$1.3 million increase in interest on loans and a $1.2 million increase in other interest income. The increase in interest on loans resulted primarily from an increase of $61.9 million in the average balance of loans to $2.26 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2025 from $2.20 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The weighted average yield on loans increased to 5.21% for the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to 5.14% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.
Interest and dividend income increased $4.5 million, or 4.9%, to $96.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from $92.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, primarily due to a $3.6 million increase in interest on loans. The increase in interest on loans resulted primarily from an increase of $51.2 million in the average balance of loans to $2.24 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 from $2.19 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The weighted average yield on loans increased to 5.19% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to 5.08% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Average interest-earning assets increased $156.1 million, to $2.71 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from $2.55 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The yield on interest-earning assets increased to 4.97% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 4.92% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.
Average interest-earning assets increased $89.8 million, to $2.62 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from $2.53 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The yield on interest-earning assets increased to 4.94% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from 4.87% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Interest Expense. Total interest expense decreased $2.8 million, or 21.1%, to $10.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from $13.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Interest expense on deposit accounts decreased $1.5 million, or 16.8%, to $7.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from $8.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, due to a decrease in the weighted average rate on interest-bearing deposits to 1.67% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 2.14% for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Interest expense on Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased $1.4 million, or 32.6%, to $2.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from $4.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, due to a decrease in the average advances of $108.4 million between periods.
Total interest expense decreased $4.6 million, or 12.0%, to $33.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from $38.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Interest expense on deposit accounts decreased $2.4 million, or 9.6%, to $22.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from $24.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, due to a decrease in the weighted average rate on interest-bearing deposits to 1.73% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from 2.05% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Interest expense on Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased $2.3 million, or 18.1%, to $10.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from $12.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, due to a decrease in the average advances of $60.2 million between periods.
Net Interest Income. Net interest income increased $5.1 million, or 28.2%, to $23.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from $18.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, primarily due to an increase in net interest margin to 3.43% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 2.84% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and a $156.1 million increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets during the three months ended September 30, 2025. Net interest rate spread increased to 2.91%, for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to 2.31% for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in net interest margin and spread was driven by an increase in the weighted average yield on interest earning assets combined with a decrease in the weighted average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities to 2.06% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 2.61% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.
Net interest income increased $9.1 million, or 16.8%, to $63.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from $54.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, primarily due to an increase in net interest margin to 3.23% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from 2.86% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and $89.8 million increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2025. Net interest rate spread increased to 2.77%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to 2.33% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in net interest margin and spread was driven by an increase in the weighted average yield on interest earning assets combined with a decrease in the weighted average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities to 2.17% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from 2.54% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.