Employee Benefits	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Employee Benefits and Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS	14. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Stock Option Plan — The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan (the “2010 Option Plan”), was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on June 30, 2010. The 2010 Option Plan permits the grants of up to 2,239,906 options. The non-qualified stock options are in the form of time-based options and performance options. The options may be granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company. The 2010 Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, who establish at the time of the grant, the allocation of options between time-based and performance, the period over which the time-based options vest, the form of payment upon exercise and the exercise price of the awards. Typically time-based options under the 2010 Option Plan vest over a period of four years and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of the grant. Performance options under the 2010 Option Plan vest upon the occurrence of a liquidity event, with the vested amounts determined based on the achievement of specified performance and market metrics. At June 30, 2014 there were 427,517 time based options and 1,680,490 performance options outstanding uner the 2010 Option Plan. The Company has two additional stock options plans, which are frozen to further issuance. The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan (the “2006 Option Plan”), which was approved by the shareholders of the Company on June 21, 2006, permitted the grant of up to 450,000 options. The options granted may have been in the form of nonqualified stock options, which may have been granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company, or incentive stock options, which may have been granted only to officers of the Company. Awards under the 2006 Option Plan vest over a four-year period, which began on the first anniversary of the grant date, and must be exercised within 10 years from the grant date. The 2006 Option Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2010 Option Plan. At June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 there were 367,500 options outstanding under the 2006 Option Plan. In addition to the 2006 Option Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Redstone Bank 2004 Stock Option Plan (the “Redstone Option Plan”) and froze the plan to further issuance, following the Company’s acquisition of Redstone Bank. At the time of adoption, all options to acquire stock of Redstone Bank were converted to options to acquire stock of the Company and adjusted in terms of number and exercise price based on the terms of the merger agreement. All options issued under the Redstone Option Plan are fully vested as a result of the 2006 change of control event. At June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, there were 297,278 and 306,444 options outstanding under the Redstone Option Plan. The Company’s performance-based options will vest only upon the occurrence of a liquidity event. The numbers of options to be vested will be determined based on the achievement of specified performance and market metrics. At June 30, 2014 there were 1,680,490 performance based options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan. Stock Appreciation Rights Plan — On May 18, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Green Bancorp Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (the “SAR Plan”). The SAR Plan provides for the issuance of up to 200,000 units to plan participants at an exercise price of no less than the fair market value of the common stock of the Company at the time of grant. Units are redeemable by plan participants under certain circumstances whereby the participant will be paid the excess, if any, of the book value of the Company’s common stock at the time of exercise over the exercise price. The SAR Plan provides for a 10-year maximum term for units issued, vesting and exercisability limitations and accelerated vesting and deemed exercise in the event of a change of control. As of June 30, 2014, there were 144,000 units outstanding and 56,000 units available under the SAR Plan. The Company has elected to account for the accrued SAR Plan liability under the intrinsic-value method as allowed for non-public companies by FASB ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. Benefit Plan — The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan (the “401k Plan”), which is a defined contribution plan available to substantially all employees. Participants in the 401k Plan may make salary deferral contributions up to the amount allowed by law. The Company makes safe harbor matching contributions to the 401k Plan equal to 100% of the participant’s elective contribution for the plan year up to a maximum of 6% of the participant’s salary. The Company contributions are fully vested at the date of contribution. The total of Company contributions for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, were $194 thousand and $174 thousand, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, were $381 thousand and $341 thousand, respectively.

14. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Stock Option Plan — The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan (the “2010 Option Plan”), was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on June 30, 2010. The 2010 Option Plan permits the grants of up to 2,239,906 options. The non-qualified stock options are in the form of time-based options and performance options. The options may be granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company. The 2010 Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, who establish at the time of the grant, the allocation of options between time-based and performance, the period over which the time-based options vest, the form of payment upon exercise and the exercise price of the awards.

Typically time-based options under the 2010 Option Plan vest over a period of four years and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of the grant. Performance options under the 2010 Option Plan vest upon the occurrence of a liquidity event, with the vested amounts determined based on the achievement of specified performance and market metrics. At June 30, 2014 there were 427,517 time based options and 1,680,490 performance options outstanding uner the 2010 Option Plan.

The Company has two additional stock options plans, which are frozen to further issuance.

The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan (the “2006 Option Plan”), which was approved by the shareholders of the Company on June 21, 2006, permitted the grant of up to 450,000 options. The options granted may have been in the form of nonqualified stock options, which may have been granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company, or incentive stock options, which may have been granted only to officers of the Company. Awards under the 2006 Option Plan vest over a four-year period, which began on the first anniversary of the grant date, and must be exercised within 10 years from the grant date. The 2006 Option Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2010 Option Plan. At June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 there were 367,500 options outstanding under the 2006 Option Plan.

In addition to the 2006 Option Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Redstone Bank 2004 Stock Option Plan (the “Redstone Option Plan”) and froze the plan to further issuance, following the Company’s acquisition of Redstone Bank. At the time of adoption, all options to acquire stock of Redstone Bank were converted to options to acquire stock of the Company and adjusted in terms of number and exercise price based on the terms of the merger agreement. All options issued under the Redstone Option Plan are fully vested as a result of the 2006 change of control event. At June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, there were 297,278 and 306,444 options outstanding under the Redstone Option Plan.

The Company’s performance-based options will vest only upon the occurrence of a liquidity event. The numbers of options to be vested will be determined based on the achievement of specified performance and market metrics. At June 30, 2014 there were 1,680,490 performance based options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan.

Stock Appreciation Rights Plan — On May 18, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Green Bancorp Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (the “SAR Plan”). The SAR Plan provides for the issuance of up to 200,000 units to plan participants at an exercise price of no less than the fair market value of the common stock of the Company at the time of grant. Units are redeemable by plan participants under certain circumstances whereby the participant will be paid the excess, if any, of the book value of the Company’s common stock at the time of exercise over the exercise price. The SAR Plan provides for a 10-year maximum term for units issued, vesting and exercisability limitations and accelerated vesting and deemed exercise in the event of a change of control. As of June 30, 2014, there were 144,000 units outstanding and 56,000 units available under the SAR Plan.

The Company has elected to account for the accrued SAR Plan liability under the intrinsic-value method as allowed for non-public companies by FASB ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation.

Benefit Plan — The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan (the “401k Plan”), which is a defined contribution plan available to substantially all employees. Participants in the 401k Plan may make salary deferral contributions up to the amount allowed by law. The Company makes safe harbor matching contributions to the 401k Plan equal to 100% of the participant’s elective contribution for the plan year up to a maximum of 6% of the participant’s salary. The Company contributions are fully vested at the date of contribution. The total of Company contributions for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, were $194 thousand and $174 thousand, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, were $381 thousand and $341 thousand, respectively.