Employee Benefit Plan
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plan
Employee Benefit Plan
 
The following table sets forth the amount of the net periodic benefit cost recognized by the Company for the Company’s pension plan, post-retirement plan (Life and Health), and supplemental employee retirement plans (“SERP”) including the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets for the period, amortization of the unrecognized transitional obligation or transition asset, and the amounts of recognized gains and losses, prior service cost recognized, and gain or loss recognized due to settlement or curtailment.
 
Components of Net Periodic Benefit (Income) Cost
 
 
Pension Benefits
Three Months Ended
 
Life and Health
Three Months Ended
 
SERP Benefits
Three Months Ended
(in thousands)
3/31/2018

 
3/31/2017

 
3/31/2018

 
3/31/2017

 
3/31/2018

 
3/31/2017

Service cost
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
53

 
$
68

 
$
45

 
$
54

Interest cost
591

 
607

 
65

 
71

 
206

 
209

Expected return on plan assets
(1,417
)
 
(1,267
)
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Amortization of net retirement plan actuarial loss
267

 
252

 
15

 
4

 
135

 
101

Amortization of net retirement plan prior service (credit) cost
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
(15
)
 
4

 
22

 
22

Net periodic benefit (income) cost
$
(562
)
 
$
(411
)
 
$
118

 
$
147

 
$
408

 
$
386


 
The service component of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s benefit plans is recorded as a part of salaries and wages in the consolidated statements of income. All other components are recorded as part of other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income.
 
The Company realized approximately $318,000 and $228,000, net of tax, as amortization of amounts previously recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
 
The Company is not required to contribute to the pension plan in 2018, but it may make voluntary contributions. The Company did not contribute to the pension plan in the first three months of 2018 and 2017.