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EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
Pension Plan
The Company maintains a legacy, employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plan (the “Plan”) for which participation and benefit accruals were frozen on January 1, 2003. The Plan was assumed in connection with the Rome Bancorp acquisition in 2011. Accordingly, no employees are permitted to commence participation in the Plan and future salary increases and years of credited service are not considered when computing an employee’s benefits under the Plan. As of December 31, 2022, all minimum Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) funding requirements have been met.

Information regarding the pension plan is as follows:
December 31,
(In thousands)20222021
Change in projected benefit obligation:  
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year$5,328 $6,121 
Service Cost68 59 
Interest cost141 140 
Actuarial loss(1,508)(211)
Benefits paid(263)(321)
Settlements(37)(460)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year3,729 5,328 
Accumulated benefit obligation3,729 5,328 
Change in fair value of plan assets:  
Fair value of plan assets at plan beginning of year5,962 6,049 
Actual return on plan assets(979)694 
Contributions by employer— — 
Benefits paid(263)(321)
Settlements(37)(460)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year4,683 5,962 
(Overfunded) status$(954)$(634)
Amounts Recognized on Consolidated Balance Sheets
Other assets$954 $634 
Other liabilities— — 

Net periodic pension cost is comprised of the following:
December 31,
(In thousands)202220212020
Service Cost$68 $59 $66 
Interest Cost141 140 178 
Expected return on plan assets(376)(410)(393)
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial loss11 103 94 
Net periodic pension (credit)$(156)$(108)$(55)
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:
December 31,
(In thousands)202220212020
Amortization of actuarial (loss)$(11)$(103)$(94)
Actuarial (gain)(154)(495)171 
Settlement charge— (58)— 
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income(165)(656)77 
Total recognized in net periodic pension cost recognized and other comprehensive income$(321)$(764)$22 

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost are a net loss of $0.5 million, $0.7 million, and $1.3 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The Company did not make any cash contributions to the pension trust during 2022 and 2021. The Company does not expect to make any cash contributions in 2023. The amount expected to be amortized from other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost over the next fiscal year is $6 thousand.

The principal actuarial assumptions used are as follows:
December 31,
 202220212020
Projected benefit obligation  
Discount rate5.21 %2.73 %2.35 %
Net periodic pension cost  
Discount rate2.73 %2.35 %3.15 %
Long term rate of return on plan assets6.50 %7.00 %7.00 %
 
The discount rate that is used in the measurement of the pension obligation is determined by comparing the expected future retirement payment cash flows of the pension plan to the Above Median FTSE Pension Discount Curve as of the measurement date. The expected long-term rate of return on Plan assets reflects long-term earnings expectations on existing Plan assets and those contributions expected to be received during the current plan year. In estimating that rate, appropriate consideration was given to historical returns earned by Plan assets in the fund and the rates of return expected to be available for reinvestment. The rates of return were adjusted to reflect current capital market assumptions and changes in investment allocations.

The Company’s overall investment strategy with respect to the Plan’s assets is primarily for preservation of capital and to provide regular dividend and interest payments. The Plan’s targeted asset allocation is 65% equity securities via investment in the Long-Term Growth - Equity Portfolio ("LTGE"), 34% intermediate-term investment grade bonds via investment in the Long-Term Growth - Fixed-Income Portfolio ("LTGFI"), and 1% in cash equivalents portfolio (for liquidity). Equity securities include investments in a diverse mix of equity funds to gain exposure in the US and international markets. The fixed income portion of the Plan assets is a diversified portfolio that primarily invests in intermediate-term bond funds. The overall rate of return is based on the historical performance of the assets applied against the Plan’s target allocation, and is adjusted for the long-term inflation rate.

The fair values for investment securities are determined by quoted prices in active markets, if available (Level 1). For securities where quoted prices are not available, fair values are calculated based on market prices of similar securities (Level 2). For securities where quoted prices or market prices of similar securities are not available, fair values are calculated using discounted cash flows or other market indicators (Level 3).
The fair value of the Plan’s assets by category within the fair value hierarchy are as follows at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The Plan did not hold any assets classified as Level 3, nor were there any transfers.
December 31, 2022
Asset Category (In thousands)TotalLevel 1Level 2
Equity Mutual Funds:  
Large-Cap$1,441 $— $1,441 
Mid-Cap383 — 383 
Small-Cap318 — 318 
International814 — 814 
Fixed Income - US Core1,167 — 1,167 
Intermediate Duration396 — 396 
Cash Equivalents - money market164 72 92 
Total$4,683 $72 $4,611 
December 31, 2021
Asset Category (In thousands)TotalLevel 1Level 2
Equity Mutual Funds:   
Large-Cap$1,914 $— $1,914 
Mid-Cap509 — 509 
Small-Cap421 — 421 
International1,026 — 1,026 
Fixed Income - US Core1,446 — 1,446 
Intermediate Duration482 — 482 
Cash Equivalents - money market164 62 102 
Total$5,962 $62 $5,900 
 
Estimated benefit payments under the pension plans over the next 10 years at December 31, 2022 are as follows:
YearPayments (In thousands)
2023298 
2024292 
2025283 
2026275 
2027 - 20321,574 

Multi-Employer Pension Plan
As a result of the Company's acquisition of SI Financial Group, Inc. (“SIFI”), the Company participates in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for Financial Institutions (the “Plan”), a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan. The Plan operates as a multiple-employer plan under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, and as a multi-employer plan for accounting purposes. The Plan was frozen effective September 6, 2013. The Company made contributions of $124 thousand in 2022. As of July 1, 2022, the Plan held assets with a market value of $4.3 million and liabilities with a market value of $5.9 million. The funded status (market value of plan assets divided by funding target) of the Plan, was greater than 80% as of July 1, 2022, as required by federal and state regulations. Market value of the Plan's assets reflects contributions received through June 30, 2022. There are no collective bargaining agreements in place that require contributions to the Plan by the Company. The Plan is a single plan under the Internal Revenue Code and, as a result, all of the assets stand behind all of the liabilities. Accordingly, contributions made by a participating employer may be used to provide benefits to participants of other participating employers.
Postretirement Benefits
The Company maintains an unfunded postretirement medical plan assumed in connection with the Rome Bancorp acquisition in 2011. The postretirement plan has been modified so that participation is closed to those employees who did not meet the retirement eligibility requirements by March 31, 2011. The Company contributes partially to medical benefits and life insurance coverage for retirees. Such retirees and their surviving spouses are responsible for the remainder of the medical benefits, including increases in premiums levels, between the total premium and the Company’s contribution.

The Company also has an executive long-term care (“LTC”) postretirement benefit plan which started August 1, 2014. The LTC plan reimburses executives for certain costs in the event of a future chronic illness. Funding of the plan comes from Company paid insurance policies or direct payments. At plan’s inception, a $558 thousand benefit obligation was recorded against equity representing the prior service cost of plan participants.
 
Information regarding the postretirement plans is as follows:
December 31,
(In thousands)20222021
Change in accumulated postretirement benefit obligation:  
Accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation at beginning of year$4,521 $4,641 
Service Cost12 13 
Interest cost122 113 
Participant contributions— — 
Actuarial loss(1,396)(198)
Benefits paid(44)(48)
Accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation at end of year$3,215 $4,521 
Change in plan assets:  
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year$— $— 
Contributions by employer44 48 
Contributions by participant— — 
Benefits paid(44)(48)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year$— $— 
Amounts Recognized on Consolidated Balance Sheets  
Other Liabilities$3,215 $4,521 

Net periodic post-retirement cost is comprised of the following:
December 31,
(In thousands)202220212020
Service cost$12 $13 $39 
Interest costs122 113 129 
Amortization of net prior service credit83 83 84 
Amortization of net actuarial loss30 55 12 
Net periodic post-retirement costs$247 $264 $264 
Changes in benefit obligations recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:
December 31,
(In thousands)202220212020
Amortization of prior service credit$(83)$(83)$(84)
Net actuarial (gain)(1,426)(253)496 
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income(1,509)(336)412 
Accrued post-retirement liability recognized$3,215 $4,521 $4,641 
 
The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
December 31,
(In thousands)202220212020
Net prior service cost$1,159 $1,242 $1,325 
Net actuarial (gain)/loss(812)615 869 
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income$347 $1,857 $2,194 
 
The amount expected to be amortized from other comprehensive (loss)/income into net periodic postretirement cost over the next fiscal year is $83 thousand.

The discount rates used in the measurement of the postretirement plan obligations are determined by comparing the expected future retirement payment cash flows of the plans to the Above Median FTSE Pension Discount Curve as of the measurement date.

The assumed discount rates on a weighted-average basis were 5.12% and 2.30% as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The Company has fixed contributions, therefore, the annual rate of increase in healthcare costs is not used in measuring the accumulated post-retirement benefit medical obligation.

For participants in the LTC plan covered by insurance policies, no increase in annual premiums is assumed based on the history of the corresponding insurance provider.

Estimated benefit payments under the post-retirement benefit plan over the next ten years at December 31, 2022 are as follows:
YearPayments (In thousands)
2023122 
2024122 
2025119 
2026115 
2027 - 2032951 
401(k) Plan
The Company provides a 401(k) Plan in which most eligible employees participate. Expense related to the plan was $2.9 million in 2022, $3.2 million in 2021, and $3.5 million in 2020.

Other Plans
The Company maintains supplemental executive retirement plans (“SERPs”) for select current and former executives. Benefits generally commence no earlier than age sixty-two and are payable either as an annuity or as a lump sum at the executive’s option. Most of these SERPs were assumed in connection with acquisitions. At year-end 2022 and 2021, the accrued liability for these SERPs was $19.4 million and $20.0 million, respectively. SERP expense was $2.0 million in 2022, $2.0 million in 2021, and $2.0 million in 2020, and is recognized over the required service period.

The Company has endorsement split-dollar arrangements pertaining to certain current and former executives and directors. Under these arrangements, the Company purchased policies insuring the lives of the executives and directors, and separately entered into agreements to split the policy benefits with the individuals. There are no post-retirement benefits associated with these policies. The Company also assumed split-dollar life insurance agreements from multiple prior acquisitions. The accrued liability for these split-dollar arrangements was $7.9 million as of year-end 2022 and $7.8 million as of year-end 2021.