safety concerns. Service charges on deposit accounts compares favorably for the third quarter by $54,000, or 26.2%, as consumers are more active and increasing their spending habits in 2021. Revenue from bank owned life insurance increased by $60,000, or 37.3%, for the quarter and by $333,000, or 76.0%, for the nine 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. Partially offsetting these favorable items was net realized gains on loans held for sale decreasing for the quarter by $492,000, or 97.0%, and by $447,000, or 41.4%, for the nine months due to the previously mentioned shift in strategy to retain more residential mortgage loan production in the loan portfolio. Through nine months, the Company has retained 78% of all residential mortgage loan originations into the loan portfolio in 2021 compared to 30% in the same period of 2020. Finally, mortgage related fees declined by $80,000, or 49.7%, for the third quarter of 2021 and by $122,000, or 28.2%, for the nine months due to the lower level of residential mortgage loan production this year.
The Company's total non-interest expense in the third quarter of 2021 increased by $413,000, or 3.7%, when compared to the third quarter of 2020 and increased in the nine months of 2021 by $2.1 million, or 6.5%, when compared to 2020. Other expenses increased by $246,000, or 13.9%, for the quarter and increased by $1.0 million, or 19.0%, for the nine months. The primary reason for the increase in both time periods was the Company having to recognize settlement charges in connection with its defined benefit pension plan in both the second and third quarters of 2021. The amount of the charge in the third quarter was $269,000, bringing the total settlement charge recognized for the nine months to $1.1 million. 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 an additional settlement charge in the fourth quarter of 2021 as more people retire. It is important to note that since the retired employees have chosen to take the lump sum payments, these individuals are no longer included in the pension plan. Therefore, the Company’s normal annual pension expense should be lower in the future. Other items that contributed to the higher level of other expense were costs for the branch acquisition which totaled $390,000 for the nine-month time period in 2021 and the Company recognizing $92,000 of expense associated with the unfunded commitment reserve so far in 2021 which represents a $244,000 unfavorable shift from 2020. Salaries and employee benefits increased by $72,000, or 1.1%, for the quarter and by $557,000, or 2.8%, for the nine months of 2021. Factors causing the increase included greater incentive compensation primarily due to commissions earned as a result of strong performance in the wealth management businesses and continued good residential mortgage loan production. Also contributing to the higher salaries and employee benefits expense was increased health care costs and employee merit salary increases. Professional fees are relatively consistent with the third quarter of 2020 but are higher by $231,000, or 6.0%, for the nine months due to an increased level of outside professional services related costs and increased fees due to the PPP lending activity. FDIC deposit insurance expense increased by $30,000, or 21.4%, for the quarter and by $184,000, or 62.2%, for the nine months due to an increase in the asset assessment base, which impacted both time periods, and the benefit of the Small Bank Assessment Credit being fully utilized in the first quarter of 2020 which impacted the nine-month comparison. Slightly offsetting these increased items and favorably impacting non-interest expenses was a lower level of supplies costs by approximately $65,000, or 11.8%, in 2021 as the majority of the personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect our employees and customers during the pandemic was purchased last year.
The Company recorded an income tax expense of $341,000, or an effective tax rate of 19.2%, in the third quarter of 2021. This compares to an income tax expense of $235,000, or an effective tax rate of 17.9%, for the third quarter of 2020. Similarly, for the nine months of 2021, the Company recorded income tax expense of $1.3 million, or an effective tax rate of 19.7%, compared to income tax expense of $966,000 in 2020, or an effective tax rate of 19.8%. Overall, the increased income tax expense in 2021 is a result of the Company’s improved profitability this year.
The Company had total assets of $1.34 billion, shareholders' equity of $113.7 million, a book value of $6.66 per common share and a tangible book value(1) of $5.85 per common share on September 30, 2021. The Company continued to maintain strong capital ratios that exceed the regulatory defined well capitalized status.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbors created therein. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management's confidence and strategies and management's current views and expectations about new and existing programs and products, relationships, opportunities, technology, market conditions, dividend program, branch acquisition, including the anticipated benefits and financial impact thereof, and future payment obligations. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as "continuing," "expect," "look," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "will," "should," "projects," "strategy," or similar statements. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements, and no reliance should be placed on any forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, unanticipated changes in the financial markets and the direction of interest rates; volatility in earnings due to certain financial assets and liabilities held at fair value; competition levels; loan and investment prepayments differing from our assumptions; insufficient allowance for credit losses; a higher level of loan charge-offs and delinquencies than anticipated; material adverse changes in our operations or earnings; a decline in the economy in our market areas; changes in relationships with major customers; changes in