Total operating expenses declined by $32 thousand in the first half of 2014 versus 2013 as the result of reductions in several categories, most notably other operating expenses (down $590 thousand), FDIC assessment (down $506 thousand), branch consolidation costs (down $449 thousand), occupancy (down $356 thousand) and equipment (down $246 thousand). The reduction in other operating expenses resulted primarily from lower OREO expenses and reduced costs associated with legal expenses, fees and subscriptions, data processing and property appraisals. The credit to branch consolidation costs in the first half of 2014 resulted from better than expected outcomes on lease termination negotiations for two of the Bank's closed branches where an expense had previously been recorded in the fourth quarter of 2013. Largely offsetting the foregoing improvements was a $2.0 million increase in employee compensation and benefits expense due principally to the previously noted $1.7 million expense credit recorded in 2013. Excluding the impact of the 2013 expense credit, employee compensation and benefits expenses rose by $362 thousand or 2.1% in 2014 versus 2013.
The Company recorded income tax expense of $2.2 million in the first six months of 2014 resulting in an effective tax rate of 22.4% versus an income tax expense of $1.3 million and an effective tax rate of 19.2% in the comparable period a year ago. The increase in the Company's effective tax rate in 2014 versus 2013 resulted from growth in taxable income that is taxed at the Company's marginal rate of 39%.
Asset Quality
Non-accrual loans totaled $14 million or 1.16% of total loans outstanding at June 30, 2014 versus $15 million or 1.42% of loans outstanding at December 31, 2013 and $17 million or 1.92% of loans outstanding at June 30, 2013. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total non-accrual loans amounted to 133% at June 30, 2014 versus 114% at December 31, 2013 and 101% at June 30, 2013. Total accruing loans delinquent 30 days or more amounted to $4 million or 0.36% of loans outstanding at June 30, 2014 versus $3 million or 0.33% of loans outstanding at December 31, 2013 and $4 million or 0.44% of loans outstanding at June 30, 2013.
Total criticized and classified loans were $44 million at June 30, 2014, $43 million at December 31, 2013 and $73 million at June 30, 2013. Criticized loans are those loans that are not classified but require some degree of heightened monitoring. Classified loans were $34 million at June 30, 2014, $37 million at December 31, 2013 and $47 million at June 30, 2013. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total classified loans was 55%, 47% and 36%, respectively, at the same dates.
At June 30, 2014, the Company had $22 million in troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs"), primarily consisting of commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans and residential mortgages totaling $7 million, $11 million and $4 million, respectively. The Company had TDRs amounting to $16 million at December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013.
At June 30, 2014, the Company's allowance for loan losses amounted to $18.5 million or 1.55% of period-end loans outstanding. The allowance as a percentage of loans outstanding was 1.62% at December 31, 2013 and 1.93% at June 30, 2013. Net loan recoveries of $491 thousand were recorded in the second quarter of 2014 versus net loan recoveries of $224 thousand in the first quarter of 2014 and net loan charge-offs of $541 thousand in the second quarter of 2013. As a percentage of average total loans outstanding, these net amounts represented, on an annualized basis, (0.17%) for the second quarter of 2014, (0.08%) for the first quarter of 2014 and 0.26% for the second quarter of 2013.
The Company held no OREO at any of the reported periods.
Capital
Total stockholders' equity was $180 million at June 30, 2014 compared to $167 million at December 31, 2013 and $159 million at June 30, 2013. The increase in stockholders' equity versus December 31, 2013 was due to a combination of net income recorded during the first six months of 2014 coupled with a $5 million decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax. The decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2014 resulted from the positive impact of a reduction in interest rates in 2014 on the value of the Company's available for sale investment portfolio and the transfer of $48 million in investment securities from available for sale to held to maturity during the first half of 2014. The increase in stockholders' equity versus June 30, 2013 reflects the Company's net income during the past twelve months and the positive impact of a $6 million decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, during the same period. The Company's return on average common stockholders' equity was 8.68% for the six months ended June 30, 2014 versus 6.70% for the comparable 2013 period.