When management deems it to be appropriate, the Company establishes a specific reserve for individually evaluated loans that do not share similar risk characteristics with the loans included in each respective loan pool. These individually evaluated loans are removed from their respective pools and typically represent collateral dependent loans but may also include other non-performing loans or troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”).
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized a release of credit loss provision - loans of $1.0 million, compared to a release of $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by decreases in qualitative factors driven by macro-economic conditions, a decrease in the size of the loan portfolio, and the overall credit-quality of the loan portfolio. No provision for credit losses - loans on the Commercial SBA PPP loans was recognized as the SBA guarantees 100% of loans funded under the program. The allowance for credit losses - loans was $2.5 million, or 1.17% of total loans at December 31, 2021, compared to $1.5 million, or 0.58% of total loans at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2021, the allowance for credit losses equaled 700.3% of nonaccrual and past due loans compared to 32.6% at December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded net recoveries of $0.4 million compared to $0.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Noninterest Income. Noninterest income includes service charges on deposit accounts, other fees and commissions, net gains/losses on investment securities sold, and income on Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”). Noninterest income decreased from $1.0 million in 2020 to $0.6 million in 2021, a $0.4 million, or 38.04% decrease. The decrease was primarily due to a $0.6 million loss on investment securities that were sold in 2021, offset by higher ATM interchange fees related to the resumption of the Renaissance Festival, which was cancelled due to COVID-19 in 2020.
Noninterest Expenses. Noninterest expenses decreased from $11.7 million in 2020 to $11.0 million in 2021, a $0.7 million or 6.36% decrease. Salary and employee benefits decreased by $0.2 million, or 3.54%, to $6.5 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $6.7 million at December 31, 2020 due to decreases in the number of employees and the cost of benefits. Legal, accounting and other professional fees decreased from $0.9 million in 2020 to $0.7 million in 2021, a $0.2 million, or 25.5%, decrease. Loan collection costs decreased to $12,000 at December 31, 2021 compared to $126,000 at December 31, 2020 a $114,000, or 90.48% decrease. Other expenses decreased from $1.2 million at December 31, 2020 to $1.1 million at December 31, 2021, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 9.25%.
Income Taxes. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $0.58 million, compared to an income tax expense of $0.49 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, a $0.1 million or 17.52% increase. This increase was primarily due to $0.1 million higher income before taxes in 2021.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Total assets increased by $22.6 million, or 5.38% to $442.1 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $419.5 million at December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily a result of increases in cash and investments, and investment securities available for sale due to COVID-19 surge-deposit growth and loan balance declines.
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2021 were $62.2 million compared to $37.1 million at December 31, 2020. At year end 2021, investment securities had increased 36.7% to $155.9 million compared to year end 2020. Total loans at December 31, 2021 were $207.9 million compared to $252.3 million at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2021, total deposits were $383.2 million compared to $349.6 million at the end of 2020, a 9.62% increase during the period. Total borrowings were $20.0 million at December 31, 2021 compared to $29.9 million at December 31, 2020.
Net loans on December 31, 2021 included $1.0 million of loans funded under the SBA PPP. These PPP loans directly benefitted the businesses and employees in our local communities. The Company funded 184 PPP loans totaling approximately $24.1 million from the second quarter of 2020 through the second quarter of 2021. The SBA began forgiving PPP loans in October 2020.