CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME
Loans receivable, including fees	$ 945,798	$ 998,589	$ 587,163
Investment securities	89,469	70,052	116,286
Securities purchased under resale agreements	19,216	14,208	7,985
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock	550	597
Investment in Federal Reserve Bank stock	2,840	2,751	2,337
Short-term investments	22,575	9,634	9,047
Total interest and dividend income	1,080,448	1,095,831	722,818
INTEREST EXPENSE
Customer deposit accounts	107,110	116,737	129,477
Federal Home Loan Bank advances	15,461	26,641	49,940
Securities sold under repurchase agreements	48,561	48,993	49,725
Long-term debt	5,832	6,420	7,816
Other borrowings	458	2,326	171
Total interest expense	177,422	201,117	237,129
Net interest income before provision for loan losses	903,026	894,714	485,689
Provision for loan losses	95,006	200,159	528,666
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses	808,020	694,555	(42,977)
NONINTEREST INCOME
Gain on acquisition		22,874	471,009
Impairment loss on investment securities	(5,736)	(32,127)	(121,802)
Less: Noncredit-related impairment loss recorded in other comprehensive income	5,103	15,458	14,131
Net impairment loss on investment securities recognized in earnings	(633)	(16,669)	(107,671)
Decrease in FDIC indemnification asset and receivable	(100,141)	(83,213)	(23,338)
Branch fees	33,776	32,634	22,326
Net gain on sales of investment securities	9,703	31,237	11,923
Letters of credit fees and commissions	13,997	11,816	8,338
Foreign exchange income	9,143	3,171	1,201
Ancillary loan fees	8,350	8,526	6,286
Income from life insurance policies	4,031	4,083	4,368
Net gain on sales of loans	20,185	18,515
Net gain (loss) on sale of fixed assets	2,274	(189)	93
Other operating income (loss)	10,239	6,485	(3,582)
Total noninterest income	10,924	39,270	390,953
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Compensation and employee benefits	160,093	170,052	79,475
Occupancy and equipment expense	50,082	52,073	30,218
Amortization of investments in affordable housing partnerships and other investments	17,324	10,032	7,450
Amortization of premiums on deposits acquired	12,327	13,283	5,895
Deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments	20,531	25,201	28,073
Loan related expenses	19,379	21,070	7,580
Other real estate owned expense	40,435	61,568	19,104
Legal expense	21,327	19,577	8,024
Prepayment penalty for FHLB advances and other borrowings	12,281	13,832	2,370
Data processing	8,598	10,615	5,641
Deposit-related expenses	5,699	4,750	3,909
Consulting expense	7,151	7,984	8,135
Other operating expenses	60,383	67,879	37,380
Total noninterest expense	435,610	477,916	243,254
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	383,334	255,909	104,722
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	138,100	91,345	22,714
NET INCOME BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS	245,234	164,564	82,008
Extraordinary item, net of tax			(5,366)
NET INCOME AFTER EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS	245,234	164,564	76,642
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS AMORTIZATION OF PREFERRED STOCK DISCOUNT, AND INDUCEMENT OF PREFERRED STOCK CONVERSION	6,857	43,126	49,115
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 238,377	$ 121,438	$ 27,527
EARNINGS PER SHARE AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
BASIC (in dollars per share)	$ 1.62	$ 0.88	$ 0.35
DILUTED (in dollars per share)	$ 1.60	$ 0.83	$ 0.33
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING
BASIC (in shares)	147,093	137,478	78,770
DILUTED (in shares)	153,467	147,102	84,523
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.04	$ 0.05