Salaries increased $1.2 million, or 29.2%, to $5.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to $4.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, and increased $2.7 million, or 22.3%, to $14.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $11.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increases were primarily due to adding 25 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees to expand the Company's new mortgage loan department that was formed in late 2019. In addition, annual merit increases average approximately 4.0% each year and are awarded in the first quarter of each year.
Employee benefits increased $249,000, or 17.7%, to $1.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to $1.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and increased $515,000, or 12.1%, to $4.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $4.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increases were primarily due to higher pension cost due to lower annual discount rate assumptions compared to the prior year's annual assumptions, an increase in payroll taxes due to the increase in FTE mentioned above, and an increase in 401(k) plan contributions.
Occupancy expense decreased $128,000, or 14.1%, to $781,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to $909,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and was consistent at $2.3 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The net decrease for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 over the quarter ended September 30, 2019 primarily consisted of decreases in building repairs and maintenance, and utilities, partially offset by increases in building depreciation and building lease expense. During 2019 there were increases in building and parking lot repairs and maintenance. The increase in building lease expense was primarily related to the Company's new Columbia branch location that began in March of 2019.
The net decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 over the nine months ended September 30, 2019 primarily consisted of a $67,000 net gain primarily related to the sale of land adjacent to one of the Company's branches compared to a net loss of $43,000 in the prior year recognized on the sale of equipment. This decrease was partially offset by increases in core maintenance agreements and depreciation.
Legal, examination, and professional fees increased $65,000, or 20.6%, to $381,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to $316,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, and increased $207,000, or 21.8%, to $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $948,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. These increases are primarily related to an increase in legal fees related to one pending lawsuit that is in its early stages, and consulting expenses.
Loan expense increased $203,000, or 152.6%, to $336,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to $133,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, and increased $102,000, or 22.1, to $564,000 compared to $462,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increases were primarily related to increases in real estate loan expenses related to the growth in loan volume, partially offset by real estate foreclosure (gain) expense. In the second quarter of 2020, the Company sold an out-of-service branch building being held as other real estate owned (OREO) to a non-profit organization. This transaction consisted of a $266,000 donation expense and the company realized a net gain of $210,000
Other non-interest expense increased $424,000, or 54.5%, to $1.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to $778,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, and increased $656,000, or 25.2, to $3.3 million compared to $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increases were primarily related to increases in donations, FDIC assessment expense, and credit card fraud charge-offs. In the second quarter of 2020, the Company sold an out-of-service branch building being held as other real estate owned (OREO) to a non-profit organization. This transaction consisted of a $266,000 donation expense and the company realized a net gain of $210,000. During the third quarter of 2020 the Company recognized approximately $150,000 of disputed credit card fraud losses from prior years.
Income taxes
Income taxes as a percentage of earnings before income taxes as reported in the consolidated financial statements were 18.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to 19.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2019,