10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Noncontributory Defined Benefit Pension Plan

The Bank sponsors a trusteed, noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all employees and officers hired prior to January 1, 2007. Additionally, the Bank assumed the noncontributory defined benefit pension plan of FNB when it was acquired during 2015. The FNB plan was frozen prior to the acquisition and therefore, no additional benefits will accrue for employees covered under that plan. These two plans are collectively referred to herein as "the Plans". The pension plans call for benefits to be paid to eligible employees at retirement based primarily upon years of service with the Bank and compensation rates during employment. Upon retirement or other termination of employment, employees can elect either an annuity benefit or a lump sum distribution of vested benefits in the pension plan. The Bank's funding policy is to make annual contributions, if needed, based upon the funding formula developed by the pension plans' actuary. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, contributions to the pension plans totaled $3,000,000, $818,000 and $400,000, respectively.

In lieu of the pension plan, employees with a hire date of January 1, 2007 or later are eligible to receive, after meeting length of service requirements, an annual discretionary 401(k) plan contribution from the Bank equal to a percentage of an employee's base compensation. The contribution amount is placed in a separate account within the 401(k) plan and is subject to a vesting requirement. Contributions by the Company totaled $133,000, $82,000 and $61,000 for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The following table sets forth the obligation and funded status as of December 31 (in thousands):

	2017			2016

Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	18,603		$	17,809
Service cost		349			345
Interest cost		671			692
Actuarial (Gain) / Loss		1,015			439
Benefits paid		(805	)		(682	)
Benefit obligation at end of year		19,833			18,603

Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		15,786			14,786
Actual return (loss) on plan assets		2,011			864
Employer contribution		3,000			818
Benefits paid		(805	)		(682	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		19,992			15,786

Funded status	$	159		$	(2,817	)

Amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost as of December 31 (in thousands):

Amounts recognized in accumulated other
comprehensive loss consists of:	2017			2016
Net loss	$	4,088		$	4,263
Prior service cost		(127	)		(175	)
Total	$	3,961		$	4,088

The accumulated benefit obligation for the defined benefit pension plan was $19,833,000 and $18,603,000 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The components of net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31 are as follows (in thousands):

	2017			2016			2015

Service cost	$	349		$	345		$	352
Interest cost		671			692			424
Return on plan assets		(1,094	)		(1,034	)		(791	)
Net amortization and deferral		224			219			205
Net periodic benefit cost	$	150		$	222		$	190

The estimated net loss and prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into the net periodic benefit cost (income) in 2018 is $233,000 and $(48,000), respectively.

The weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31, 2017 and 2016 is summarized in the following table. The change in the discount rate is the primary driver of the actuarial loss that occurred in 2017 of $1,015,000.

	2017	2016
Discount rate	3.35%	3.78%
Rate of compensation increase	3.00%	3.00%

The weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost (income) for the year ended December 31:

	2017	2016	2015
Discount rate	3.78%	3.94%	3.61%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	7.00%	7.00%	7.00%
Rate of compensation increase	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%

The long-term rate of return on plan assets gives consideration to returns currently being earned on plan assets as well as future rates expected to be earned. The investment objective is to maximize total return consistent with the interests of the participants and beneficiaries, and prudent investment management. The allocation of the pension plan assets is determined on the basis of sound economic principles and is continually reviewed in light of changes in market conditions. Asset allocation favors equity securities, with a target allocation of 50-70%. The target allocation for debt securities is 30-50%. At December 31, 2017, the pension plan had a sufficient cash and money market position in order to re-allocate the equity portfolio for diversification purposes and reduce risk in the total portfolio. The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy as defined in footnote 17, the Plan's assets at fair value as of December 31, 2016 and 2017 (in thousands):

2017	Level I		Level II		Level III		Total		Allocation
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,827	$	-	$	-	$	3,827		19.1	%
Equity Securities		6,018		-		-		6,018		30.1	%
Mutual Funds and ETF's		6,090		-		-		6,090		30.5	%
Corporate Bonds		-		3,469		-		3,469		17.4	%
Municipal Bonds				105				105		0.5	%
U.S. Agency Securities		-		483		-		483		2.4	%
Certificate of deposit		-		-		-		-		0.0	%
Total	$	15,935	$	4,057	$	-	$	19,992		100.0	%

2016	Level I		Level II		Level III		Total		Allocation
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	863	$	-	$	-	$	863		5.5	%
Equity securities		5,404		-		-		5,404		34.1	%
Mutual funds and ETF's		5,235		-		-		5,235		33.2	%
Corporate bonds		-		3,641		-		3,641		23.1	%
Municipal bonds				107				107		0.7	%
U.S. Agency securities		-		536		-		536		3.4	%
Total	$	11,502	$	4,284	$	-	$	15,786		100.0	%

Equity securities include the Company's common stock in the amounts of $684,000 (3.4% of total plan assets) and $548,000 (3.5% of total plan assets) at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Due to the contributions made in 2017, the Bank does not expect to contribute to its pension plans in 2018. Expected future benefit payments that the Bank estimates from its pension plan are as follows (in thousands):

2018	$	629
2019		1,896
2020		1,599
2021		1,421
2022		843
2023 - 2027		7,805

Defined Contribution Plan

The Company sponsors a voluntary 401(k) savings plan which eligible employees can elect to contribute up to the maximum amount allowable not to exceed the limits of IRS Code Sections 401(k). Under the plan, the Company also makes required contributions on behalf of the eligible employees. The Company's contributions vest immediately. Contributions by the Company totaled $388,000, $351,000 and $285,000 for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company's directors may elect to defer all or portions of their fees until their retirement or termination from service. Amounts deferred under the deferred compensation plan earn interest based upon the highest current rate offered to certificate of deposit customers. Amounts deferred under the deferred compensation plan are not guaranteed and represent a general liability of the Company. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, an obligation of $928,000 and $940,000, respectively, was included in other liabilities for this plan in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Amounts included in interest expense on the deferred amounts totaled $19,000, $15,000 and $22,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Restricted Stock Plan

The Company maintains a Restricted Stock Plan (the Plan) whereby employees and non-employee corporate directors are eligible to receive awards of restricted stock based upon performance related requirements. Awards granted under the Plan are in the form of the Company's common stock and maybe subject to certain vesting requirements including in the case of employees, continuous employment or service with the Company. In April of 2016, the Company's shareholders authorized a total of 150,000 shares of the Company's common stock to be made available under the Plan. As of December 31, 2017, 141,408 shares remain available to be issued under the Plan. The Plan assists the Company in attracting, retaining and motivating employees to make substantial contributions to the success of the Company and to increase the emphasis on the use of equity as a key component of compensation.

The following table details the vesting, awarding and forfeiting of restricted shares during 2017:

	2017
				Weighted
				Average
	Shares			Market Price
Outstanding, beginning of year		8,471		$	49.10
Granted		4,482			53.84
Forfeited		(43	)		48.56
Vested		(4,127	)		49.78
Outstanding, end of year		8,783		$	51.20

Compensation cost related to restricted stock is recognized based on the market price of the stock at the grant date over the vesting period. Compensation expense related to restricted stock was $214,000, $193,000 and $172,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The per share weighted-average grant-date fair value of restricted shares granted during 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $53.84, $48.13 and $49.02, respectively. At December 31, 2017, the total compensation cost related to nonvested awards that has not yet been recognized was $450,000, which is expected to be recognized over the next 3 years.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

The Company maintains a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan ("SERP") for certain executives to compensate those executive participants in the Company's noncontributory defined benefit pension plan whose benefits are limited by compensation limitations under current tax law. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, an obligation of $1,571,000 and $1,460,000, respectively, was included in other liabilities for the SERP in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Expenses related to the SERP totaled $111,000, $121,000 and $141,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Salary Continuation Plan

The Company maintains a salary continuation plan for certain employees acquired through the acquisition of the FNB. At December 31, 2017 and 2016 an obligation of $716,000 and $720,000, respectively, was included in other liabilities for this plan in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Expenses related to the salary continuation plan totaled $54,000 and $62,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. There were no expenses related to this plan during the year ended December 31, 2015.

Continuation of Life Insurance Plan

The Company, as part of the acquisition of FNB, has promised a continuation of life insurance coverage to certain persons post-retirement. GAAP requires the recording of post-retirement costs and a liability equal to the present value of the cost of post-retirement insurance during the person's term of service. The estimated present value of future benefits to be paid totaled $578,000 and $569,000 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which is included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Expenses for the plan total $9,000 during 2017. There were no expenses related to this plan during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.