The Company sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan, the Hancock Whitney Corporation Pension Plan (“Pension Plan”), covering certain eligible associates. Those hired or rehired by the Company prior to June 30, 2017 are eligible to participate; however, the accrued benefits of each participant in the Pension Plan whose combined age plus years of service as of January 1, 2018 totaled less than 55 were frozen as of January 1, 2018 and will not thereafter increase. The Company makes contributions to the Pension Plan in amounts sufficient to meet funding requirements set forth in federal employee benefit and tax laws, plus such additional amounts as the Company may determine to be appropriate. During the first quarter of 2019, the Company made a discretionary contribution of $100 million to the Pension Plan. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company made a discretionary contribution of $39 million to the Pension Plan designated to the 2017 plan year.

The Company also offers a defined contribution retirement benefit plan, the Hancock Whitney Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan (“401(k) Plan”), that covers substantially all associates who have been employed 60 days and meet a minimum age requirement and employment classification criteria. The Company matches 100% of the first 1% of compensation saved by a participant, and 50% of the next 5% of compensation saved. Newly eligible associates are automatically enrolled at an initial 3% savings rate unless the associate actively opts out of participation in the plan. Beginning January 1, 2018, the Company makes an additional basic contribution to associates hired or rehired after June 30, 2017 in an amount equal to 2% of the associate’s eligible compensation. For Pension Plan participants whose benefits were frozen as of January 1, 2018, the 401(k) Plan provides an enhanced Company contribution in the amount of 2%, 4% or 6% of such participant’s eligible compensation, based on the participant’s age and years of service with the Company. Participants vest in basic and enhanced Company contributions upon completion of three years of service.

The Company sponsors a nonqualified defined benefit plan covering certain legacy Whitney employees that was frozen as of December 31, 2012 and no future benefits are accrued under this plan.

The Company sponsors defined benefit postretirement plans for both legacy Hancock and legacy Whitney employees that provide health care and life insurance benefits. Benefits under the Hancock plan are not available to employees hired on or after January 1, 2000. Benefits under the Whitney plan are restricted to retirees who were already receiving benefits at the time of plan amendments in 2007 or active participants who were eligible to receive benefits as of December 31, 2007.

The following tables show the components of net periodic benefits cost included in expense for the plans for the periods indicated.

							Other Post-
(in thousands)	Pension Benefits						Retirement Benefits
For the Three Months Ended June 30,	2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	2,735		$	3,163		$	22		$	28
Interest cost		4,661			4,279			164			161
Expected return on plan assets		(11,300	)		(10,169	)		—			—
Amortization of net loss and prior service costs		2,552			1,365			(228	)		(94	)
Net periodic benefit cost (reduction of cost)	$	(1,352	)	$	(1,362	)	$	(42	)	$	95

							Other Post-
(in thousands)	Pension Benefits						Retirement Benefits
For the Six Months Ended June 30,	2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	5,510		$	6,088		$	51		$	63
Interest cost		9,524			8,202			292			298
Expected return on plan assets		(22,600	)		(19,869	)		—			—
Amortization of net loss and prior service costs		4,982			2,691			(455	)		(243	)
Net periodic benefit cost (reduction of cost)	$	(2,584	)	$	(2,888	)	$	(112	)	$	118