Noninterest Expense
Total noninterest expenses were at $31.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, as compared to $31.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Compensation and benefits increased $479,000, primarily reflecting increased incentive accruals partially offset by decreased salary and payroll tax expense. Occupancy and equipment expense decreased $203,000, reflecting recent cost saving measures. HarborOne Mortgage continues to enact cost saving measures and executed a reduction in force in the third quarter with an annual cost savings of $564,000.
Total noninterest expenses decreased $2.6 million, or 7.5%, from the quarter ended September 30, 2022. Compensation and benefits decreased $2.3 million, primarily reflecting decreased mortgage origination commission and incentive accruals, and occupancy and equipment expense decreased $399,000. These decreases were partially offset by a $647,000 increase in deposit insurance expense.
Asset Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses
Total nonperforming assets were $18.8 million at September 30, 2023, compared to $20.2 million at June 30, 2023 and $23.4 million at September 30, 2022. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.33% at September 30, 2023, 0.36% at June 30, 2023, and 0.47% at September 30, 2022.
The Company recorded a reversal of provision for credit losses of $113,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, reflecting a $586,000 reversal of provision for unfunded commitments, partially offset by a $474,000 provision for loan credit losses, primarily for loan growth. Net recoveries totaled $18,000 and $799,000 for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Net charge-offs totaled $2.7 million, or 0.23% of average loans outstanding on an annualized basis, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) on loans was $48.3 million, or 1.02% of total loans, at September 30, 2023, compared to $47.8 million, or 1.02% of total loans, at June 30, 2023 and $44.6 million, or 1.06% of total loans, at September 30, 2022. The ACL on unfunded commitments, included in other liabilities on the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets, amounted to $4.2 million at September 30, 2023 as compared to $4.8 million at June 30, 2023 and $5.5 million at September 30, 2022.
Management continues to closely monitor the loan portfolio for signs of deterioration in light of speculation that commercial real estate values may deteriorate as the market adjusts to higher vacancies and interest rates. The commercial real estate portfolio is centered in New England, with approximately 75% of the portfolio secured by property located in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Approximately 60% of the commercial real estate loans are fixed-rate loans with, in the opinion of management, limited near-term maturity risk.
Management also continues to monitor certain sectors within the commercial real estate segment that may be particularly susceptible to increased credit risk as a result of trends that were precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and may be exacerbated by current economic conditions. This includes business-oriented hotels, non-anchored retail space, and metro office space. As of September 30, 2023, business-oriented hotels loans included 13 loans with a total outstanding balance of $114.4 million, non-anchored retail space loans included 30 loans with a total outstanding balance of $40.4 million, and metro office space loans included two loans with a total outstanding balance of $12.0 million. As of September 30, 2023, there was one metro office space loan with a carrying value of $7.0 million that was rated doubtful and on nonaccrual and one business-oriented hotel credit with a carrying value of $1.7 million that was rated substandard and on nonaccrual. The other loans in these groups were performing in accordance with their terms.
Balance Sheet
Total assets were flat, at $5.66 billion as of September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023, as an increase of $24.7 million in total loans was offset by decreases in investments and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock.
Available-for-sale securities were $271.1 million and $292.0 million at September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively. The unrealized loss on securities available for sale increased to $81.3 million as of September 30, 2023, as compared to $66.5 million of unrealized losses as of June 30, 2023. Securities held to maturity were $19.8 million, or 0.3%, of total assets, with a fair value of $18.7 million.
Loans increased $24.7 million, or 0.5%, to $4.72 billion at September 30, 2023, from $4.70 billion at June 30, 2023. The increase in loans for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily due to increases in commercial real estate loans of $63.2 million and residential real estate loans of $5.2 million, partially offset by decreases in commercial construction loans of $37.7 million, commercial and industrial loans of $2.9 million, and consumer loans of $3.2 million. Management continues to seek prudent commercial lending opportunities to deepen relationships with existing customers and develop new relationships with strong borrowers.
Total deposits were $4.41 billion at September 30, 2023 and $4.29 billion at June 30, 2023. Compared to the prior quarter, non-certificate accounts increased $44.2 million and term certificate accounts increased $116.3 million, as competitive rate specials attracted deposits during the quarter. Brokered deposits decreased $38.1 million. As of September 30, 2023, FDIC-insured deposits were approximately 66% of total deposits, including Bank subsidiary deposits. Including Depositors Insurance Fund (“DIF”), excess insurance coverage that