LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total non-covered loans	$ 23,920	$ 21,062
Purchased Non-Covered Loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total non-covered loans	1,011,031	771,554
Purchased Non-Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial, financial & agricultural [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total non-covered loans	95,743	45,462
Purchased Non-Covered Loans [Member] | Real Estate - construction & development [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total non-covered loans	78,376	72,080
Purchased Non-Covered Loans [Member] | Real Estate - Commercial & Farmland [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total non-covered loans	563,438	390,755
Purchased Non-Covered Loans [Member] | Real Estate - Residential [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total non-covered loans	268,888	258,153
Purchased Non-Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer installment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total non-covered loans	$ 4,586	$ 5,104