DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND COMMON STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Repurchase Plan [Abstract]
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND COMMON STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN	DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND COMMON STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN We have in effect a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”) which allows enrolled shareholders to reinvest dividends paid to them by the Company into new shares of the our stock. The DRIP is funded by stock authorized but not yet issued. For the year ended December 31, 2018, 42,872 shares were issued under this plan at an average price of $34.45 per share, reflective of other trades at the time of each sale. For the year ended December 31, 2017, 43,650 shares were issued under this plan at an average price of $33.99 per share, reflective of other trades at the time of each sale. Our board continually evaluates the Company’s capital needs and those of Southside Bank and may, at their discretion, initiate, modify or discontinue an authorized stock repurchase plan. Repurchased shares are designated as treasury shares and are available for general corporate purposes, which may include possible use in connection with our share-based incentive plans and other distributions. During 2018, 1,459,148 shares of common stock were repurchased under an authorized stock repurchase plan at a cost of $47.2 million. During 2016, 443,426 shares of common stock were repurchased under a previously authorized stock repurchase plan at a cost of $10.2 million. No shares were repurchased during 2017. Subsequent to December 31, 2018 and through January 7, 2019, we repurchased 40,852 shares of common stock at an average price of $32.42, at which time our 2018 stock repurchase authorization expired.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND COMMON STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN

We have in effect a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”) which allows enrolled shareholders to reinvest dividends paid to them by the Company into new shares of the our stock. The DRIP is funded by stock authorized but not yet issued. For the year ended December 31, 2018, 42,872 shares were issued under this plan at an average price of $34.45 per share, reflective of other trades at the time of each sale. For the year ended December 31, 2017, 43,650 shares were issued under this plan at an average price of $33.99 per share, reflective of other trades at the time of each sale.

Our board continually evaluates the Company’s capital needs and those of Southside Bank and may, at their discretion, initiate, modify or discontinue an authorized stock repurchase plan. Repurchased shares are designated as treasury shares and are available for general corporate purposes, which may include possible use in connection with our share-based incentive plans and other distributions. During 2018, 1,459,148 shares of common stock were repurchased under an authorized stock repurchase plan at a cost of $47.2 million. During 2016, 443,426 shares of common stock were repurchased under a previously authorized stock repurchase plan at a cost of $10.2 million. No shares were repurchased during 2017.

Subsequent to December 31, 2018 and through January 7, 2019, we repurchased 40,852 shares of common stock at an average price of $32.42, at which time our 2018 stock repurchase authorization expired.