LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	$ 3,626,821	$ 2,406,877
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	3,626,821	2,406,877
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	967,138	449,623
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	363,045	244,693
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	1,406,219	1,104,991
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	781,018	570,430
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	96,915	31,125
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	$ 12,486	$ 6,015