EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

8. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The Bank maintains a noncontributory pension plan covering all eligible employees. The Bank uses a December 31^st measurement date for this plan in accordance with FASB ASC 715-30 “Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – Pension.” During 2012, the Company amended the pension plan by revising the formula for determining benefits effective January 1, 2013, except for certain grandfathered employees. Additionally, new employees hired on or after October 1, 2012 are not eligible for the pension plan.

During 2001, the Bank adopted the Bridgehampton National Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”). As recommended by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and approved by the full Board of Directors, the SERP provides benefits to certain employees, whose benefits under the pension plan are limited by the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The benefit under the SERP is equal to the additional amount the employee would be entitled to under the Pension Plan and the 401(k) Plan in the absence of such Internal Revenue Code limitations. The assets of the SERP are held in a rabbi trust to maintain the tax-deferred status of the plan and are subject to the general, unsecured creditors of the Company. As a result, the assets of the rabbi trust are reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets of the Company.

There were no contributions to the pension plan or the SERP during the three months ended March 31, 2017. In accordance with the SERP, a retired executive received a distribution from the plan totaling $28,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The Company’s funding policy with respect to its benefit plans is to contribute at least the minimum amounts required by applicable laws and regulations.

The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	Pension Benefits						SERP Benefits
(In thousands)	2017			2016			2017		2016
Service cost	$	292		$	291		$	53	$	44
Interest cost		185			196			26		26
Expected return on plan assets		(520	)		(455	)		-		-
Amortization of net loss		113			99			13		7
Amortization of prior service credit		(19	)		(19	)		-		-
Amortization of transition obligation		-			-			7		7
Net periodic benefit cost	$	51		$	112		$	99	$	84