PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS (CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Other income									$ 2,488	$ 1,174	$ 822
Interest expense on subordinated debt	(3,752)	(3,998)	(4,512)	(5,035)	(5,819)	(6,500)	(7,101)	(7,278)	(17,297)	(26,698)	(29,812)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE									58,398	52,576	45,380
Income tax benefit	(5,060)	(4,746)	(5,154)	(4,599)	(3,808)	(4,740)	(4,392)	(4,242)	(19,559)	(17,182)	(14,718)
Net income	10,588	9,769	9,236	9,246	8,602	9,347	8,819	8,626	38,839	35,394	30,662
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									30,656	35,944	34,451
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Dividends from Lake City Bank, Lakeland Statutory Trust II									9,524	15,745	10,507
Other income									98	85	76
Interest expense on subordinated debt									(1,061)	(1,123)	(1,070)
Miscellaneous expense									(2,651)	(1,976)	(1,906)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE									5,910	12,731	7,607
Income tax benefit									1,387	1,187	1,112
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES									7,297	13,918	8,719
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries									31,542	21,476	21,943
Net income									38,839	35,394	30,662
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									$ 30,656	$ 35,944	$ 34,451