Pension

The amount of net pension cost is shown in the table below:



	For the Three Months Ended June 30						For the Six Months Ended June 30
(In thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$	128		$	138		$	257		$	271
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	973			1,005			1,946			1,972
Expected return on plan assets	(1,438		)	(1,439		)	(2,876		)	(2,876		)
Amortization of prior service cost	(68		)	(67		)	(136		)	(135		)
Amortization of unrecognized net loss	617			642			1,234			1,293
Net periodic pension cost	$	212		$	279		$	425		$	525

Substantially all benefits accrued under the Company’s defined benefit pension plan were frozen effective January 1, 2005, and the remaining benefits were frozen effective January 1, 2011. During the first six months of 2017, the Company made no funding contributions to its defined benefit pension plan and made minimal funding contributions to a supplemental executive retirement plan (the CERP), which carries no segregated assets. The Company has no plans to make any further contributions, other than those related to the CERP, during the remainder of 2017.