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, 2022, the Company recognized a release of credit loss provision - loans of $0.1 million, compared to a release of $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily driven by a decrease in the size of the loan portfolio, and lower CECL loss percentage due to the overall credit-quality of the loan portfolio. The allowance for credit losses - loans was $2.2 million, or 1.16% of total loans at December 31, 2022, compared to $2.5 million, or 1.17% of total loans at December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2022, the allowance for credit losses - loans equaled 434.0% of nonaccrual and past due loans compared to 700.3% at December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded net charge offs of $0.2 million compared to net recoveries $0.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Noninterest Income. Noninterest income includes service charges on deposit accounts, other fees and commissions, net gains/losses on investment securities sold, gain on sale of other real estate, income on life insurance policies and gain on unwind of derivative contracts. Noninterest income increased from $0.6 million in 2021 to $1.4 million in 2022, a $0.7 million, or 115.95% increase. The increase was primarily due to a $0.6 million loss on investment securities that were sold in 2021, and a $0.2 million gain on unwind of derivative swap contracts that was recognized in 2022.
Noninterest Expenses. Noninterest expenses increased from $11.0 million in 2021 to $11.3 million in 2022, a $0.4 million or 3.54% increase. Salary and employee benefits decreased by $0.1 million, or 1.52%, to $6.4 million at December 31, 2022, compared to $6.5 million at December 31, 2021 due to increases in the number of employees, offset by lower benefits costs. Legal, accounting and other professional fees increased from $0.7 million in 2021 to $1.0 million in 2022, a $0.3 million, or 48.93%, increase. Other expenses increased from $1.1 million at December 31, 2021 to $1.3 million at December 31, 2022, an increase of $0.2 million, or 17.51%.
Income Taxes. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $0.24 million, compared to $0.58 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, a $0.3 million or 58.46% decrease. This decrease was primarily due to $1.1 million lower income before taxes in 2022.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Total assets decreased by $60.6 million, or 13.72% to $381.4 million at December 31, 2022, compared to $442.1 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily a result of decreases in interest-bearing deposit in other financial institutions and declines in loan portfolio balances.
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2022 were $30.1 million compared to $62.2 million at December 31, 2021. At year-end 2022, investment securities had decreased 7.56% to $144.1 million compared to year end 2021. Loans, net at December 31, 2022 were $184.3 million compared to $207.9 million at December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2022, total deposits were $362.9 million compared to $383.2 million at the end of 2021, a 5.30% decrease during the period. Total borrowings were $0 at December 31, 2022 compared to $20.0 million at December 31, 2021.
Cash
Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $32.1 million primarily due to a $20.3 million decrease in deposit balances, $20.0 million decrease in borrowings and $15.9 million increase in investment securities, offset by$24.0 million decrease in loans net of deferred fees and costs.