INCOME TAXES (Income Tax Expense (Benefit)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Current expense:
Federal	$ 29,299	$ 5,744	$ 5,538
State	6,993	112	1,404
Total current	36,292	5,856	6,942
Deferred (benefit) expense:
Federal	(12,576)	6,800	9,300
State	(2,915)	1,971	1,911
Total deferred	(15,491)	8,771	11,211
Total	20,801	14,627	18,153
Amount
U.S. Federal statutory tax rate	20,639	14,288	16,133
State and local income taxes, net of Federal income tax effect	3,221	1,646	2,619
Amortization of low-income housing tax credit partnerships, net of tax benefits	264	880	700
Other tax credits	(663)	(142)	0
Tax-exempt interest income	(1,203)	(868)	(702)
Tax-exempt income from bank-owned life insurance	(1,565)	(1,370)	(1,023)
Other nontaxable and nondeductible	92	443	293
Other adjustments	16	(250)	133
Total	$ 20,801	$ 14,627	$ 18,153
Percent
U.S. Federal corporate tax rate	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
State and local income taxes, net of Federal income tax effect	3.28%	2.42%	3.41%
Amortization of low-income housing tax credit partnerships, net of tax benefits	0.27%	1.29%	0.91%
Other tax credits	(0.67%)	(0.21%)	0.00%
Tax-exempt interest income	(1.22%)	(1.28%)	(0.91%)
Tax-exempt income from bank-owned life insurance	(1.59%)	(2.01%)	(1.33%)
Other nontaxable and nondeductible	0.09%	0.65%	0.38%
Other adjustments	0.00%	(0.36%)	0.17%
Total	21.16%	21.50%	23.63%