ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSS (1) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	$ 200,377	$ 234,923
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	23,939	39,708
Allowance for all other loans and leases	151,908	155,410
Total allowance	175,847	195,118	197,627	196,913
Construction, acquisition and development [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	100,053	128,179
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	10,641	21,581
Commercial and industrial segment [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	10,906	7,833
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	5,575	4,071
Allowance for all other loans and leases	20,240	16,653
Total allowance	25,815	20,724	22,840	22,479
Real estate [Member] | Consumer mortgages [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	17,081	31,793
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	2,002	4,386
Allowance for all other loans and leases	32,429	32,143
Total allowance	34,431	36,529	37,045	35,540
Real estate [Member] | Home equity [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	1,568	675
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	168	48
Allowance for all other loans and leases	7,168	8,582
Total allowance	7,336	8,630	7,620	7,305
Real estate [Member] | Agricultural [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	7,393	3,096
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	378	380
Allowance for all other loans and leases	2,881	3,541
Total allowance	3,259	3,921	4,709	4,997
Real estate [Member] | Commercial and industrial-owner occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	21,713	24,801
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	1,019	3,601
Allowance for all other loans and leases	16,340	18,328
Total allowance	17,359	21,929	24,644	20,403
Real estate [Member] | Construction, acquisition and development [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	100,053	128,179
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	10,641	21,581
Allowance for all other loans and leases	22,114	23,981
Total allowance	32,755	45,562	53,920	59,048
Real estate [Member] | Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	40,698	36,122
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	3,924	5,324
Allowance for all other loans and leases	33,242	34,120
Total allowance	37,166	39,444	35,293	33,439
Credit cards segment [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	0	0
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	0	0
Allowance for all other loans and leases	3,159	4,021
Total allowance	3,159	4,021	3,487	4,126
All other receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Recorded balance of impaired loans	965	2,424
Allowance for impaired loans and leases	232	317
Allowance for all other loans and leases	14,335	14,041
Total allowance	$ 14,567	$ 14,358	$ 8,069	$ 9,576