EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Components of the net periodic benefit cost of PLC’s defined benefit pension plan for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, are as follows:



	For The Three Months Ended June 30,										For The Six Months Ended June 30,
	2019					2018					2019					2018
	Qualified Pension Plan			Nonqualified Excess Pension Plan		Qualified Pension Plan			Nonqualified Excess Pension Plan		Qualified Pension Plan			Nonqualified Excess Pension Plan		Qualified Pension Plan			Nonqualified Excess Pension Plan
	(Dollars In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	3,114		$	285	$	3,441		$	387	$	6,228		$	570	$	6,882		$	774
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	2,778			371		2,397			359		5,556			742		4,794			718
Expected return on plan assets	(4,463		)	—		(4,026		)	—		(8,926		)	—		(8,052		)	—
Amortization of actuarial loss	—			74		—			265		—			148		—			530
Preliminary net periodic benefit cost	1,429			730		1,812			1,011		2,858			1,460		3,624			2,022
Settlement/curtailment expense	—			—		—			—		—			—		—			—
Total net periodic benefit costs	$	1,429		$	730	$	1,812		$	1,011	$	2,858		$	1,460	$	3,624		$	2,022

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, PLC did not make a contribution to its defined benefit pension plan. PLC will make contributions in future periods as necessary to at least satisfy minimum funding requirements, to maintain an adjusted funding target attainment percentage (“AFTAP”) of at least 80% and to avoid certain Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) reporting triggers. PLC may also make additional discretionary contributions in excess of the contribution amounts established by the current funding policy.