LOANS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	$ 3,091,039	$ 2,406,877	$ 2,290,649
Loans Excluding Purchased Non Covered And Covered Loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	3,091,039	2,406,877	2,290,649
Commercial, financial & agricultural [Member] | Loans Excluding Purchased Non Covered And Covered Loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	625,947	449,623	427,747
Real Estate - construction & development [Member] | Loans Excluding Purchased Non Covered And Covered Loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	328,308	244,693	220,798
Real Estate - Commercial & Farmland [Member] | Loans Excluding Purchased Non Covered And Covered Loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	1,297,582	1,104,991	1,067,828
Real Estate - Residential [Member] | Loans Excluding Purchased Non Covered And Covered Loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	766,933	570,430	532,285
Consumer installment [Member] | Loans Excluding Purchased Non Covered And Covered Loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	68,305	31,125	31,299
Other [Member] | Loans Excluding Purchased Non Covered And Covered Loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	$ 3,964	$ 6,015	$ 10,692