INVESTMENTS IN DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES - (Securities Held to Maturity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, Within One Year, Net Carrying Amount	$ 521	$ 640
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After One Through Five Years, Net Carrying Amount	134,387	16,902
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Five Through Ten Years, Net Carrying Amount	64,776	199,107
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Ten Years, Net Carrying Amount	468,147	523,537
Held-to-maturity Securities, Amortized Cost	667,831	740,186
Held-to-maturity Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,248	443
Held-to-maturity Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(10,736)	(21,446)
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	658,343	719,183
Held-to-maturity Securities Weighted Average Yield	1.88%	1.86%
Held-to-maturity Securities Weighted Average Yield With In One Year	2.62%	3.32%
Held-to-maturity Securities Weighted Average Yield After One Through Five Years	1.88%	2.20%
Held-to-maturity Securities Weighted Average Yield After Five Through Ten Years	1.12%	1.53%
Held-to-maturity Securities Weighted Average Yield After Ten Years	1.98%	1.97%
U.S. Government sponsored agencies [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, Within One Year, Net Carrying Amount	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After One Through Five Years, Net Carrying Amount	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Five Through Ten Years, Net Carrying Amount	11,713	16,119
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Ten Years, Net Carrying Amount	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Amortized Cost	11,713	16,119
Held-to-maturity Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(77)	(153)
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	11,636	15,966
Held-to-maturity Securities Weighted Average Yield	1.22%	1.14%
Residential mortgage-backed [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, Within One Year, Net Carrying Amount	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After One Through Five Years, Net Carrying Amount	133,567	16,327
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Five Through Ten Years, Net Carrying Amount	52,574	182,933
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Ten Years, Net Carrying Amount	467,145	522,504
Held-to-maturity Securities, Amortized Cost	653,286	721,764
Held-to-maturity Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,247	441
Held-to-maturity Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(10,580)	(21,206)
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	643,953	700,999
Held-to-maturity Securities Weighted Average Yield	1.89%	1.88%
State and political subdivisions [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, Within One Year, Net Carrying Amount	521	640
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After One Through Five Years, Net Carrying Amount	820	575
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Five Through Ten Years, Net Carrying Amount	489	55
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Ten Years, Net Carrying Amount	1,002	1,033
Held-to-maturity Securities, Amortized Cost	2,832	2,303
Held-to-maturity Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1	2
Held-to-maturity Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(79)	(87)
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	2,754	2,218
Held-to-maturity Securities Weighted Average Yield	1.84%	1.93%
Debt securities [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, Within One Year, Fair Value	521	642
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After One Through Five Years, Fair Value	133,995	16,926
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Five Through Ten Years, Fair Value	64,713	195,647
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities, After Ten Years, Fair Value	$ 459,114	$ 505,968