AmSouth Bank
2000 Annual Report
AmSouth Bancorporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Net periodic benefit cost/(credit) includes the following components for the years ended December 31:  
Retirement Plans
Other Postretirement Benefits
(In thousands)
2000 
1999 
1998 
2000 
1999 
1998 
Service cost $ 13,731  $ 15,688  $ 16,342  $ 1,174  $ 1,176  $ 780 
Interest cost 34,210  34,560  31,266  3,196  2,283  2,124 
Expected return on plan assets (59,600) (56,283) (47,054) (222) (227) (218)
Amortization of prior service (credit)/cost (1,007) 1,569  1,115  (1,091) (1,091) (1,327)
Amortization of transitional (asset)/obligation (709) (700) (700) 278  278  278 
Recognized actuarial (gain)/loss (5,213) (2,982) (2,501) 969  262  77 
Net periodic benefit cost/(credit) $ (18,588) $ (8,148) $ (1,532) $ 4,304  $ 2,681  $ 1,714 
Additional (gain)/loss recognized due to:
Curtailment $ (4,450) $ 1,738  $ (7,402) $ -0- $ -0- $ (1,237)
Settlement -0- 1,165  -0- -0- -0- -0-
Special termination benefits -0- 5,461  -0- -0- -0- -0-
During 2000, AmSouth experienced a net curtailment gain of $4.5 million. The gain was primarily the result of employee terminations associated with the First American merger. This gain was recorded as a reduction to merger and integration costs. During 1999, AmSouth experienced a net curtailment loss of $1.7 million, a net settlement loss of $1.2 million and costs of special termination benefits of $5.5 million in its retirement plans. These losses were primarily the net result of employee terminations and change of control provisions associated with the First American merger. These losses were recorded as merger and integration costs. During 1998, AmSouth experienced a $7.4 million curtailment gain in its retirement plans due to the estimated effect of significant employee terminations associated with the Deposit Guaranty merger.

The curtailment gain was recorded as a reduction of merger and integration costs. Also, during 1998, AmSouth terminated and settled its postretirement death benefits plan, resulting in a curtailment gain of $1.2 million.

For measurement purposes, the increase in the per capita cost of covered healthcare benefits varies by medical benefit and date of retirement. For retirements after December 31, 1992, AmSouth’s subsidies for all medical benefits will be capped at a level dollar amount in approximately five years. For retirements before January 1, 1993, the rates are graded, starting at 7.8 percent in 2000 and dropping to an ultimate rate of 5.0 percent in six years. Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have an insignificant effect on the costs and the liabilities reported for the healthcare plan. A one-percentage point change in assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have the following effects:

1-Percentage
1-Percentage
(In thousands)
Point Increase
Point Decrease
Effect on total of service cost and
interest cost components $ 39  $ (66)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation 546  (867)