We have a 401(k) plan in which substantially all employees are eligible to participate. Employees may contribute up to 100% of their compensation subject to certain limits based on federal tax laws. The plan was amended in 2013 to provide a matching safe harbor contribution for all eligible employees equal to 100% of the first 5.0% of an employee's compensation contributed to the Plan during the year. Employees are 100% vested in the safe harbor matching contributions.

We maintain a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, which was curtailed effective March 1, 2007. As a result of the curtailment, future salary increases are no longer considered (the projected benefit obligation is equal to the accumulated benefit obligation), and plan benefits are based on years of service and the individual employee’s five highest consecutive years of compensation out of the last ten years of service through March 1, 2007.

Changes in the projected benefit obligation and plan assets during each year, the funded status of the plan, and the net amount recognized in our consolidated balance sheets using an actuarial measurement date of December 31, are summarized as follows during the years ended December 31:


	2021		2020
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation, January 1	$	10,358	$	10,209
Interest cost	233		306
Actuarial loss (gain)	(357)		682
Benefits paid, including plan expenses	(509)		(839)
Benefit obligation, December 31	9,725		10,358
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets, January 1	8,263		8,352
Investment return (loss)	831		750
Contributions	64		—
Benefits paid, including plan expenses	(509)		(839)
Fair value of plan assets, December 31	8,649		8,263
Deficiency in funded status at December 31, included on the consolidated balance sheets in accrued interest payable and other liabilities	$	(1,076)	$	(2,095)
Accumulated benefit obligation at December 31	$	9,725	$	10,358


	2021		2020
Change in accrued pension benefit costs
Accrued benefit cost at January 1	$	(2,095)	$	(1,857)
Contributions	64		—
Net periodic benefit cost	31		(176)
Net change in unrecognized actuarial loss and prior service cost	924		(62)
Accrued pension benefit cost at December 31	$	(1,076)	$	(2,095)

We have recorded the funded status of the plan in our consolidated balance sheets. We adjust the underfunded status in a liability account to reflect the current funded status of the plan. Any gains or losses that arise during the year but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost are recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).

The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows for the years ended December 31:


	2021		2020		2019
Interest cost on benefit obligation	$	233	$	306	$	378
Expected return on plan assets	(486)		(488)		(452)
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial net loss	222		206		214
Settlement loss	—		152		128
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(31)	$	176	$	268

During 2021, 2020 and 2019, settlement losses of $0, $152 and $128 were recognized in connection with lump-sum benefit distributions, respectively. Many plan participants elect to receive their retirement benefit payments in the form of lump-sum settlements. Pro rata settlement losses, which can occasionally occur as a result of these lump-sum distributions, are recognized only in years when the total of such distributions exceed the sum of the service and interest expense components of net periodic benefit cost.

The actuarial assumptions used in determining the benefit obligation are as follows for the years ended December 31:


	2021		2020		2019
Discount rate	2.43	%	2.30	%	3.07	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	6.00	%	6.00	%	6.00	%

The actuarial weighted average assumptions used in determining the net periodic pension costs are as follows for the years ended December 31:


	2021		2020		2019
Discount rate	2.30	%	3.07	%	4.11	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	6.00	%	6.00	%	6.00	%

The expected long-term rate of return is an estimate of anticipated future long-term rates of return on plan assets as measured on a market value basis. Factors considered in arriving at this assumption include:

Our overall investment strategy is to moderately grow the portfolio by investing 50% of the portfolio in equity securities and 50% in fixed income securities. This strategy is designed to generate a long-term rate of return of 6.00%. Equity securities primarily consist of the S&P 500 Index with a smaller allocation to the Small Cap and International Index. Fixed income securities are invested in the Bond Market Index. The plan has appropriate assets invested in short-term investments to meet near term benefit payments.

The asset mix and the sector weighting of the investments are determined by our benefits committee, which is comprised of members of our management. To manage the plan, we retain a third party investment advisor to conduct consultations. We review the performance of the advisor at least annually.

The fair values of our pension plan assets by asset category were as follows as of December 31:


	2021				2020
	Total		(Level 2)		Total		(Level 2)
Short-term investments	$	127	$	127	$	69	$	69
Common collective trusts
Fixed income	3,750		3,750		3,851		3,851
Equity investments	4,772		4,772		4,343		4,343
Total	$	8,649	$	8,649	$	8,263	$	8,263

•Common collective trusts: These investments are public investment securities valued using the NAV provided by a third party investment advisor. The NAV is quoted on a private market that is not active; however, the unit price is based on underlying investments which are traded on an active market.

Pursuant to the terms of the Directors Plan, our directors are required to invest at least 25% of their board fees in our common stock. These stock investments can be made either through deferred fees or through the purchase of shares through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Deferred fees, under the Directors Plan, are converted on a quarterly basis into stock units of our common stock based on the fair value of a share of our common stock as of the relevant valuation date. Stock units credited to a participant’s account are eligible for stock and cash dividends as declared. Dividend Reinvestment Plan shares are purchased pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

Distribution of deferred fees from the Directors Plan occurs when the participant retires from the Board of Directors or upon the occurrence of certain other events. The participant is eligible to receive a distribution in the form of shares of our common stock of all of the stock units that are then in his or her account, and any unconverted cash will be converted to and rounded up to whole shares of stock and distributed, as well. The Directors Plan does not allow for cash settlement, and therefore, such share-based payment awards qualify for classification as equity. We may use authorized but unissued shares or purchase shares of common stock on the open market to meet our obligations under the Directors Plan.

We maintain the Rabbi Trust to fund the Directors Plan. The Rabbi Trust is an irrevocable grantor trust to which we may contribute assets for the limited purpose of funding a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. Although we may not use the assets of the Rabbi Trust for any purpose other than meeting our obligations under the Directors Plan, the assets of the Rabbi Trust remain subject to the claims of our creditors and are included in the consolidated financial statements. We may contribute cash or common stock to the Rabbi Trust from time to time for the sole purpose of funding the Directors Plan. The Rabbi Trust will use any cash that we contribute to purchase shares of our common stock on the open market. Shares held in the Rabbi Trust are included in the calculation of earnings per share.

The components of shares eligible to be issued under the Directors Plan were as follows as of December 31:


	2021			2020
	Eligible Shares	Market Value		Eligible Shares	Market Value
Unissued	83,710	$	2,135	117,053	$	2,291
Shares held in Rabbi Trust	105,654	2,694		59,162	1,158
Total	189,364	$	4,829	176,215	$	3,449

On June 24, 2020, we amended and restated the Isabella Bank Corporation Employee Cash Incentive Plans to create two separate plans: one for non-executive employees and the other, the Isabella Bank Corporation Executive Cash Incentive Plan for executive employees. The executive plan provides separate potential payouts for Isabella Bank's CEO, President and CFO based on achievement of personal and corporate goals. The potential payouts under the plan range from 20% to 30% of the employee's annual salary. Expenses related to this plan for 2021 and 2020 were $253 and $165, respectively.

We provide cash incentive plans to reward employees above and beyond their base salaries when our performance and operating profitability exceed established annual targets. Incentives are also awarded for achievement of personal performance goals. Expenses related to this plan for 2021, 2020 and 2019 were $1,063, $1,101, and $1,070, respectively. Prior to 2020, such expenses included cash incentives for all eligible employees, including executives.

We adopted the RSP, an equity-based bonus plan, in 2020. Under the RSP, we may award restricted stock bonuses to eligible employees on an annual basis that are not fully transferable or vested until certain conditions are met. Currently, the eligible employees are the Bank's CEO, President and CFO. The RSP authorizes the issuance of unvested restricted stock to an eligible employee with a maximum award ranging from 25% to 40% of the employee’s annual salary, on a calendar year basis. The employee must also satisfy the annual performance targets and measures established by the Board of Directors. If these grant conditions are not satisfied, then the award of restricted shares will lapse or be adjusted appropriately, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. All Grant Agreements contain vesting conditions and clawback provisions.

A summary of changes in nonvested restricted stock awards follows for the years ended December 31:


	2021			2020
	Number of Shares	Fair Value		Number of Shares	Fair Value
Balance, January 1	4,658	$	82	—	$	—
Granted	15,465	336		4,658	82
Vested	—	—		—	—
Forfeited	—	—		—	—
Balance, December 31	20,123	$	418	4,658	$	82

Compensation expense related to the RSP for 2021 and 2020 were $86 and $14, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, there was $319 of total remaining unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested restricted stock awards granted under the RSP. The remaining expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average service period of 2.71 years.

We maintained an equity incentive plan for the purpose of promoting growth and operating profitability, as well as attracting and retaining executive officers of outstanding competence, through ownership of equity. Under this plan, common stock was granted to specified individuals subject to certain conditions, and the transfer of shares granted under the plan is restricted. Expenses related to this plan was $171 for 2019. This plan was terminated in 2020 with the adoption of our Restricted Stock Plan.

We maintain nonqualified defined contribution retirement plans to provide supplemental retirement benefits to specified participants. Expenses related to these programs for 2021, 2020 and 2019 were $352, $373, and $355, respectively. Expenses are recognized over the participants’ expected years of service.

We maintain a self-funded medical plan under which we are responsible for the first $100 per year of claims made by a covered family. Expenses are accrued based on estimates of the aggregate liability for claims incurred and our experience. Expenses were $3,297 in 2021, $1,868 in 2020 and $2,445 in 2019.