(9) Benefit Plans

(a) Retirement Plan

The Company maintains a trusteed non-contributory pension plan covering employees that have completed one year of employment and 1,000 hours of service. The benefits are based on the sum of (a) a benefit equal to a prior service benefit plus the average of the employees’ highest five consecutive years’ compensation in the ten years preceding retirement multiplied by a percentage of service after a specified date plus (b) a benefit based upon career average compensation. The amounts contributed to the plan are determined annually on the basis of (a) the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes or (b) the amount certified by a consulting actuary as necessary to avoid an accumulated funding deficiency as defined by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Contributions are intended to provide for benefits attributed to service to date. Assets of the plan are administered by Trustco Bank’s Financial Services Department. This plan was frozen as of December 31, 2006.

The following tables set forth the plan’s funded status and amounts recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of condition at December 31, 2015 and 2014:

Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:	December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2015			2014
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	33,662			27,822
Service cost		60			58
Interest cost		1,329			1,374
Benefits paid		(1,676	)		(1,751	)
Net actuarial (gain) loss		(2,486	)		6,159
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	30,889			33,662

Change in Plan Assets and Reconciliation of Funded Status:	December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2015			2014
Fair Value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	42,993			39,419
Actual gain on plan assets		360			3,325
Company contributions		-			2,000
Benefits paid		(1,676	)		(1,751	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		41,677			42,993

Funded status at end of year	$	10,788			9,331

The accumulated benefit obligation for pension benefits was $30.9 million and $33.7 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax) consist of the following as of:

	December 31,
	2015		2014
Net actuarial loss	$	5,830		6,150

Components of Net Periodic Pension Income and Other Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income:

(dollars in thousands)	For the years ended
	December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Service cost	$	60			58			69
Interest cost		1,329			1,374			1,273
Expected return on plan assets		(2,735	)		(2,504	)		(2,190	)
Amortization of net loss		210			-			516
Net periodic pension credit		(1,136	)		(1,072	)		(332	)

Amortization of net loss		(210	)		-			(516	)

Net actuarial (gain) / loss included in other comprehensive income		(109	)		5,337			(8,156	)

		(319	)		5,337			(8,672	)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit (credit) cost and other comprehensive income	$	(1,455	)		4,265			(9,004	)

The estimated net loss for the plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost over the next fiscal year is $169 thousand.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:

(dollars in thousands)
Year	Pension Benefits
2016	$	1,738
2017		1,754
2018		1,788
2019		1,829
2020		1,867
2021 - 2025		9,554

The assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of the following years are as follows:

		2015				2014				2013
Discount rate			4.55	%			4.03				5.08

The assumptions used to determine net periodic pension expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31 are as follows:

	2015			2014		2013
Discount rate		4.03	%		5.08		4.07
Expected long-term rate of return on assets		6.50			6.50		6.50

The annual rate assumption used for purposes of computing the service and interest costs components is determined based upon factors including the yields on high quality corporate bonds and other appropriate yield curves along with analysis prepared by the Company’s actuaries.

(b) Supplemental Retirement Plan

The Company also has a supplementary pension plan under which additional retirement benefits are accrued for eligible executive officers. This plan supplements the defined benefit retirement plan for eligible employees that exceed the Internal Revenue Service limit on the amount of pension payments that are allowed from a retirement plan. The supplemental plan provides eligible employees with total benefit payments as calculated by the retirement plan without regard to this limitation. Benefits under this plan are calculated using the same actuarial assumptions and interest rates as used for the retirement plan calculations. The accumulated benefits under this supplementary pension plan was approximately $5.6 million as of both December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Effective as of December 31, 2008, this plan has been frozen and no additional benefits will accrue. Instead, the amount of the Company’s annual contribution to the plan plus interest is paid directly to each eligible employee. The expense recorded for this plan was $1.0 million, $1.5 million, and $1.3 million, in 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

Rabbi trusts have been established for this plan. These trust accounts are administered by the Trustco Financial Services Department and invest primarily in bonds issued by government-sponsored enterprises and money market instruments. These assets are recorded at their fair value and are included in securities available for sale and other short-term investments in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the trusts had assets totaling $5.6 million and $5.7 million, respectively.

In 2003, the Company amended the medical plan to reflect changes to the retiree medical insurance coverage portion. The Company’s subsidy of the retiree medical insurance premiums was eliminated at that time. The Company continues to provide postretirement medical benefits for a limited number of executives in accordance with their employment contracts. In addition, the plan provides a death benefit to certain eligible employees and retirees.

The following tables show the plan’s funded status and amounts recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Condition at December 31, 2015 and 2014:

Change in Accumulated Benefit Obligation:	December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2015			2014
Accumulated benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	6,455			2,513
Service cost		165			100
Interest cost		268			217
Plan amendments		-			1,811
Benefits paid		(85	)		(83	)
Net actuarial (gain) loss		(1,369	)		1,897
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	5,434			6,455

Change in Plan Assets and Reconciliation of Funded Status:	December 31,
(dollars in thousands)		2015		2014
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	19,285		17,935
Actual gain on plan assets		(47	)	1,350
Company contributions		85		83
Benefits paid		(85	)	(83	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		19,238		19,285

Funded status at end of year	$	13,804		12,830

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of the following as of:	December 31,
	2015			2014
Net actuarial gain	$	(3,890	)		(3,429	)
Prior service credit		(1,457	)		(1,367	)
Total	$	(5,347	)		(4,796	)

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Credit and Other Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income:

	For the years ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2015			2014			2013
Service cost	$	165		$	100			50
Interest cost		268			217			101
Expected return on plan assets		(722	)		(672	)		(495	)
Amortization of net actuarial gain		(140	)		(297	)		(49	)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		90			199			(262	)
Net periodic benefit credit		(339	)		(453	)		(655	)

Net (gain) loss		(602	)		1,219			(2,868	)
Prior service cost		-			1,811			465
Amortization of prior service cost		(90	)		(199	)		262
Amortization of net gain		140			297			49
Total amount recognized in other comprehensive income		(552	)		3,128			(2,092	)

Total amount recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	(891	)	$	2,675			(2,747	)

The estimated amount of net gain that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit credit over the next fiscal year is approximately $217 thousand while the estimated amount of prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit credit over the next fiscal year is approximately $90 thousand.

Expected Future Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments are expected to be paid:

(dollars in thousands) Year	Postretirement Benefits

2016	$	87
2017		91
2018		103
2019		117
2020		130
2021 - 2025		989

The discount rate assumption used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 is as follows:

		2015				2014				2013
Discount rate			4.55	%			4.03				5.08

The assumptions used to determine net periodic pension expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31 are as follows:

	2015			2014		2013
Discount rate		4.03	%		5.08		4.07
Expected long-term rate of return on assets, net of tax		3.75			3.75		3.30

For measurement purposes, a graded annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered benefits (i.e., health care cost trend rate) was assumed for 2015 and thereafter. A one percentage point increase in the assumed health care cost in each year would have an approximate $1.2 million impact on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 2015, while a 1% decrease would have an approximate $922 thousand impact. The impact on the interest and service components of net periodic postretirement benefit credit for the year ended December 31, 2015 would be $113 thousand for a one percentage point increase and $85 thousand for a one percentage point decrease.

(d) Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Related to Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans

The following table details the change in the components of other comprehensive (loss) income related to the retirement plan and the postretirement benefit plan, at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively:

(dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2015
	Retirement Plan			Post- Retirement Benefit Plan			Total
Change in overfunded position of pension and postretirement benefits	$	(109	)		(602	)		(711	)
Amortization of net actuarial (loss) gain		(210	)		140			(70	)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		-			(90	)		(90	)
Total	$	(319	)		(552	)		(871	)

	December 31, 2014
	Retirement Plan		Post- Retirement Benefit Plan			Total
Change in overfunded position of pension and postretirement benefits	$	5,337		3,030			8,367
Amortization of net actuarial gain (loss)		-		297			297
Amortization of prior service credit		-		(199	)		(199	)
Total	$	5,337		3,128			8,465

(e) Major Categories of Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets:

The asset allocations of the Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans at December 31, were as follows:

	Pension Benefit Plan Assets					Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets
	2015			2014		2015		2014
Debt Securities		32	%		32		25		33
Equity Securities		60			63		60		65
Other		8			5		15		2
Total		100	%		100		100		100

The expected long-term rate-of-return on plan assets, noted in sections (a) and (b) above, reflects long-term earnings expectations on existing plan assets. In estimating that rate, appropriate consideration was given to historical returns earned by plan assets and the rates of return expected to be available for reinvestment. Rates of return were adjusted to reflect current capital market assumptions and changes in investment allocations.

The Company’s investment policies and strategies for the pension benefit and postretirement benefit plans prescribe a target allocation of 50% to 70% equity securities, 25% to 40% debt securities, and 0% to 10% for other securities for the asset categories. At December 31, 2015, plan assets for postretirement benefits included an above range amount for “other” investment category due to temporary excess cash in the plan. The Company’s investment goals are to maximize returns subject to specific risk management policies. Its risk management policies permit direct investments in equity and debt securities and mutual funds while prohibiting direct investment in derivative financial instruments. The Company addresses diversification by the use of mutual fund investments whose underlying investments are in domestic and international debt and equity securities. These mutual funds are readily marketable and can be sold to fund benefit payment obligations as they become payable.

Fair Value of Plan Assets:

Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

The Company used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate the fair value of each type of financial instrument:

Equity mutual funds, Fixed Income mutual funds and Debt Securities: The fair values for investment securities are determined by quoted market prices, if available (Level 1). For securities where quoted prices are not available, fair values are calculated based on market prices of similar securities (Level 2).

The fair value of the plan assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014, by asset category, is as follows:

Retirement Plan			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2015 Using:
	Carrying Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
(dollars in thousands)
Plan Assets

Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,182		3,182		-		-
Equity mutual funds		25,352		25,352		-		-
U.S. government sponsored enterprises		5,779		-		5,779		-
Corporate bonds		6,771		-		6,771		-
Fixed income mutual funds		593		593		-		-

Total Plan Assets	$	41,677		29,127		12,550		-

Postretirement Benefits			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2015 Using:
	Carrying Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
(dollars in thousands)
Plan Assets

Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,832		2,832		-		-
Equity mutual funds		11,513		11,513		-		-
U.S. government sponsored enterprises		1,843		-		1,843		-
Corporate bonds		1,074		-		1,074		-
State and political subdivisions		1,976		-		1,976		-

Total Plan Assets	$	19,238		14,345		4,893		-

Retirement Plan			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014 Using:
	Carrying Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
(dollars in thousands)
Plan Assets

Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,043		2,043		-		-
Equity mutual funds		27,149		27,149		-		-
U.S. government sponsored enterprises		6,691		-		6,691		-
Corporate bonds		6,502		-		6,502		-
Fixed income mutual funds		608		608		-		-

Total Plan Assets	$	42,993		29,800		13,193		-

Postretirement Benefits			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014 Using:
	Carrying Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
(dollars in thousands)
Plan Assets

Cash and cash equivalents	$	285		285		-		-
Equity mutual funds		12,583		12,583		-		-
U.S. government sponsored enterprises		2,342		-		2,342		-
Corporate bonds		1,520		-		1,520		-
State and political subdivisions		2,555		-		2,555		-

Total Plan Assets	$	19,285		12,868		6,417		-

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the majority of the equity mutual funds included in the plan assets of the retirement plan and postretirement benefit plan consist of large-cap index funds, while the remainder of the equity mutual funds consists of mid-cap, small-cap and international funds.

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 in 2015 and 2014.

The Company made contributions of $2.0 million to its pension plan during 2014. No contributions were made in 2015. The Company does not expect to make any contributions to its pension and postretirement benefit plans in 2016.

(f) Incentive and Bonus Plans

During 2006, the Company amended its profit sharing plan to include a 401(k) feature. Under the 401(k) feature, the Company matches 100% of the aggregate salary contribution up to the first 3% of compensation and 50% of the aggregate contribution of the next 3%. No profit sharing contributions were made in 2015, 2014 or 2013 but were replaced with Company contributions to the 401(k) feature of the plan. Expenses related to the plan aggregated $944 thousand for 2015, $710 thousand in 2014 and $657 thousand in 2013.

The Company also has an officers and executive incentive plan. The expense of these plans generally are based on the Company’s performance and estimated distributions to participants are accrued during the year and generally paid in the following year. The expense recorded for this plan was $715 thousand, $1.3 million and $2.0 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The Company has also awarded 3.4 million performance bonus units to the executive officers and directors. These units become vested and exercisable only under a change of control as defined in the plan. The units were awarded based upon the stock price at the time of grant and, if exercised under a change of control, allow the holder to receive the increase in value offered in the exchange over the stock price at the date of grant for each unit, if any. As of December 31, 2015, the weighted average strike price of each unit was $7.18.

(g) Stock Based Compensation Plans-Equity Awards

Equity awards are types of stock based compensation that are to be settled in shares. As such, the amount of compensation expense to be paid at the time of settlement is included in surplus in the Consolidated Statement of Condition.

Under the Amended and Restated TrustCo Bank Corp NY 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (Equity Incentive Plan), the Company may grant stock options and restricted stock to its eligible employees for up to approximately 2.3 million shares of common stock, and may make certain other equity-based, cash-settled awards (described in section (h) below) for up to the equivalent of approximately 1.4 million shares of common stock.

Under the Amended and Restated TrustCo Bank Corp NY 2010 Directors Equity Incentive Plan (Directors Plan), the Company may grant stock options and restricted stock to its directors for up to approximately 250 thousand shares of its common stock, and may make certain other equity-based, cash-settled awards (described in section (h) below) for up to the equivalent of approximately 250 thousand shares of common stock.

Under each of these plans, the exercise price of each option equals the fair value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant, and an option’s maximum term is ten years. Options vest over five years from the date the options are granted for the employees plans and they are immediately vested under the directors’ plans. A summary of the status of TrustCo’s stock option plans as of December 31, 2015 and changes during the year then ended, are as follows:

	Outstanding Options
	Number of Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
Balance, January 1, 2015		2,693,050		$	8.27
New options awarded - 2015		168,250			6.43
Expired options - 2015		(501,500	)		12.15
Options forfeited-2015		(6,000	)		7.78
Exercised options - 2015		(28,829	)		5.15
Balance, December 31, 2015		2,324,971		$	7.34	5.1 years

	Exercisable Options

Balance, December 31, 2015		1,642,373		$	7.73	3.8 years

At December 31, 2015, the intrinsic value of outstanding stock options and vested stock options was approximately $588 thousand and $430 thousand, respectively. The Company expects all unvested options to vest according to plan provisions.

During 2015, 2014 and 2013, 28 thousand, 18 thousand and 15 thousand stock options were exercised, respectively. The intrinsic value and related tax benefits of stock options exercised in these years was not material. It is the Company’s policy to generally issue stock for stock option exercises from previously unissued shares of common stock or treasury shares.

Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock options totaled $530 thousand at December 31, 2015. At such date, the weighted-average period over which this unrecognized expense was expected to be recognized was 3.3 years.

Valuation of Stock-Based Compensation: The fair value of the Company’s employee and director stock options granted is estimated on the measurement date, which, for the Company, is the date of grant. The weighted-average fair value of stock options granted during 2015, 2014 and 2013 estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, was $0.98, $0.93 and $1.08, respectively. The Company estimated expected market price volatility and the expected term of the options based on historical data and other factors. The assumptions used to determine the fair value of options granted during 2015, 2014 and 2013 are detailed in the table below:

	2015			2014			2013
	Employees' Plan			Employees' Plan			Employees' Plan
Expected dividend yield		4.09	%		3.64	%		3.72	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.74			1.74			1.45
Expected volatility rate		26.20			21.62			25.83
Expected lives		5.0	years		5.0	years		5.0	years

During 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized approximately $204 thousand, $325 thousand and $378 thousand in stock based compensation expense related to the equity awards, respectively.

(h) Stock Based Compensation Plans-Liability Awards

Liability awards are types of stock based compensation that can be settled in cash (not shares). As such, the amount of compensation expense to be paid at the time of settlement is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Condition. The Company granted both service based and performance based liability awards in 2015, 2014 and 2013. All such awards were made under the Equity Incentive Plan and/or the Directors Plan.

The activity for service based awards during 2015 was as follows:

Restricted share units

	Outstanding Units

Balance, December 31, 2014		202,400
New awards granted		68,300
Forfeited awards		(4,500	)
Awards settled		(81,000	)
Balance, December 31, 2015		185,200

Service Based Awards: During 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company issued restricted share units to certain eligible officers, executives and its board of directors. The restricted share units do not hold voting powers, nor are they eligible for common stock dividends, and become 100% vested after three years based upon a cliff-vesting schedule. Upon issuance, the fair value of these awards is the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Thereafter, the amount of compensation expense recognized, is based on the fair value of the Company’s stock.

During 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized approximately $324 thousand, $352 thousand and $230 thousand, respectively, in stock based compensation expense related to these awards. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to the outstanding restricted share units totaled $732 thousand at December 31, 2015. During 2015, awards granted in 2012 became fully vested and settled. Awards granted after 2012 were unvested at December 31, 2015. The weighted average period over which the unrecognized expense is expected to be recognized was approximately 27 months as of December 31, 2015.

The liability related to service based liability awards totaled $404 thousand and $605 thousand at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The activity for performance based awards during 2015 was as follows:

Performance share units

	Outstanding Units

Balance, December 31, 2014		229,500
New awards granted		84,200
Awards settled		-
Balance, December 31, 2015		313,700

Performance Based Awards: During 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company issued performance share units to certain eligible officers and executives. These units do not hold voting powers, nor are they eligible for common stock dividends, and become 100% vested after three years based upon a cliff-vesting schedule. Upon issuance, fair value of these units was the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Thereafter, the amount of compensation expense recognized is based upon the Company’s achievement of certain performance criteria in accordance with provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan and the related award agreements, as well as the fair value of the Company’s stock.

For units granted in 2012, the Company met its required performance criteria. These awards are expected to be settled during the first quarter of 2016. For units granted in 2014 and 2013, the Company, during 2015, concluded that it does not expect to meet its required performance criteria and therefore has adjusted its calculation for the number of units that would be settled in cash upon vesting. For units granted in 2015, the Company expects to meet its required performance criteria.

During 2015, the Company recognized a benefit of $48 thousand in stock based compensation expense related to these units. This was the result of both the change in the Company’s stock price as well as adjustments to management’s expectations relative to the required performance criteria. During 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized approximately $490 thousand and $239 thousand, respectively, in stock based compensation expense related to these units. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to the outstanding performance share units totaled $593 thousand at December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2015, the units awarded in 2012 were fully vested and unpaid. For the units granted in years subsequent to 2012, all of the units were unvested at December 31, 2015. The weighted average period over which the unrecognized expense is expected to be recognized was approximately 30 months as of December 31, 2015.

The liability related to performance based liability awards totaled $699 thousand and $748 thousand at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(i) Stock and Liability Based Compensation Expense

Total compensation expense totaled $480 thousand, $1.2 million and $847 thousand in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to all director and employee equity incentive plans.

Of the $480 thousand of stock based compensation expense recognized in 2015, $276 thousand related to liability awards as they may be settled in cash instead of shares, while the remaining $204 thousand related to equity awards.

Of the $1.2 million of stock based compensation expense recognized in 2014, $870 thousand related to liability awards as they may be settled in cash instead of shares, while the remaining $325 thousand related to equity awards.

Of the $847 thousand of stock based compensation expense recognized in 2013, $469 thousand related to liability awards as they may be settled in cash instead of shares, while the remaining $378 thousand related to equity awards.

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period for all awards. Income tax benefits recognized in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income related to stock-based compensation in 2015, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $192 thousand, $478 thousand and $296 thousand, respectively.