Provision for Loan Losses:
In the second quarter of 2015, the provision for loan losses was $112,000, as compared to a provision of $117,000 in the second quarter of 2014. Management regularly reviews the adequacy of the loan loss reserve and makes assessments as to specific loan impairment, historical charge-off expectations, general economic conditions in JVB’s market area, specific loan quality and other factors. As of June 30, 2015, non-performing loans as a percentage of average outstanding loans was 1.52%, improved from 2.00% on December 31, 2014 and from 2.06% on June 30, 2014. Factors affecting the provision for loan losses were the improvement in non-performing loans partially offset by provisioning for increased loan balances and credit concentrations. See the earlier discussion in the Financial Condition section, explaining the information used to determine the provision.
Non-interest Income:
Non-interest income in the second quarter of 2015 was $1,130,000, compared to $1,170,000 in the second quarter of 2014, representing a decrease of $40,000, or 3.4%.
Most significantly impacting recurring non-interest income in the second quarter of 2015 was an increase in customer service fees of $99,000, or 34.1%, in the second quarter of 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014. The increase was attributable to the repricing and introduction of a new checking account lineup in the third quarter of 2014, which includes a new service to depositors that provides detection, suppression and repair of a wide spectrum of identity theft issues. Also significantly impacting the comparative second quarter periods was a $165,000 gain from life insurance proceeds recorded in the second quarter of 2014 and no such gain was recorded in the 2015 period. As Juniata carries BOLI, gains such as this can occur inconsistently at any time, and no such gain was present in 2015. Another non-recurring item in the second quarter of 2014 was a lump-sum fee of $40,000 collected on a terminated trust relationship, resulting in elevated trust fees for that period. Fee income from trust services decreased by $47,000, or 35.9%, because as the 2014 second quarter included the aforementioned lump-sum termination fee of $40,000.
Commissions from the sales of non-deposit products increased in the second quarter of 2015 by $30,000, or 34.1%, as sales activity increased. Income from the unconsolidated subsidiary increased $5,000, or 8.8%, in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014. Fees derived from loan activity increased by $20,000, or 62.5%, due primarily to an increase in title insurance fees.
Juniata originates mortgages to sell on the secondary market, while retaining the servicing rights; Juniata has built a servicing portfolio of approximately $21.8 million as of June 30, 2015. The mortgage servicing right asset, as of June 30, 2015, was $204,000. Mortgage banking income is made up of origination and servicing fees collected from the buyer, origination points collected from the borrower and an adjustment to the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights asset. In the second quarter of 2015, mortgage banking income was $60,000, an increase of 4,000, or 7.1%, from the second quarter of 2014.
Less significant changes in non-interest income categories included slight changes in debit card fee income, earnings on bank-owned life insurance and other miscellaneous income.
Net gains of $1,000 were realized on the sale of securities in the second quarter of 2015 as compared to the second quarter of 2014 when net gains of $2,000 were realized.
As a percentage of average assets, annualized non-interest income, exclusive of net gains on the sale of securities, was 0.95% in the second quarter of 2015 as compared to 0.98% in the second quarter of 2014. Excluding the gain from life insurance proceeds mentioned above, the ratio in the second quarter of 2014 would have been 0.84%.
Non-interest Expense:
Total non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2015 was $3,621,000, or 6.4%, higher in the second quarter of 2015 as compared to the second quarter of 2014. Employee compensation expense decreased by $7,000, due primarily to staffing efficiencies. Employee benefits costs increased by $110,000, or 30.3%, due to increased medical insurance and defined benefit plan costs.
Occupancy and equipment costs increased a total of $33,000, or 9.3%, in the second quarter of 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014 due primarily to increased costs for utilities and maintenance. Data processing expense was higher by $20,000, or $5.4% in the comparative periods as electronic services to customers continue to expand. Other real estate owned acquired as a result of foreclosure activity were sold in both periods, yielding a gain of $29,000 in the second quarter of 2014 versus a net loss of $5,000 in the second quarter of 2015. Merger and acquisition costs related to the aforementioned definitive merger agreement were $48,000 in the second quarter of 2015, while no such costs were occurred in the second