FAIR VALUE (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	$ 896,037	$ 876,090
U. S. government agency
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	2,158
States and municipals
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	326,141	344,877
Mortgage-backed securities - residential - Government Sponsored Entity
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	273,115	271,504
Collateralized mortgage obligations - Government Sponsored Entity
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	286,143	250,767
Equity securities
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	4,938	5,410
Other securities
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	3,542	3,532
Recurring basis | Carrying Value
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	896,037	876,090
Recurring basis | Carrying Value | U. S. government agency
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	2,158
Recurring basis | Carrying Value | States and municipals
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	326,141	344,877
Recurring basis | Carrying Value | Mortgage-backed securities - residential - Government Sponsored Entity
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	273,115	271,504
Recurring basis | Carrying Value | Collateralized mortgage obligations - Government Sponsored Entity
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	286,143	250,767
Recurring basis | Carrying Value | Equity securities
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	4,938	5,410
Recurring basis | Carrying Value | Other securities
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	3,542	3,532
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	4,688	4,660
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity securities
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	4,688	4,660
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	872,506	844,537
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | U. S. government agency
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	2,158
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | States and municipals
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	310,120	321,321
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Mortgage-backed securities - residential - Government Sponsored Entity
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	273,115	271,504
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Collateralized mortgage obligations - Government Sponsored Entity
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	286,143	250,767
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other securities
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	970	945
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	18,843	26,893
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | States and municipals
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	16,021	23,556
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity securities
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	250	750
Recurring basis | Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other securities
Financial Assets
Total securities available-for-sale	$ 2,572	$ 2,587