LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details 9) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	$ 88,170	$ 130,348	$ 91,602	$ 137,710
Charge-offs	(6,871)	(17,947)	(13,754)	(34,400)
Recoveries	4,334	7,826	7,785	14,917
Provision (benefit) for loan losses	0	0	0	2,000
Balance, end of period	85,633	120,227	85,633	120,227
Commercial, financial and agricultural [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	14,168	24,782	13,572	27,243
Charge-offs	(1,010)	(5,152)	(1,686)	(10,233)
Recoveries	1,023	2,686	2,090	5,744
Provision (benefit) for loan losses	(215)	(301)	(10)	(739)
Balance, end of period	13,966	22,015	13,966	22,015
Real estate construction and development [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	13,003	24,518	14,434	24,868
Charge-offs	(166)	(3,339)	(448)	(6,423)
Recoveries	1,321	2,986	1,716	3,719
Provision (benefit) for loan losses	(2,746)	(2,336)	(4,290)	(335)
Balance, end of period	11,412	21,829	11,412	21,829
One-to-four-family residential [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	36,660	46,670	38,897	50,864
Charge-offs	(4,338)	(4,988)	(8,727)	(8,916)
Recoveries	1,288	1,223	2,519	2,475
Provision (benefit) for loan losses	1,656	797	2,577	(721)
Balance, end of period	35,266	43,702	35,266	43,702
Multi-family residential [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	4,202	4,679	4,252	4,851
Charge-offs	(159)	(237)	(162)	(1,169)
Recoveries	141	32	141	43
Provision (benefit) for loan losses	(62)	342	(109)	1,091
Balance, end of period	4,122	4,816	4,122	4,816
Commercial real estate [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	19,720	29,273	20,048	29,448
Charge-offs	(1,156)	(4,037)	(2,633)	(7,390)
Recoveries	522	858	1,240	2,846
Provision (benefit) for loan losses	1,487	1,377	1,918	2,567
Balance, end of period	20,573	27,471	20,573	27,471
Consumer and Installment [Member]
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	417	426	399	436
Charge-offs	(42)	(194)	(98)	(269)
Recoveries	39	41	79	90
Provision (benefit) for loan losses	(120)	121	(86)	137
Balance, end of period	$ 294	$ 394	$ 294	$ 394