Benefit Plans

The components of our consolidated net pension costs are set forth in the following table:



	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2017			2016			2017
	(Dollars in thousands)
Service cost	$	506		$	496		$	1,517		$	1,487
Interest cost	1,498			1,385			4,494			4,154
Expected return on plan assets	(1,307		)	(1,389		)	(3,922		)	(4,166		)
Net cost	$	697		$	492		$	2,089		$	1,475

The components of our consolidated net postretirement costs are set forth in the following table:



	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2017		2016		2017
	(Dollars in thousands)
Service cost	$	1	$	1	$	3	$	1
Interest cost	272		241		815		724
Net cost	$	273	$	242	$	818	$	725