FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Carrying Amount and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Financial assets:
Securities held to maturity	$ 393,200	$ 404,300
Equity investments	2,115	2,123
Other investments
Receivable from global payments business, net	93,852	87,648
Financial liabilities:
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,927,629	1,837,874
Federal funds purchased		99,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances	300,000	440,000
Carrying Amount
Financial assets:
Cash and due from banks	34,037	31,973
Overnight deposits	500,366	237,492
Securities held to maturity	460,249	468,860
Loans, net	5,660,680	5,566,832
Other investments
FRB Stock	11,410	11,410
FHLB Stock	19,261	25,558
Disability Fund	1,500	1,500
Time deposits at banks	498	498
Receivable from global payments business, net	93,852	87,648
Accrued interest receivable	33,196	31,948
Financial liabilities:
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,927,629	1,837,874
Money market and savings deposits	4,271,827	3,864,018
Time deposits	38,086	35,400
Federal funds purchased		99,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances	300,000	440,000
Trust preferred securities payable	20,620	20,620
Prepaid debit cardholder balances	18,685	10,178
Accrued interest payable	2,646	1,894
Secured and other borrowings	107,549	7,585
Total Fair Value
Financial assets:
Cash and due from banks	34,037	31,973
Overnight deposits	500,366	237,492
Securities held to maturity	393,180	404,252
Loans, net	5,517,142	5,474,238
Other investments
Disability Fund	1,500	1,500
Time deposits at banks	498	498
Receivable from global payments business, net	93,852	87,648
Accrued interest receivable	33,196	31,948
Financial liabilities:
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,927,629	1,837,874
Money market and savings deposits	4,271,827	3,864,018
Time deposits	37,720	35,011
Federal funds purchased		99,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances	300,000	440,000
Trust preferred securities payable	20,009	20,007
Prepaid debit cardholder balances	18,685	10,178
Accrued interest payable	2,646	1,894
Secured and other borrowings	107,456	7,585
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1
Financial assets:
Cash and due from banks	34,037	31,973
Overnight deposits	500,366	237,492
Other investments
Time deposits at banks	498	498
Financial liabilities:
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits	1,927,629	1,837,874
Money market and savings deposits	4,271,827	3,864,018
Accrued interest payable	692	1,028
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Financial assets:
Securities held to maturity	393,180	404,252
Other investments
Disability Fund	1,500	1,500
Accrued interest receivable	1,922	2,007
Financial liabilities:
Time deposits	37,720	35,011
Federal funds purchased		99,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances	300,000	440,000
Accrued interest payable	1,563	475
Secured and other borrowings	7,549	7,585
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3
Financial assets:
Loans, net	5,517,142	5,474,238
Other investments
Receivable from global payments business, net	93,852	87,648
Accrued interest receivable	31,274	29,941
Financial liabilities:
Trust preferred securities payable	20,009	20,007
Prepaid debit cardholder balances	18,685	10,178
Accrued interest payable	391	$ 391
Secured and other borrowings	$ 99,907