SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS (Amortized Cost of HTM Securities by Security Type and Credit Rating) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	$ 803,851	$ 837,378
Moody's AAA/AA/A
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	692,671	698,219
Moody's BBB/BB/B
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	1,144	1,166
Moody's Not Rated - Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	64,595	68,039
Moody's Not Rated - Non-Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	45,441	69,954
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member]
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	697,683	699,189
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Moody's AAA/AA/A
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	686,923	688,499
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Moody's BBB/BB/B
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	1,144	1,166
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Moody's Not Rated - Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	0	0
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Moody's Not Rated - Non-Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	9,616	9,524
Corporate Bond Securities [Member]
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	3,322	4,349
Corporate Bond Securities [Member] | Moody's AAA/AA/A
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	0	0
Corporate Bond Securities [Member] | Moody's BBB/BB/B
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	0	0
Corporate Bond Securities [Member] | Moody's Not Rated - Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	0	0
Corporate Bond Securities [Member] | Moody's Not Rated - Non-Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	3,322	4,349
Collateralized Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	102,846	133,840
Collateralized Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Moody's AAA/AA/A
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	5,748	9,720
Collateralized Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Moody's BBB/BB/B
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	0	0
Collateralized Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Moody's Not Rated - Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	64,595	68,039
Collateralized Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Moody's Not Rated - Non-Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	$ 32,503	$ 56,081