SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS (Amortized Cost of HTM Securities by Security Type and Credit Rating) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	$ 821,059	$ 803,851
Moody's AAA/AA/A
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	715,557	692,671
Moody's BBB/BB/B
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	1,139	1,144
Moody's Not Rated - Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	64,044	64,595
Moody's Not Rated - Non-Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	40,319	45,441
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member]
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	720,888	697,683
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Moody's AAA/AA/A
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	710,141	686,923
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Moody's BBB/BB/B
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	1,139	1,144
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	9,608	9,616
Corporate Bond Securities [Member]
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	3,087	3,322
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	3,087	3,322
Collateralized Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	97,084	102,846
Collateralized Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Moody's AAA/AA/A
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	5,416	5,748
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	64,044	64,595
Collateralized Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] | Moody's Not Rated - Non-Agency
HTM Securities, Amortized Cost	$ 27,624	$ 32,503