EMPLOYEE BENEFITS	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Employee Benefits and Share-based Compensation, Noncash [Abstract]
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS	EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Equity Incentive Plans — The 2014 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and shareholders on July 28, 2014 and became effective immediately prior to the initial public offering on August 7, 2014. A total of 1,273,838 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan, which permits the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the IRS Code, to the Company’s employees, and the grant of non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares and other forms of equity-based awards to the Company’s employees, directors, consultants and independent contractors. The 2014 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, who may select which eligible participants receive awards, the types of awards to be granted, the purchase price, if any, to be paid for shares covered by the awards and the vesting, forfeiture, cancellation and other terms and conditions of the awards. During the period from December 29, 2017 through January 23, 2018, the Compensation Committee restructured performance options under the 2010 Option Plan in order to more appropriately align the incentives of the grantees with the success of the Company. As a part of this restructuring, 256,242 outstanding performance options under the 2010 Option Plan were vested and 586,119 outstanding performance options under the 2010 Option Plan were cancelled and new grants of time-based and performance based restricted stock units or "RSUs" were granted under the 2014 Plan. As of March 30, 2018, 3,393 shares were available for future grant under the 2014 Plan. On April 3, 2018, our Board approved an amendment to the 2014 Plan and at the annual meeting of shareholders held May 23, 2018 our shareholders approved the amendment to the 2014 Plan, to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan by 650,000 shares. Stock Options. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 there were 403,503 and 428,168 time based options outstanding under the 2014 Plan, respectively. Restricted Stock Units. In connection with the initial public offering, 275,000 restricted stock units were granted under the 2014 Plan. At June 30, 2018, there were 502,181 time based restricted stock units and 207,859 performance based restricted stock units outstanding under the 2014 Plan. At December 31, 2017, there were 322,875 time based restricted stock units outstanding under the 2014 Plan. The Company has two additional stock options plans, both of which are frozen to further issuance. The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan (the “2010 Option Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on June 30, 2010, permitted the grant of up to 2,239,906 options. The non-qualified stock options granted were in the form of time-based options and performance options and may have been granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company. 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. The 2010 Option Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. At June 30, 2018 there were 433,094 time based options, 237,999 performance options and 305,694 super-performance options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan. At December 31, 2017 there were 367,213 time based options, 992,864 performance options and 308,054 super-performance options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan. 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, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 27,500 and 87,500 options outstanding under the 2006 Option Plan, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, $451 thousand and $159 thousand of stock based compensation expense was recorded for the stock options, respectively, and $893 thousand and $296 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Total restricted stock units compensation expense was $753 thousand and $196 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $1.5 million and $406 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 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 provided 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 SAR Plan participants under certain circumstances whereby the participant will be paid the excess, if any, of the market 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. The SAR Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 41,500 and 63,000 units outstanding under the SAR Plan, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, a $16 thousand reversal and $111 thousand of stock based compensation expense to reflect the fair value of the SARs was recorded, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, $169 thousand and $357 thousand of stock based compensation expense to reflect the fair value of the SARs was recorded. 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, 2018 and 2017, were $386 thousand and $348 thousand, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, were $759 thousand and $704 thousand, respectively.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Equity Incentive Plans — The 2014 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and shareholders on July 28, 2014 and became effective immediately prior to the initial public offering on August 7, 2014. A total of 1,273,838 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan, which permits the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the IRS Code, to the Company’s employees, and the grant of non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares and other forms of equity-based awards to the Company’s employees, directors, consultants and independent contractors. The 2014 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, who may select which eligible participants receive awards, the types of awards to be granted, the purchase price, if any, to be paid for shares covered by the awards and the vesting, forfeiture, cancellation and other terms and conditions of the awards.

During the period from December 29, 2017 through January 23, 2018, the Compensation Committee restructured performance options under the 2010 Option Plan in order to more appropriately align the incentives of the grantees with the success of the Company. As a part of this restructuring, 256,242 outstanding performance options under the 2010 Option Plan were vested and 586,119 outstanding performance options under the 2010 Option Plan were cancelled and new grants of time-based and performance based restricted stock units or "RSUs" were granted under the 2014 Plan. As of March 30, 2018, 3,393 shares were available for future grant under the 2014 Plan. On April 3, 2018, our Board approved an amendment to the 2014 Plan and at the annual meeting of shareholders held May 23, 2018 our shareholders approved the amendment to the 2014 Plan, to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan by 650,000 shares.

Stock Options. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 there were 403,503 and 428,168 time based options outstanding under the 2014 Plan, respectively.

Restricted Stock Units. In connection with the initial public offering, 275,000 restricted stock units were granted under the 2014 Plan. At June 30, 2018, there were 502,181 time based restricted stock units and 207,859 performance based restricted stock units outstanding under the 2014 Plan. At December 31, 2017, there were 322,875 time based restricted stock units outstanding under the 2014 Plan.

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

The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan (the “2010 Option Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on June 30, 2010, permitted the grant of up to 2,239,906 options. The non-qualified stock options granted were in the form of time-based options and performance options and may have been granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company. 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. The 2010 Option Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. At June 30, 2018 there were 433,094 time based options, 237,999 performance options and 305,694 super-performance options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan. At December 31, 2017 there were 367,213 time based options, 992,864 performance options and 308,054 super-performance options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan.

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, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 27,500 and 87,500 options outstanding under the 2006 Option Plan, respectively.

For the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, $451 thousand and $159 thousand of stock based compensation expense was recorded for the stock options, respectively, and $893 thousand and $296 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Total restricted stock units compensation expense was $753 thousand and $196 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $1.5 million and $406 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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 provided 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 SAR Plan participants under certain circumstances whereby the participant will be paid the excess, if any, of the market 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. The SAR Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 41,500 and 63,000 units outstanding under the SAR Plan, respectively.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, a $16 thousand reversal and $111 thousand of stock based compensation expense to reflect the fair value of the SARs was recorded, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, $169 thousand and $357 thousand of stock based compensation expense to reflect the fair value of the SARs was recorded.

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, 2018 and 2017, were $386 thousand and $348 thousand, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, were $759 thousand and $704 thousand, respectively.