The Corporation has a noncontributory defined benefit retirement plan (the Retirement Account Plan (“RAP”)) covering substantially all full-time employees. The benefits are based primarily on years of service and the employee's compensation paid. Employees of acquired entities generally participate in the RAP after consummation of the business combinations. Any retirement plans of acquired entities are typically merged into the RAP after completion of the mergers, and credit is usually given to employees for years of service at the acquired institution for vesting and eligibility purposes. In connection with the First Federal acquisition in October 2004, the Corporation assumed the First Federal pension plan (the "First Federal Plan"). The First Federal Plan was frozen on December 31, 2004 and qualified participants in the First Federal Plan became eligible to participate in the RAP as of January 1, 2005. Additional discussion and information on the RAP and the First Federal Plan are collectively referred to below as the "Pension Plan".

The Corporation also provides healthcare access for eligible retired employees in its Postretirement Plan (the “Postretirement Plan”). Retirees who are at least 55 years of age with 5 years of service are eligible to participate in the Postretirement Plan. The Corporation has no plan assets attributable to the Postretirement Plan. The Corporation reserves the right to terminate or make changes to the Postretirement Plan at any time.

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Pension and Postretirement Plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and for the full year 2013 were as follows.

		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended			Year Ended
		September 30,				September 30,			December 31,
		2014		2013		2014		2013	2013
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost		($ in Thousands)
Pension Plan:
Service cost	$	2,975	$	2,975	$	8,925	$	8,925	$	12,078
Interest cost		1,790		1,548		5,370		4,643		6,237
Expected return on plan assets		(4,855)		(4,305)		(14,565)		(12,915)		(17,647)
Amortization of prior service cost		15		17		45		52		72
Amortization of actuarial loss		326		1,073		975		3,218		4,344
Total net periodic benefit cost	$	251	$	1,308	$	750	$	3,923	$	5,084

Postretirement Plan:
Interest cost	$	39	$	40	$	116	$	120	$	142
Amortization of actuarial gain		(9)		―		(26)		―		―
Total net periodic benefit cost	$	30	$	40	$	90	$	120	$	142

The Corporation's funding policy is to pay at least the minimum amount required by the funding requirements of federal law and regulations, with consideration given to the maximum funding amounts allowed. The Corporation regularly reviews the funding of its Pension Plan. The Corporation made contributions of $21 million and $28 million to its Pension Plan in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.