Total stockholders’ equity decreased to $265.6 million at September 30, 2022 from $321.4 million at June 30, 2022 and $472.4 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease in stockholders’ equity has primarily been due to the decline in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with the rapid increase in U.S. treasury rates in 2022 which has had a negative effect on the value of the Company’s available for sale securities, and in turn, the dollar amount that flows through accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company’s tangible book value per share (non-GAAP) was $4.79 at September 30, 2022 compared to $6.46 at June 30, 2022, and $10.91 at December 31, 2021.
Credit Quality
Non-performing loans (NPLs) have continued to decline and the NPL to loans ratio was 0.54% at September 30, 2022 compared to 0.69% at December 31, 2021. Non-performing assets to assets has also declined from 0.39% at December 31, 2021 to 0.32% at September 30, 2022. In addition, early stage delinquencies, defined as 30-89 days delinquent, were $6.7 million, or 0.28% of total loans, at September 30, 2022 compared to $8.9 million, or 0.38% of total loans at December 31, 2021.
During the third quarter of 2022, the Company had a provision for credit losses and unfunded commitments of $448,000 compared to a credit for credit losses of $948,000 in the third quarter of 2021. Growth in loans was the primary reason for the increase in the provision expense. The Company experienced net charge-offs of $605,000 during the third quarter of 2022 compared to $286,000 in the third quarter of 2021. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average net loans was 10 basis point for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to 6 basis points for the third quarter of 2021. The allowance for credit losses to total loans declined to 1.14% at September 30, 2022, compared to 1.26% at December 31, 2021, respectively. The low level of charge-off activity over the last several years continues to result in less allowance for credit losses being required.
Net Interest Income
Net interest income increased to $31.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 from $26.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. The increase was due to the acquisition of Cortland Bancorp (“Cortland”) offset by a reduction in PPP interest and fees. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company recognized $1.4 million in interest and fees associated with PPP loans compared to $62,000 in the third quarter of 2022. The net interest margin was 3.21% for the third quarter of 2022 compared to 3.25% for the second quarter of 2022 and 3.49% for the third quarter of 2021. The decline in net interest margin in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the third quarter of 2021 was driven by the lower PPP income in 2022 compared to 2021 and a greater percentage of earning assets invested in securities rather than loans. Excluding the impact of acquisition marks and related accretion and PPP interest and fees, the net interest margin (non-GAAP) for the third quarter of 2022 was 3.18% compared to 3.16% for the second quarter of 2022 and 3.37% for the third quarter of 2021.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income decreased $188,000, to $8.8 million for the third quarter of 2022 compared to the third quarter of 2021. Service charges on deposit accounts increased $305,000 to $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $924,000 for the third quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily due to the acquisition of Cortland and growth. Insurance commissions increased to $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $799,000 in the third quarter of 2021. This business line continues to exhibit good growth. Net gains on the sale of loans decreased to $326,000 in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2021. This drop was caused by lower mortgage production compared to the prior year, compressed margins and a lower saleable mix due to the dramatic increase in interest rates in 2022.
Security losses for the third quarter of 2022 totaled $17,000 compared to security gains of $459,000 for the same period in 2021. Debit card and EFT fees increased to $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2021. This increase was due to the Cortland acquisition and increased volumes. Other noninterest income increased to $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $461,000 in the third quarter of 2021. This increase was due to the acquisition of Cortland and increased income related to investments in SBIC and SBA funds.
Noninterest Expense
Total noninterest expense increased to $21.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 compared to $17.1 million for the third quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to the acquisition of Cortland, continued higher healthcare benefit costs and more merger related costs in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the third quarter of 2021.