Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000705432
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,465,690
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	true
Amendment Description	This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-Q/A amends the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2011, which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 8, 2011 (the “Original Filing”). This amendment is being filed to reflect the restatement of i) the quarterly results of Southside Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), as discussed in Note 2 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements contained herein, and ii) other information related to such restated financial information. Except for Items 1, 2 and 4 of Part I and Item 6 of Part II, no other information included in the Original Filing is amended by this Form 10-Q/A.
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011