Fort Dodge-based North Central Bancshares Inc., the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank of Iowa, which has a branch in West Des Moines, reported net income of $1.2 million, or 76 cents per share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with $1 million, or 65 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. The increase in earnings was primarily due to an increase in mortgage banking income and a decrease in provisions for loan losses, the company said in a new release. Net interest income dropped to $3.5 million from $3.8 million as of Sept. 30, 2009. The company’s provisions for loan losses were $168,000 during the third quarter and $450,000 for the year-ago period. North Central charged off $1.5 million in loans last quarter, compared with $191,000 in charge-offs a year ago.