Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

The Bank has entered into Supplemental Executive Retirement and Death Benefit Agreements (the “SERP Agreements”) with certain of the Bank’s executive officers, which upon the executive’s retirement, will provide for a stated monthly payment for such executive’s lifetime subject to certain death benefits described below. The retirement benefit is computed as a percentage of each executive’s projected average base salary over the five years preceding retirement, assuming retirement at age 67. The SERP Agreements provide that (a) the benefits vest ratably over six years of service to the Bank, with the executive receiving credit for years of service prior to entering into the SERP Agreement, (b) death, disability and change-in-control shall result in immediate vesting and (c) the monthly amount will be reduced if retirement occurs earlier than age 67 for any reason other than death, disability or change-in-control. The SERP Agreements further provide for a death benefit in the event the retired executive dies prior to receiving 180 monthly installments, paid either in a lump sum payment or continued monthly installment payments, such that the executive’s beneficiary has received payment(s) sufficient to equate to a cumulative 180 monthly installments.

The SERP Agreements are unfunded arrangements maintained primarily to provide supplemental retirement benefits and comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. The Bank financed the retirement benefits by purchasing fixed annuity contracts with four insurance carriers in 2013 totaling $11.4 million and two insurance carriers in 2019 totaling $2.6 million. These annuity contracts have been designed to provide a future source of funds for the lifetime retirement benefits of the SERP Agreements. The primary impetus for utilizing fixed annuities is a substantial savings in compensation expenses for the Bank as opposed to a traditional SERP Agreement. The cash surrender value of the annuity contracts was $13.9 million and $14.2 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and was included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 the Company recorded benefit expense accruals of $513 thousand, $338 thousand and $428 thousand, respectively, for this post retirement benefit.

Upon death of a named executive, the annuity contract related to such executive terminates. The Bank has purchased additional bank owned life insurance contracts, which would effectively finance payments (up to a 15 year certain amount) to the executives’ named beneficiaries.