ended December 31, 2022 filed by Signature Bank, which was filed on March 1, 2023, and determined that no circumstances existed to indicate that the debt security held by the Company was impaired as of year-end. Specifically, as of December 31, 2022, Signature Bank had total assets of $110.4 billion, net income of $1.3 billion for the year then ended, and demonstrated strong regulatory capital ratios.
The remainder of the increase in the provision for credit losses was due to the recognition of a $301,000 provision for credit losses for the loan portfolio which more than offset a $31,000 provision recovery for credit losses in the HTM securities portfolio. A $17,000 provision recovery for credit losses related to unfunded commitments was also recorded. The first quarter 2023 provision for credit losses in the loan portfolio was necessary due to risk rating, non-accrual and charge-off activity. Total classified asset levels exhibited an increase during the first quarter of 2023 due to the downgrade of one commercial real estate loan. Non-performing assets decreased from $5.2 million at December 31, 2022 to $4.6 million at March 31, 2023 primarily due to a decrease in non-accrual residential mortgage loans. Overall, non-performing assets remain well controlled at 0.47% of total loans. The Company experienced net loan charge-offs of $116,000, or 0.05% of total average loans, in the first quarter of 2023 which is only slightly higher than net charge-offs of $76,000, or 0.03% of total average loans, in first quarter of 2022. In summary, the allowance for loan losses provided 264% coverage of non-performing assets, and 1.24% of total loans, on March 31, 2023, compared to 207% coverage of non-performing assets, and 1.08% of total loans, on December 31, 2022.
Total non-interest income in the first quarter of 2023 increased by $1.2 million, or 27.0%, from the prior year's first quarter. In March 2023, AmeriServ Financial Bank sold all 7,859 shares of the Class B common stock of Visa Inc. that the bank owned for a sale price of $1.7 million. The shares had no carrying value on the Bank’s balance sheet and, as the Bank had no historical cost basis in the shares, the entire sale was recognized as a gain. The Company believes that this was an appropriate time to capture the gain on these shares due to the current volatility and future uncertainty in the financial markets. Wealth management fees decreased by $427,000, or 13.5%, for the first quarter of 2023 as unfavorable market conditions for both equity securities and bonds have reduced the market value of wealth management assets when compared to the first quarter of 2022. Also, new customer business growth has only partially offset the unfavorable impact of market conditions on fee income. The fair market value of wealth management assets declined since the first quarter of 2022 by $278.6 million, or 10.6%, and totaled $2.4 billion at March 31, 2023. Other income is $104,000, or 18.5%, lower for the first quarter of 2023 due to the recognition of a credit valuation adjustment to the market value of the interest rate swap contracts that the Company executed to accommodate the needs of certain borrowers while managing our interest rate risk position. Net realized gains on loans held for sale decreased by $69,000, or 72.6%, for the first quarter of 2023, as the limited housing supply along with rate volatility continues to unfavorably impact residential mortgage loan production. Over the course of the past 18 months, mortgage rates have doubled, which has adversely affected affordability for borrowers across all income and housing pricing levels. Mortgage pipelines continue to be well below pre-pandemic and historic low interest rate levels.
Total non-interest expense in the first quarter of 2023 increased by $484,000, or 4.2%, when compared to the first quarter of 2022. Salaries & employee benefits declined by $230,000, or 3.1%, in the first quarter of 2023. Within total salaries & benefits expense, salaries costs are higher by $235,000, or 5.0%, due to merit increases and a higher level of full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) as the Company filled certain open positions that were vacant in the first quarter of last year. The higher salaries cost was more than offset by reduced pension expense by $289,000, or 52.8%, and lower incentive compensation by $167,000, or 38.0%. The reduced pension expense reflects the retirement of many employees over the past two years who chose to take a lump sum payment instead of receiving future monthly annuity payments. These individuals are no longer included in the pension plan which therefore favorably impacts the Company’s basic pension expense. Professional fees were $678,000, or 107.6%, higher in the first quarter of 2023 primarily due to $599,000 of additional costs related to an ongoing proxy contest with an activist shareholder. Data processing and IT expense increased by $125,000, or 13.1%, due to increased software costs from our core data provider and additional expenses related to monitoring our computing and network environment. Finally, the Company recorded income tax expense of $372,000, or an effective tax rate of 19.7%, in the first quarter of 2023, which compares to income tax expense of $605,000, or an effective tax rate of 20.0%, for the first quarter of 2022.
The Company had total assets of $1.346 billion, shareholders' equity of $105.9 million, a book value of $6.18 per common share and a tangible book value(1) of $5.38 per common share on March 31, 2023. The decline in the Company’s book value and tangible book value per share in the first quarter of 2023 compared to last year’s first quarter reflects a decrease in the fair value of the Company’s available for sale investment securities by $12.7 million due to higher interest rates. Note that there was a slight decrease to accumulated other comprehensive loss within total equity since December 31, 2022, as an improvement in market value of the Company’s available for sale investment securities portfolio was more than offset by a negative market value adjustment for an interest rate hedge. There was no required revaluation of the net pension liability during the first quarter of 2023. 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,