15. Benefit Plans

401(k) Match and Profit Sharing Plan

The Company’s 401(k) defined contribution plan allows its participants to contribute up to 75% of their pretax earnings on a tax-deferred basis up to the statutory limit, and the Company contributes a matching contribution on behalf of plan participants limited to 4% of the employees’ salaries. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company made contributions of $335,000, $386,000 and $358,000, respectively, in connection with the plans, which is included in compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying statements of income.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

In 2008, the Company established an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) for the benefit of all eligible employees of the Company. The leveraged ESOP is accounted for in accordance with the requirements of ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation.

Employees of the Bank who have been employed for a six-month period and who have attained age 21 are eligible to participate in the ESOP. It is anticipated that contributions will be made to the plan in amounts necessary to amortize the debt to the Company over a period of 20 years.

Under ASC 718, unearned ESOP shares are not considered outstanding and are shown as a reduction of shareholders’ equity as unearned compensation. Dividends on unallocated ESOP shares are considered to be compensation expense. The Company recognizes compensation cost equal to the fair value of the ESOP shares during the periods in which they are committed to be released. To the extent that the fair value of the Company’s ESOP shares differ from the cost of such shares, the differential is credited to shareholders’ equity. The Company receives a tax deduction equal to the cost of the shares released. As the loan is internally leveraged, the loan receivable from the ESOP to the Company is not reported as an asset nor is the debt of the ESOP shown as a Company liability.

Compensation cost related to the ESOP was $653,000, $612,000 and $520,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The fair value of the unearned ESOP shares, using the closing quoted market price per share as of year-end, was approximately $9,928,000 and $10,264,000 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. A summary of the ESOP share allocation as of December 31, 2013 follows.


Shares allocated, beginning of year	143,578
Shares allocated during the year	35,710
Shares distributed during the year	(7,341	)

Allocated shares held by ESOP trust as of year end	171,947
Unallocated shares	526,683

Total ESOP shares	698,630

Salary Continuation Agreements

As a supplement to its 401(k) retirement plan, the Bank has entered into nonqualified salary continuation agreements with two executive officers of the Bank. Under his salary continuation agreement, the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) will be entitled to a stated annual benefit for a period of ten years upon retirement from the Bank after attaining age 62. Benefits under the agreement vest over ten years, with 50% of this benefit having vested in 2007. In the event of early retirement, the Bank shall pay the CEO his vested benefits in 120 equal monthly installments upon his attaining age 62. Upon death during active service, the Bank shall distribute to the executive’s beneficiary an amount equal to two times his fully vested normal retirement benefit, payable in monthly installments over five years.

In the event of a separation from service within 24 months following a change in control but prior to normal retirement age, the Bank shall distribute to the CEO his fully vested annual benefit in 12 equal monthly installments for ten years beginning the earlier of 24 months after separation from service or age 62. If separation from service occurs more than 24 months following a change in control, the annual benefit shall be distributed beginning at age 62.

The Bank’s nonqualified salary continuation agreement with its Chief Credit Officer provides that the executive will be entitled to a stated annual benefit for a period of ten years upon retirement from the Bank after attaining age 65, distributed monthly. In the event of early retirement, the Bank shall pay the executive his vested benefits in 120 equal monthly installments upon attaining age 65. Upon death during active service, the Bank shall distribute the fully vested normal retirement benefit to the executive’s beneficiary in 120 monthly installments. In the event of a separation from service within 24 months following a change in control but prior to normal retirement age, the Bank shall distribute to the executive the vested portion of the annual benefit in a lump sum on the first day of the month following the separation from service. Benefits are subject to a six-month delay to the extent required by applicable law. The Company had an outstanding liability totaling $958,000 and $835,000 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, in connection with the agreements.