EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	17. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS 401(k) Plan Effective January 1, 2005, the Company adopted a qualified 401(k) profit sharing plan (the “401(k) Plan”) that covers substantially all full-time employees. The 401(k) Plan permits voluntary contributions by participants and provides for voluntary matching contributions by the Company after 90 days of employment. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company made contributions to the plan of $642,000, $507,000 and $285,000, respectively. Salary Continuation Plan In 2014, the Company established a salary continuation plan for one of its executive officers. In 2017, the Company extended coverage to two additional executive officers. Under the agreements, the Company provides the executive, or their designated beneficiaries, with annual benefits for fifteen years after retirement or death. The contributions are based on the executive’s performance related to Company’s financial performance. These benefits are substantially equivalent to those available under insurance policies purchased by the Company on the life of the executives. At December 31, 2020, approximately $1.6 million of the salary continuation plan was related to plans assumed through the Company’s acquisitions. There are no further requirements to fund these plans. The expense recognized included in salaries and benefits expense in the consolidated statements of income under the salary continuation agreements defined above totaled $577,000, $545,000 and $432,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

17. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

401(k) Plan

Effective January 1, 2005, the Company adopted a qualified 401(k) profit sharing plan (the “401(k) Plan”) that covers substantially all full-time employees. The 401(k) Plan permits voluntary contributions by participants and provides for voluntary matching contributions by the Company after 90 days of employment. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company made contributions to the plan of $642,000, $507,000 and $285,000, respectively.

Salary Continuation Plan

In 2014, the Company established a salary continuation plan for one of its executive officers. In 2017, the Company extended coverage to two additional executive officers. Under the agreements, the Company provides the executive, or their designated beneficiaries, with annual benefits for fifteen years after retirement or death. The contributions are based on the executive’s performance related to Company’s financial performance. These benefits are substantially equivalent to those available under insurance policies purchased by the Company on the life of the executives. At December 31, 2020, approximately $1.6 million of the salary continuation plan was related to plans assumed through the Company’s acquisitions. There are no further requirements to fund these plans.

The expense recognized included in salaries and benefits expense in the consolidated statements of income under the salary continuation agreements defined above totaled $577,000, $545,000 and $432,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.