Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

7.    Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

	Three Months Ended March 31,
					Post-Retirement
	Pension Benefits				Health Benefits
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Service cost	$	157	$	297	$	5	$	8
Interest cost		956		706		38		28
Expected return on plan assets		(970)		(1,227)		—		—
Net amortization of prior service cost		—		—		—		—
Net amortization of net (gain) loss		188		315		(13)		—
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	331	$	91	$	30	$	36

Employer Contributions

First Financial Corporation previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 that it expected to contribute zero and $642 thousand respectively to its Pension Plan and ESOP and $245 thousand to the Post Retirement Health Benefits Plan in 2023. No contributions have been made to the Pension Plan thus far in 2023. Contributions of $54 thousand have been made through the first three months of 2023 for the Post Retirement Health Benefits plan. No contributions have been made in 2023 for the ESOP. The Pension plan was frozen for most employees at the end of 2012 and for those employees there will be discretionary contributions to the ESOP plan and a 401K plan in place of the former Pension benefit. In the first three months of 2023 and 2022 there has been $608 thousand and $849 thousand of expense accrued for potential contributions to these alternative retirement benefit options.