INTEREST-BEARING DEPOSITS AND SECURITIES (Available-for-sale Securities) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 456,228	$ 462,579
Gross Unrealized Gains	4,409	3,438
Gross Unrealized Losses	(679)	(222)
Fair Value	459,958	465,795
Percent of Total	100.00%	100.00%
U.S. Government and agency obligations [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	157,662	338,165
Gross Unrealized Gains	584	862
Gross Unrealized Losses	(4)	(56)
Fair Value	158,242	338,971
Percent of Total	34.40%	72.80%
Total municipal bonds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	39,511	26,893
Gross Unrealized Gains	537	435
Gross Unrealized Losses	(45)	(18)
Fair Value	40,003	27,310
Percent of Total	8.70%	5.90%
Taxable municipal bonds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	15,940	10,358
Gross Unrealized Gains	268	225
Gross Unrealized Losses	(41)	(2)
Fair Value	16,167	10,581
Percent of Total	3.50%	2.30%
Tax exempt municipal bonds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	23,571	16,535
Gross Unrealized Gains	269	210
Gross Unrealized Losses	(4)	(16)
Fair Value	23,836	16,729
Percent of Total	5.20%	3.60%
Corporate bonds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	4,027	6,240
Gross Unrealized Gains	48	20
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	4,075	6,260
Percent of Total	0.90%	1.30%
Total mortgage-backed or related securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	222,422	91,281
Gross Unrealized Gains	3,046	2,121
Gross Unrealized Losses	(582)	(148)
Fair Value	224,886	93,254
Percent of Total	48.90%	20.00%
FNMA [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	135,929	40,897
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,276	310
Gross Unrealized Losses	(414)	(115)
Fair Value	136,791	41,092
Percent of Total	29.70%	8.80%
FHLMC [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	56,631	30,504
Gross Unrealized Gains	476	284
Gross Unrealized Losses	(89)	(33)
Fair Value	57,018	30,755
Percent of Total	12.40%	6.60%
GNMA [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	28,533	18,145
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,211	1,427
Gross Unrealized Losses	(79)	0
Fair Value	29,665	19,572
Percent of Total	6.50%	4.20%
Private issuer [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	1,329	1,735
Gross Unrealized Gains	83	100
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	1,412	1,835
Percent of Total	0.30%	0.40%
SLMA [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	32,606
Gross Unrealized Gains	194
Gross Unrealized Losses	(48)
Fair Value	$ 32,752
Percent of Total	7.10%