NOTE 12:  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Deferred Compensation Plans

The Company sponsors a qualified deferred compensation plan which qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. During 2014, the Company made matching contributions of 60 percent of employee contributions up to a maximum of five percent of the employee’s compensation (the match was increased from 50 percent to 60 percent of employee contributions up to a maximum of five percent beginning in 2013). The Company’s contributions to the plan vest after a period of three years. During 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company contributed to the plan approximately $838, $832 and $551, respectively.

The Company provides a nonqualified deferred compensation plan for its officers and certain key employees. Under this plan, participants may defer up to 100 percent of their annual salary and bonus. Although participants direct the investment of these funds, they are classified as trading securities and are included in long-term investment securities on the consolidated balance sheets because they remain assets of the Company until they are actually paid out to the participants. The Company has established a trust to finance obligations under the plan. At the end of each year and at other times provided under the plan, the Company adjusts its obligation to a participant by the investment return or loss on the funds selected by the participant under rules established in the plan. Upon separation of employment of the participant with the Company, the obligation owed to the participant under the plan will be paid as a lump sum or over a period of either three or five years (and will continue to be adjusted by the applicable investment return or loss during the period of pay-out). The Company had deferred compensation plan assets of approximately $1,038 and $971 as of December 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively. The change in the liability associated with the deferred compensation plan is recorded in the deferred compensation payable.