EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net Income
Net income	$ 6,986			$ 5,615		$ 19,979	$ 17,787
Preferred dividends and accretion	(458)			(763)		(1,694)	(2,290)
Redemption of preferred stock						1,302
Net income available to common shareholders	6,528			4,852		19,587	15,497
Net income available to common shareholders and assumed conversions	$ 6,528			$ 4,852		$ 19,587	$ 15,497
Weighted Average Shares
Net income available to common shareholders (in shares)	20,289,609			20,194,421		20,253,560	20,171,550
Effect of dilutive shares/warrants (in shares)	57,989			36,674		59,400	40,192
Net income available to common shareholders and assumed conversions (in shares)	20,347,598			20,231,095		20,312,960	20,211,742
Per Share Amount
Net income available to common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32			$ 0.24		$ 0.97	$ 0.77
Net income available to common shareholders and assumed conversions (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32			$ 0.24		$ 0.96	$ 0.77
Discount on redemption of the preferred stock as percentage of net income						21.00%
Discount on redemption of the preferred stock on an earnings per share basis (in dollars per share)						$ 0.06
Reported earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.26		$ 0.19
Stock options
Anti-dilutive securities
Common shares not considered in computing diluted earnings per share	306,929			260,616		286,943	260,616
Stock warrants
Anti-dilutive securities
Common shares not considered in computing diluted earnings per share	571,906			571,906		571,906	571,906