LONG-TERM DEBT (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2002
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption date		Aug. 12, 2013
Credit Agreement borrowing capacity	$ 825,000,000
Long-term borrowings	$ 69,775,000	$ 78,148,000
Unsecured Revolving Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		2.12%
Maturity date	Aug. 08, 2015
Credit Agreement borrowing capacity	$ 25,000,000
Multi-Draw Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	Aug. 08, 2018
Credit Agreement borrowing capacity	$ 60,000,000
U. S. Bank [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	39,800,000
Federal Home Loan Bank [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	30,000,000
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities of BancorpSouth Capital Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities			$ 128,900,000
Interest rate			8.15%
Number of shares of trust preferred securities			5,000,000
Trust preferred securities, value per share			$ 25
Write-off of unamortized issuance costs	$ 2,900,000