SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013 MetroCorp item	Dec. 31, 2013 MetroBank item	Dec. 31, 2013 Metro United Bank item	Jan. 22, 2014 Subsequent event Dividend declared Common stock
Subsequent events
Number of branches					18	12	6
Number of subsidiaries					2
Total assets	$ 24,730,068	$ 22,536,110	$ 21,968,667		$ 1,620,000
Total loans	15,859,615	12,113,889			1,220,000
Total deposits	20,412,918	18,309,354			1,340,000
Total equity	$ 2,364,225	$ 2,382,122	$ 2,311,743	$ 2,113,931	$ 179,200
Dividend payable (in dollars per share)								$ 0.18