Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020
General. Net income was $459,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to net income of $484,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $25,000, or 5.2%. The decrease was the result of an increase in non interest expense of $238,000, of 12.3%, offset in part by an increase in net interest income after provision for loan losses of $151,000, or 6.6%.
Interest and Dividend Income. Total interest and dividend income decreased $10,000 or 0.4%, to $2.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $2.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Average interest-earning assets increased $63.2 million, or 24.0%, to $327.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $263.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, and the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets decreased 79 basis points when comparing the 2021 and 2020 periods. The decrease in average yield was primarily the result of declining interest rates and increased market competition.
Interest Expense. Total interest expense decreased $101,000, or 29.1%, to $246,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $347,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $47.3 million, or 30.7%, to $201.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, from $153.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities decreased 41 basis points to 0.49% for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to 0.89% for the three months ended September 30, 2020.
Provision for Loan Losses. The loan loss provision was $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $60,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2020.
Noninterest Income. Noninterest income increased $33,000, or 11.3%, to $326,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $293,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The increase was due primarily to an increase in service charges on deposit accounts of $56,000, an increase in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance of $21,000 and recognition of a CDFI grant of $86,000 originally awarded to Mitchell Bank, offset in part by a decrease in gains of sale of mortgage loans of $138,000.
Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense increased $238,000, or 12.3%, to $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The increase was primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits expenses of $132,000, occupancy and equipment expense of $59,000 and data processing and technology expense of $38,000.
Income Tax Expense. We recorded an income tax expense of $119,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $148,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $29,000, or 19.6%.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020
General. We had net income of $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to net income of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $254,000, or 19.1%. The increase in net income was the net effect of an increase in net interest income after provision for loan losses of $1.2 million, or 18.7%, and an increase in noninterest income of $185,000, or 24.5%, offset in part by an increase in noninterest expense of $1.1 million, or 19.9%.
Interest and Dividend Income. Total interest and dividend income increased $374,000 or 4.5%, to $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $8.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Average interest-earning assets increased $63.6 million, or 24.8%, to $320.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $256.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets decreased 70 basis points when comparing the 2021 and 2020 periods. The decrease in average yield was primarily the result of lower market interest rates and increased market competition during 2021.