Pension

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



	For the Three Months Ended September 30						For the Nine Months Ended September 30
(In thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$	193		$	135		$	450		$	406
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	923			986			2,869			2,958
Expected return on plan assets	(1,463		)	(1,437		)	(4,339		)	(4,313		)
Amortization of prior service cost	(67		)	(68		)	(203		)	(203		)
Amortization of unrecognized net loss	630			647			1,864			1,940
Net periodic pension cost	$	216		$	263		$	641		$	788

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 nine months of 2017, the Company made a discretionary contribution of $5.5 million to its defined benefit pension plan in order to reduce pension guarantee costs. The Company also 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.