FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Carrying Amount and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Financial assets:
Securities held to maturity	$ 404,300	$ 437,300
Other investments
FRB Stock	11,400	11,400
FHLB Stock	25,600	9,200
Receivable from global payments business, net	87,648	85,605
Financial liabilities:
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits	1,837,874	2,422,151
Time deposits	35,400	52,063
Federal funds purchased	99,000	150,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances	440,000	100,000
Carrying Amount
Financial assets:
Cash and due from banks	31,973	26,780
Overnight deposits	237,492	230,638
Securities held to maturity	468,860	510,425
Loans, net	5,566,832	4,795,647
Other investments
FRB Stock	11,410	11,421
FHLB Stock	25,558	9,191
Disability Fund	1,500	1,000
Time deposits at banks	498	498
Receivable from global payments business, net	87,648	85,605
Accrued interest receivable	31,948	24,107
Financial liabilities:
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits	1,837,874	2,422,151
Money market and savings deposits	3,864,018	2,803,698
Time deposits	35,400	52,063
Federal funds purchased	99,000	150,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances	440,000	100,000
Trust preferred securities payable	20,620	20,620
Prepaid debit cardholder balances	10,178	10,579
Accrued interest payable	1,894	728
Secured Borrowings	7,585	7,725
Total Fair Value
Financial assets:
Cash and due from banks	31,973	26,780
Overnight deposits	237,492	230,638
Securities held to maturity	404,252	437,290
Loans, net	5,474,238	4,737,007
Other investments
Disability Fund	1,500	1,000
Time deposits at banks	498	498
Receivable from global payments business, net	87,648	85,605
Accrued interest receivable	31,948	24,107
Financial liabilities:
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits	1,837,874	2,422,151
Money market and savings deposits	3,864,018	2,803,698
Time deposits	35,011	51,058
Federal funds purchased	99,000	150,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances	440,000	100,000
Trust preferred securities payable	20,007	19,953
Prepaid debit cardholder balances	10,178	10,579
Accrued interest payable	1,894	728
Secured Borrowings	7,585	7,725
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1
Financial assets:
Cash and due from banks	31,973	26,780
Overnight deposits	237,492	230,638
Other investments
Time deposits at banks	498	498
Financial liabilities:
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits	1,837,874	2,422,151
Money market and savings deposits	3,864,018	2,803,698
Accrued interest payable	1,028	112
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Financial assets:
Securities held to maturity	404,252	437,290
Other investments
Disability Fund	1,500	1,000
Accrued interest receivable	2,007	964
Financial liabilities:
Time deposits	35,011	51,058
Federal funds purchased	99,000	150,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances	440,000	100,000
Accrued interest payable	475	293
Secured Borrowings	7,585	7,725
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3
Financial assets:
Loans, net	5,474,238	4,737,007
Other investments
Receivable from global payments business, net	87,648	85,605
Accrued interest receivable	29,941	23,143
Financial liabilities:
Trust preferred securities payable	20,007	19,953
Prepaid debit cardholder balances	10,178	10,579
Accrued interest payable	$ 391	$ 323