REGULATORY MATTERS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Tier one core capital required for capital adequacy to risk-weighted assets (in hundredths)	4.00%
Tier one total capital required for capital adequacy to risk-weighted assets (in hundredths)	8.00%
Tier one leverage ratio required for capital adequacy to average assets (in hundredths)	4.00%
Tier one risk based capital required to be well capitalized to risk-weighted assets (in hundredths)	6.00%
Total capital required to be well capitalized to risk-weighted assets (in hundredths)	10.00%
Tier one leverage capital required to be well capitalized to average assets (in hundredths)	5.00%
Tier I capital (to risk-weighted assets) [Abstract]
Tier I capital	$ 1,255,244	$ 1,316,905
Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets (in hundredths)	12.99%	13.77%
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets) [Abstract]
Total capital	1,376,752	1,437,320
Total capital to risk-weighted assets (in hundredths)	14.25%	15.03%
Tier I leverage capital (to average assets) [Abstract]
Tier I leverage capital	1,255,244	1,316,905
Tier I leverage capital to average assets (in hundredths)	9.93%	10.25%
BancorpSouth Bank [Member]
Tier I capital (to risk-weighted assets) [Abstract]
Tier I capital	1,237,716	1,191,567
Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets (in hundredths)	12.83%	12.48%
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets) [Abstract]
Total capital	1,359,195	1,311,840
Total capital to risk-weighted assets (in hundredths)	14.09%	13.74%
Tier I leverage capital (to average assets) [Abstract]
Tier I leverage capital	$ 1,237,716	$ 1,191,567
Tier I leverage capital to average assets (in hundredths)	9.81%	9.34%

The amount of total capital as defined in the regulations.

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The minimum Total risk based capital ratio (total capital divided by risk weighted assets) required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

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The Total risk based capital ratio (total capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized", in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

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Total Capital divided by risk weighted assets as defined in the regulations.

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Tier 1 Leverage Capital as defined in the regulations. Also called Core Capital.

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The minimum amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital for capital adequacy purposes divided by average assets as defined in the regulations.

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Tier 1 Risk Based Capital as defined in the regulations.

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The minimum Tier One Capital Ratio (Tier one capital divided by risk-weighted assets) required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

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The Tier 1 capital ratio (Tier 1 capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

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Tier 1 capital divided by risk weighted assets as defined by regulations.

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