LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Aging of Loans by Loan Classification) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	$ 12,142	$ 20,546
60-89 Days	8,404	18,819
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	1,090	2,744
Nonaccrual	109,872	220,251
Total Past Due	131,508	262,360
Current	2,799,239	3,021,919
Total loans	2,930,747	3,284,279	4,492,284
Commercial, financial and agricultural
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	1,180	1,602
60-89 Days	322	2,085
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	0	1,095
Nonaccrual	19,050	55,340
Total Past Due	20,552	60,122
Current	589,749	665,073
Total loans	610,301	725,195
Real estate construction and development
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	93	170
60-89 Days	0	3,033
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	0	0
Nonaccrual	32,152	71,244
Total Past Due	32,245	74,447
Current	142,734	175,540
Total loans	174,979	249,987
Bank portfolio
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	1,871	4,506
60-89 Days	1,121	2,577
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	874	362
Nonaccrual	6,910	14,690
Total Past Due	10,776	22,135
Current	111,562	143,443
Total loans	122,338	165,578
Mortgage Division portfolio
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	6,264	5,994
60-89 Days	4,375	1,571
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	0	0
Nonaccrual	19,780	16,778
Total Past Due	30,419	24,343
Current	479,552	342,572
Total loans	509,971	366,915
Home equity
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	2,494	3,990
60-89 Days	1,221	2,151
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	216	856
Nonaccrual	8,671	6,940
Total Past Due	12,602	13,937
Current	341,856	356,008
Total loans	354,458	369,945
Multi-family residential
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	629	118
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	0	0
Nonaccrual	6,761	7,975
Total Past Due	7,390	8,093
Current	96,294	119,263
Total loans	103,684	127,356
Commercial real estate
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	66	3,888
60-89 Days	693	7,092
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	0	427
Nonaccrual	16,520	47,262
Total Past Due	17,279	58,669
Current	952,401	1,166,869
Total loans	969,680	1,225,538
Consumer and installment
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	174	396
60-89 Days	43	192
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	0	4
Nonaccrual	28	22
Total Past Due	245	614
Current	18,958	22,040
Total loans	19,203	22,654
Loans held for sale
Schedule of Aging of Loans by Loan Classification [Line Items]
30-59 Days	0	0
60-89 Days	0	0
Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Accruing	0	0
Nonaccrual	0	0
Total Past Due	0	0
Current	66,133	31,111
Total loans	$ 66,133	$ 31,111