LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details 10) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	$ 4,611	$ 11,738
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	15,567	18,891
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	94,024	107,081
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	3,022,190	3,252,840
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	125,942	209,169
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	124,562	137,524
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	2,771,686	2,906,147
Commercial Financial and Agricultural [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	0	4,276
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	991	1,199
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	20,277	21,768
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	625,402	725,130
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	13,335	40,527
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	12,574	19,077
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	599,493	665,526
Real Estate Construction and Development [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	1,014	1,752
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	2,262	1,680
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	16,555	21,436
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	204,822	249,987
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	53,379	76,475
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	5,771	6,783
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	145,672	166,729
One To Four Family Residential [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	3,038	3,170
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	10,364	14,338
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	29,012	33,356
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	1,008,918	902,438
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	15,100	16,836
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	99,379	104,201
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	894,439	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	302	225
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	4,760	4,516
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	103,880	127,356
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	7,759	11,141
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	126	0
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	95,995	116,215
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	559	2,430
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	1,647	1,445
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	23,016	25,573
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	1,060,776	1,225,538
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	36,369	64,190
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	6,678	7,441
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	1,017,729	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	404	432
Financing receivables:
Ending balance	18,392	22,391
Ending balance: impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Ending balance: impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment	34	22
Ending balance: all other loans collectively evaluated for impairment	$ 18,358	$ 22,369