EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Components of the net periodic benefit cost for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, are as follows:



	For The Three Months Ended June 30,										For The Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018					2017					2018					2017
	Qualified Pension Plan			Nonqualified Excess Pension Plan		Qualified Pension Plan			Nonqualified Excess Pension Plan		Qualified Pension Plan			Nonqualified Excess Pension Plan		Qualified Pension Plan			Nonqualified Excess Pension Plan
	(Dollars In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	3,441		$	387	$	3,348		$	334	$	6,882		$	774	$	6,696		$	668
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	2,397			359		2,191			297		4,794			718		4,382			594
Expected return on plan assets	(4,026		)	—		(3,352		)	—		(8,052		)	—		(6,704		)	—
Amortization of prior service cost	—			—		—			—		—			—		—			—
Amortization of actuarial loss/(gain)	—			265		—			118		—			530		—			236
Preliminary net periodic benefit cost	1,812			1,011		2,187			749		3,624			2,022		4,374			1,498
Settlement/curtailment expense	—			—		—			—		—			—		—			—
Total net periodic benefit costs	$	1,812		$	1,011	$	2,187		$	749	$	3,624		$	2,022	$	4,374		$	1,498

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company did not make a contribution to its defined benefit pension plan. The Company will make contributions in future periods as necessary to at least satisfy minimum funding requirements, to maintain an adjusted funding target attainment percentage (“AFTAP”) of at least 80% and to avoid certain Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) reporting triggers. The Company may also make additional discretionary contributions in excess of the contribution amounts established by the current funding policy.