LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details 10) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	$ 6,167	$ 11,738
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	16,169	18,891
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	97,891	107,081
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	2,985,156	3,252,840
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	135,718	209,169
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	128,922	137,524
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	2,720,516	2,906,147
Commercial Financial and Agricultural [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	143	4,276
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	1,410	1,199
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	20,462	21,768
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	636,163	725,130
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	17,958	40,527
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	14,722	19,077
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	603,483	665,526
Real Estate Construction and Development [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	762	1,752
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	2,602	1,680
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	18,465	21,436
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	216,894	249,987
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	56,357	76,475
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	3,973	6,783
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	156,564	166,729
One To Four Family Residential [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	3,767	3,170
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	9,863	14,338
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	30,072	33,356
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	886,650	902,438
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	16,921	16,836
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	101,508	104,201
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	768,221	781,401
Multi Family Residential [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	0	110
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	356	225
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	4,460	4,516
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	121,879	127,356
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	7,938	11,141
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	325	0
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	113,616	116,215
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	1,495	2,430
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	1,937	1,445
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	24,039	25,573
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	1,105,420	1,225,538
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	36,544	64,190
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	8,375	7,441
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	1,060,501	1,153,907
Consumer and Installment [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	1	4
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	393	432
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	18,150	22,391
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	19	22
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	$ 18,131	$ 22,369