Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	(000's)
	Pension Benefits						Post-Retirement Health Benefits
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	304		$	347		$	9		$	10
Interest cost	866			798			36			33
Expected return on plan assets	(896		)	(991		)	—			—
Net amortization of prior service cost	—			—			—			—
Net amortization of net (gain) loss	389			362			(4		)	—
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	663		$	516		$	41		$	43

Employer Contributions

First Financial Corporation previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 that it expected to contribute $1.8 million and $814 thousand respectively to its Pension Plan and ESOP and $233 thousand to the Post Retirement Health Benefits Plan in 2019. Contributions of $391 thousand have been made to the Pension Plan thus far in 2019. Contributions of $56 thousand have been made through the first three months of 2019 for the Post Retirement Health Benefits plan. No contributions have been made in 2019 for the ESOP. The Pension plan was frozen for most employees at the end of 2012 and for those employees there will be discretionary contributions to the ESOP plan and a 401K plan in place of the former Pension benefit. In the first three months of 2019 and 2018 there has been $390 thousand and $419 thousand of expense accrued for potential contributions to these alternative retirement benefit options.