The net interest margin increased by 15 basis points to 3.21% and the interest rate spread increased by 5 basis points to 2.49% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The provision for credit losses increased by $1.2 million, from $230,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 to $1.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The provision for credit losses increased by $1.1 million, or 64.5%, from $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increases to the provision for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024 were primarily attributable to a commercial loan charge-off of $524,000 in the fourth quarter and updates to prepayments and other qualitative and quantitative components in our expected credit loss analysis.
Net charge-offs increased $325,000 from $646,000 for the fourth quarter of 2023 to $971,000 for the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to a commercial loan charge-off of $524,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs increased $333,000, or 16.1%, to $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Net charge-offs on indirect automobile loans remained relatively stable at $1.4 million in both 2024 and 2023. The percentage of overdue account balances to total loans decreased to 1.71% as of December 31, 2024, from 1.90% as of December 31, 2023 and non-performing assets decreased $72,000, or 1.7%, to $4.1 million at December 31, 2024.
Non-interest loss totaled $2.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of $3.9 million, from non-interest income of $1.4 million for the comparable period in 2023, due primarily to the $4.0 million loss on sale of investment securities resulting from the previously mentioned balance sheet restructuring. Excluding the securities loss, non-interest income for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024 would have been $1.5 million compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. The Company recorded an increase of $98,000, or 32.7%, in investment advisory income resulting from the improved market and economic conditions, an increase of $34,000 in service charges on deposit accounts and an increase of $15,000 in the cash surrender value of life insurance partially offset by a decrease of $10,000 on the disposal of premises and equipment.
Non-interest loss totaled $9.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of $15.3 million, from non-interest income of $5.8 million in 2023, due primarily to the $16.0 million loss on sale of investment securities resulting from the previously mentioned balance sheet restructuring. Excluding the securities loss, non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2024 would have been $6.5 million compared to $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company recorded an increase of $368,000, or 31.6%, in investment advisory income resulting from the improved market and economic conditions, an increase of $192,000 related to gains on life insurance, an increase of $122,000 in service charges on deposit accounts, an increase of $86,000, or 12.9%, in the cash surrender value of life insurance, and an increase in the gain on sales of loans of $42,000, partially offset by a decrease of $64,000 on the disposal of premises and equipment.
Non-interest expense totaled $9.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of $821,000, or 9.0%, over the comparable period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to an $831,000 increase in salaries and benefits related primarily due to higher production commissions and higher medical insurance costs. Professional fees increased $101,000, occupancy fees increased $76,000, marketing fees increased $46,000 and other non-interest expense increased $168,000 primarily due to increased lending expenses. These increases were partially offset by a $375,000 write-down of the Bank’s Beacon, New York branch in the fourth quarter of 2023, which was sold in the first quarter of 2024.
Non-interest expense totaled $36.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of $419,000, or 1.2%, over 2023. The increase was primarily due to a $913,000 increase in salaries and benefits, an increase of $33,000 in marketing expense and a $26,000 increase in data processing costs. These increases were partially offset by the $375,000 write-down of the Beacon, New York branch in the fourth quarter of 2023, which was sold in the first quarter of 2024. FDIC deposit insurance and other insurance decreased $127,000, or 10.3%, primarily due to a decreased assessment rate while other non-interest expense decreased $61,000 primarily due to decreased lending expenses.