ESSA Bancorp, Inc. announced unaudited consolidated earnings results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2015. For the quarter, the company reported net income of $2.0 million, or $0.19 per diluted share compared with net income of $2.6 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, for the same quarter last year. For the fiscal first quarter of 2016, the company's return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.47% and 4.50%, compared with 0.66% and 6.06%, respectively, in the corresponding period of fiscal 2015. Net interest income increased $42,000, or 0.4%, to $11.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, from $11.1 million for the comparable period in 2014. Total interest income was $13,815,000 compared to $13,708,000 a year ago. Income before income taxes was $2,523,000 compared to $3,448,000 a year ago. Tangible book value per share decreased to $13.52 at December 31, 2015, from $13.72 at December 31, 2014 due to merger related adjustments.

Net loan charge-offs in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 were $262,000 compared to $568,000 in fiscal first quarter of 2015.