INCOME TAXES (Reconciliation Between Expected and Actual Income Tax Expense and Resulting Effective Tax Rate) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Deferred Tax Assets, Net [Abstract]
Expected federal income tax expense	$ 50,361	$ 58,790	$ 66,939
State income tax expense (benefit), net of federal effect	530	782	(72)
Tax-exempt income, net of expense disallowance	(11,123)	(11,615)	(9,820)
Bank owned life insurance	(2,469)	(2,415)	(2,412)
Other, net	784	(98)	207
Income tax expense	$ 38,083	$ 45,444	$ 54,842
Effective income tax rate	15.90%	16.20%	17.20%