MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS - Pro Forma Results (Details) (Crescent Financial Bancshares [Member], East Carolina Bancorp [Member], USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	15 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013
Crescent Financial Bancshares [Member] | East Carolina Bancorp [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net interest income	$ 16,957	$ 16,503
Net income (loss)	933	(2,375)
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 302	$ (3,009)
Basic income (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.07)
Diluted income (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.07)
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	$ 45,766,253	$ 45,874,969
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	$ 45,773,680	$ 45,874,969