higher levels of professional fees and incentive compensation. Overall, the fair market value of trust assets under administration totaled $2.518 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $534 million, or 26.9%, from the March 31, 2020 total of $1.984 billion.
The investment/parent segment reported a net loss of $1,901,000 in the first quarter of 2021 which is a greater loss by $299,000 than the first quarter of 2020. The increased loss was due to securities interest income decreasing by a higher amount than the decrease to total short term FHLB borrowings interest expense. Also, short-term investment interest income decreased even though the Company experienced exceptionally strong growth in its liquidity position between years from the significant influx of deposits that resulted from the government stimulus programs.
…..BALANCE SHEET…..The Company’s total consolidated assets were $1.3 billion at March 31, 2021, which increased by $31.7 million, or 2.5%, from the December 31, 2020 asset level. This change was related, primarily, to increased levels of cash and cash equivalents, investment securities, and loans. Specifically, cash and cash equivalents increased $5.7 million, or 18.2%, as the Company experienced a significant influx of deposits resulting from the government stimulus program and financial assistance provided to municipalities and school districts. Total investment securities increased $15.8 million, or 8.4%, as the steepening of the U.S. Treasury yield curve in the latter part of the first quarter improved the yield for federal agency mortgage-backed securities and federal agency bonds, making these types of securities more attractive for purchase. The Company also continued to purchase corporate securities, particularly subordinated debt issued by other financial institutions, along with taxable municipal securities. In addition, loans, net of unearned fees, and loans held for sale increased by $8.2 million, or 0.8%, as a result of the Company’s participation in the PPP and higher levels of residential mortgage loan production.
Total deposits increased by $62.2 million, or 5.9%, in the first three months of 2021. This robust growth is the result of government stimulus and consumers/businesses changing their spending habits because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking into the near future, we expect that our deposit balances will be positively impacted in the second quarter of