The Company’s net income is also affected by the level of its noninterest income and noninterest expenses. Noninterest income generally consists primarily of deposit account service charges, bank card interchange income, loan-related fees, earnings on bank-owned life insurance, gains on sales of loans, and other general operating income. Noninterest expenses consist primarily of compensation and employee benefits, occupancy-related expenses, deposit insurance assessments, professional fees, advertising, postage and office expenses, insurance, the amortization of intangible assets, and other general operating expenses. During the six-month period ended December 31, 2021, noninterest income decreased $860,000, or 8.1%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, attributable primarily to reduced gains realized on sales of residential loans originated for that purpose, loan servicing income, and earnings on bank-owned life insurance, partially offset by increases other income items, including wealth management revenues and a gain realized on the Company’s exit from a renewable energy tax credit investment, as well as increases in deposit account service charges, bank card interchange income, and other loan fees. Noninterest expense for the six-month period ended December 31, 2021, increased $3.0 million, or 11.3%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable primarily to increases in compensation and benefits, occupancy expenses, data processing charges, foreclosed property losses and expenses, and other expenses.
We expect, over time, to continue to grow our assets through the origination and occasional purchase of loans, and purchases of investment securities. The primary funding for this asset growth is expected to come from retail deposits, brokered funding, and short- and long-term FHLB borrowings. We have grown and intend to continue to grow deposits by offering desirable deposit products for our current customers and by attracting new depository relationships. We will also continue to explore strategic expansion opportunities in market areas that we believe will be attractive to our business model.
Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31 and June 30, 2021
The Company experienced balance sheet growth in the first six months of fiscal 2022, with total assets of $2.9 billion at December 31, 2021, reflecting an increase of $218.5 million, or 8.1%, as compared to June 30, 2021. Growth primarily reflected an increase in net loans receivable, along with an increase in cash and cash equivalents.
Cash equivalents and time deposits were a combined $185.5 million at December 31, 2021, an increase of $60.9 million, or 48.9%, as compared to June 30, 2021. The increase was primarily a result of deposit growth outpacing loan growth during the period. AFS securities were $206.6 million at December 31, 2021, a decrease of $436,000, or 0.2%, as compared to June 30, 2021, primarily reflecting a decrease in the portfolio’s unrealized gains as market interest rates increased.
Loans, net of the ACL, were $2.4 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $158.3 million, or 7.2%, as compared to June 30, 2021. Gross loans increased by $157.6 million, while the ACL attributable to outstanding loan balances decreased $693,000, reflecting a negative provision for credit losses attributable to outstanding loan balances in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and minimal net charge offs during the fiscal year to date. The increase in loan balances in the portfolio was primarily attributable to increases in residential and commercial real estate loans, along with modest contributions from increases in drawn construction balances and consumer loans, partially offset by decreases in commercial loans. Residential real estate loan balances increased due to growth in single and multi-family loans. Commercial real estate balances increased primarily from loans secured by nonresidential structures, along with growth in loans secured by farmland. Commercial loan balances declined primarily as PPP loan balances declined by $51.5 million during the fiscal year to date, with remaining balances at $11.5 million at December 31, 2021. Unrecognized deferred fee income on PPP loans was approximately $301,000 at December 31, 2021. Management hopes to receive forgiveness payments on the relatively small number of remaining PPP loans during the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
Loans anticipated to fund in the next 90 days totaled $158.2 million at December 31, 2021, as compared to $181.1 million at September 30, 2021, and $85.1 million at December 31, 2020.
Deposits were $2.6 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $221.4 million, or 9.5%, as compared to June 30, 2021. This increase primarily reflected an increase in interest-bearing transaction accounts, non-interest bearing transaction accounts, savings accounts, and money market deposit accounts, partially offset by a decrease in certificates of deposit. The increase was inclusive of a $91.4 million increase in public unit funds, and net of a $5.0 million decrease in