equity for the three- and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024, was 2.63% and (0.52%) compared to 12.47% and 9.34% for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023, respectively. Lower net income and a higher average equity balance primarily drove the lower return on average equity for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same periods in 2023.
The book value per share of Bancorp’s common stock was $7.29 on September 30, 2024, as compared to $4.57 per share on September 30, 2023. The increase primarily resulted from the lower unrealized losses on the Company’s available for sale securities of $15.7 million at September 30, 2024 compared to $24.6 million at September 30, 2023.
At September 30, 2024, the Bank remained above all “well-capitalized” regulatory requirement levels. The Bank’s tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 15.47% at September 30, 2024, compared to 17.37% at December 31, 2023.
Our liquidity position remained strong due to managed cash and cash equivalents, borrowing lines with the Federal Reserve Bank, the FHLB of Atlanta and correspondent banks, and the size and composition of the bond portfolio.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net income attributable to common stockholders for the three-month period ended September 30, 2024, was $129,000, or $0.04 per basic and diluted common share compared to net income of $551,000, or $0.19 per basic and diluted common share for the same period of 2023. The results for the three-month period ended September 30, 2024, were lower than the same period of 2023 resulting primarily from a $614,000 increase in interest expense on deposits and a $126,000 increase in interest expense on short-term borrowings, a $287,000 decrease in interest and dividends on securities, a $170,000 increase in the provision for credit losses on loans and a $197,000 increase in noninterest expenses. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $763,000 in loan interest income and fees, and a $133,000 increase in interest on deposits with banks. The Company’s need to defend its deposit base as well as grow interest-earning asset balances necessitated a strategic change in direction that resulted in the increased interest expense.
Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, was $72,000, as compared to net income of $1.3 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023. The decrease is primarily the result of a $460,000 decrease in interest and dividends on securities, a $1.0 million increase in interest expense on short-term borrowings, a $1.4 million increase in interest expense on deposits and a $780,000 increase in the provision for credit losses on loans, partially offset by an increase of $1.3 million in loan interest income and fees, a $535,000 increase in interest on deposits with banks and a $569,000 decrease in the provision for income taxes.
Net Interest Income. The Company’s net interest income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2024 was $2.8 million, as compared to $3.0 million for the same period in 2023, a decrease of $131,000, or 4.44%. The decrease in net interest income was primarily due to a $740,000 increase in the cost of interest-bearing deposits and borrowings driven by a $17.3 million increase in the average balance of interest-bearing funds and a $16.6 million decrease in the average balance of noninterest-bearing deposits. The higher expenses were partially offset by a $609,000 increase in total interest income due to a 0.66% increase in the yield on interest earning assets.
Net interest income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, totaled $8.2 million, a decrease of $1.1 million from the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023. The decrease in net interest income was due to a $2.4 million increase in the cost of interest-bearing deposits and borrowings driven by a $17.3 million increase in the average balance of interest-bearing funds and a $20.0 million decrease in the average balance of noninterest-bearing deposits. The higher expenses were partially offset by a $1.3 million increase in total interest income due to a 0.51% increase in the yield of interest earning assets.
Total interest income for the third quarter of 2024 increased $609,000, or 18.18% when compared to the same period in 2023, from $3.4 million in 2023 to $4.0 million in 2024. The primary driver of the increase was a $763,000, or 35.57%, increase in interest and fees on loans due to higher rates and higher average balance of total loans, along with a $133,000, or 127.88%, increase in interest on deposits with banks and federal funds that were partially offset by a $287,000, or 26.07%, decrease in interest and dividends on investment securities due to maturities.