and Signature Bank by 25%, which resulted in the Company recording an additional $2.3 million for the FDIC special assessment in the first quarter. In the second quarter of 2024, the loss estimate was revised and reduced to reflect the initial amount assessed by the FDIC, resulting in a $700,000 reduction in this accrual. There was a $500,000 recapture of provision for unfunded loan commitments in the second quarter of 2024, compared to no provision or recapture in the first quarter of 2024. The $975,000 quarter-over-quarter decrease in staff related expenses included $1.5 million in lower payroll taxes, due to the timing of related payroll taxes, including the impact from the payment of bonuses in the first quarter of 2024. Software expense increased by $424,000 or 12% compared to the prior quarter. Marketing and promotion expense increased by $326,000 due to higher donations of $587,000 in the second quarter and professional services increased $471,000, including a $285,000 increase in legal expense, quarter-over-quarter.
The $2.5 million increase in noninterest expense year-over-year included increased staff related expenses of $1.9 million, or 5.60%. Marketing and promotion expense increased by $635,000 due to $673,000 in higher donations in the second quarter of 2024 and software expense increased $633,000, or 19% year-over-year. As a percentage of average assets, noninterest expense was 1.40% for the second quarter of 2024, compared to 1.48% for the first quarter of 2024 and 1.32% for the second quarter of 2023. The efficiency ratio for the second quarter of 2024 was 45.10%, compared to 47.22% for the first quarter of 2024 and 40.86% for the second quarter of 2023.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 was 27.25%, compared with 28.20% for the same period of 2023. Our estimated annual effective tax rate can vary depending upon the level of tax-advantaged income from municipal securities and BOLI, as well as available tax credits.
BALANCE SHEET HIGHIGHTS
Assets
The Company reported total assets of $16.15 billion at June 30, 2024. This represented a decrease of $316.7 million, or 1.92%, from total assets of $16.47 billion at March 31, 2024. The decrease in assets included a $147.9 million decrease in interest-earning balances due from the Federal Reserve, a $116.0 million decrease in investment securities, and an $88.8 million decrease in net loans.
Total assets increased by $130.5 million, or 0.81%, from total assets of $16.02 billion at December 31, 2023. The increase in assets included a $559.9 million increase in interest-earning balances due from the Federal Reserve, offset by a $245.1 million decrease in investment securities, and a $219.0 million decrease in net loans.
Total assets at June 30, 2024 decreased by $333.0 million, or 2.02%, from total assets of $16.48 billion at June 30, 2023. The decrease in assets was primarily due to a $405.2 million decrease in investment securities and a $221.4 million decrease in net loans, partially offset by an increase of $282.7 million in interest-earning balances due from the Federal Reserve and a $57.0 million increase in the cash surrender value of BOLI.
Investment Securities and BOLI
Total investment securities were $5.18 billion at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $245.1 million, or 4.52% from December 31, 2023, and a decrease of $405.2 million, or 7.26%, from $5.58 billion at June 30, 2023.
At June 30, 2024, investment securities held-to-maturity (“HTM”) totaled $2.43 billion, a decrease of $24.7 million from the prior quarter end, a $34.7 million, or 1.41% decline from December 31, 2023, and a decrease of $82.8 million, or 3.30%, from June 30, 2023.
At June 30, 2024, investment securities available-for-sale (“AFS”) totaled $2.75 billion, inclusive of a pre-tax net unrealized loss of $487.9 million. AFS securities decreased by $91.3 million from the prior quarter end, by $210.3 million, or 7.12% from December 31, 2023 and decreased by $322.4 million, or 10.51%, from $3.07 billion at June 30, 2023. Pre-tax unrealized loss increased by $2.3 million from the end of the prior quarter, while increasing by $38.1 million from December 31, 2023 and declining by $9.8 million from June 30, 2023.
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