OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED (OREO) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the beginning of the period	$ 81,918	$ 81,414	$ 70,943
Foreclosures	40,207	68,683	69,350
Payments to third parties	889	1,629	2,484
Provision for losses	(14,333)	(16,994)	(17,660)
Reductions related to sales	(53,828)	(52,814)	(77,616)
Balance, at the end of the period	56,414	81,918	81,414
OREO Valuation Allowance Activity:
Balance, at the beginning of the period	20,575	17,813	17,546
Provision for losses	14,333	16,994	17,660
Selling costs	876	2,527
Due from the SBA		108	823
Reductions related to sales	(19,103)	(16,867)	(18,216)
Balance, at the end of the period	16,681	20,575	17,813
Los Padres Bank
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Addition			33,913
APB
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Addition	1,561
Commercial real estate
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	13,319	38,056
Construction and land development
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	38,596	40,249
Multi-family
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	4,239
Single family residence
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	260	3,613
Non-Covered OREO
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the beginning of the period	48,412	25,598	43,255
Foreclosures	4,223	34,743	34,349
Payments to third parties	889	1,619	2,484
Provision for losses	(3,820)	(5,026)	(12,271)
Reductions related to sales	(17,693)	(8,522)	(42,219)
Balance, at the end of the period	33,572	48,412	25,598
OREO Valuation Allowance Activity:
Balance, at the beginning of the period	9,534	13,831	16,028
Provision for losses	3,820	5,026	12,271
Due from the SBA		108	823
Reductions related to sales	(7,936)	(9,431)	(15,291)
Balance, at the end of the period	5,418	9,534	13,831
Non-Covered OREO | APB
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Addition	1,561
Non-Covered OREO | Commercial real estate
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	1,684	23,003
Non-Covered OREO | Construction and land development
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	31,888	24,788
Non-Covered OREO | Single family residence
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period		621
Covered OREO
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the beginning of the period	33,506	55,816	27,688
Foreclosures	35,984	33,940	35,001
Payments to third parties		10
Provision for losses	(10,513)	(11,968)	(5,389)
Reductions related to sales	(36,135)	(44,292)	(35,397)
Balance, at the end of the period	22,842	33,506	55,816
OREO Valuation Allowance Activity:
Balance, at the beginning of the period	11,041	3,982	1,518
Provision for losses	10,513	11,968	5,389
Selling costs	876	2,527
Reductions related to sales	(11,167)	(7,436)	(2,925)
Balance, at the end of the period	11,263	11,041	3,982
Covered OREO | Los Padres Bank
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Addition			33,913
Covered OREO | Commercial real estate
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	11,635	15,053
Covered OREO | Construction and land development
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	6,708	15,461
Covered OREO | Multi-family
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	4,239
Covered OREO | Single family residence
Roll Forward of OREO, net of the valuation allowance
Balance, at the end of the period	$ 260	$ 2,992