LOANS AND LEASES (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	$ 4,420,619		$ 3,592,832	$ 3,487,301
Unearned income	(933)		(2,535)
Total allowance for loans and lease losses	(90,643)	(94,519)	(91,968)	(103,524)	(110,577)	(116,588)
Total loans and leases, net	4,329,043		3,498,329	3,381,179
Real estate mortgage
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	3,032,602		2,422,570	1,850,162
Total allowance for loans and lease losses	(31,804)	(37,265)	(38,700)	(42,236)	(42,210)	(50,205)
Real estate construction
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	213,735		154,604	129,107
Total allowance for loans and lease losses	(3,432)	(3,300)	(3,221)	(5,496)	(6,475)	(8,697)
Commercial
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	913,069		800,959	707,566
Total allowance for loans and lease losses	(24,165)	(21,053)	(20,661)	(21,979)	(23,556)	(23,308)
Leases
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	216,089		174,373	153,793
Total allowance for loans and lease losses	(2,096)	(2,006)	(1,493)	(498)	(458)
Consumer
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	29,051		23,085	17,689
Total allowance for loans and lease losses	(1,667)	(1,494)	(1,726)	(1,735)	(1,908)	(2,768)
Foreign
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	16,073		17,241	17,017
Total allowance for loans and lease losses	(82)	(98)	(98)	(117)	(160)	(335)
Non-PCI Loans
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	3,926,230		3,074,947	2,875,334
Unearned income	(933)		(2,535)
Total allowance for loans and lease losses	(63,246)	(65,216)	(65,899)	(72,061)	(74,767)	(85,313)
Total loans and leases, net	3,862,051		3,006,513
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	100.00%		100.00%
Non-PCI Loans | Real estate mortgage
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	2,558,190		1,938,513
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	65.00%		63.00%
Non-PCI Loans | Real estate construction
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	197,776		129,959
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	5.00%		4.00%
Non-PCI Loans | Commercial
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	909,509		791,888
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	23.00%		25.00%
Non-PCI Loans | Leases
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	216,089		174,373
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	6.00%		6.00%
Non-PCI Loans | Consumer
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	28,593		22,973
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	1.00%		1.00%
Non-PCI Loans | Foreign
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	16,073		17,241
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)			1.00%
PCI Loans
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	494,389		517,885	611,967
Total allowance for loans and lease losses	(27,397)	(29,303)	(26,069)	(31,463)	(35,810)	(31,275)
Total loans and leases, net	466,992		491,816
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	100.00%		100.00%
PCI Loans | Real estate mortgage
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	474,412		484,057
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	96.00%		93.00%
PCI Loans | Real estate construction
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	15,959		24,645
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	3.00%		5.00%
PCI Loans | Commercial
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	3,560		9,071
Total gross loans and leases (as a percent)	1.00%		2.00%
PCI Loans | Consumer
Composition of loans and leases
Total gross loans and leases	$ 458		$ 112