NON COVERED LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	$ 33,117	$ 55,821
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	7,210	19,891
Total accruing past due loans	40,327	75,712
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	45,786	76,897
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	99,846	96,032
Total nonaccrual past due loans	145,632	172,929
Current loans	10,381,070	8,688,802
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	10,567,029	8,937,443
Unearned fees, premiums and discounts, net	(16,762)	(56,781)
Recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale	10,550,267	8,880,662
Interest Income Foregone on Nonaccrual Loans
Interest income that would have been recognized had nonaccrual loans performed in accordance with their original terms	9,384	12,689	13,743
Less: Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans on a cash basis	(3,519)	(7,880)	(10,231)
Interest income foregone on nonaccrual loans	5,865	4,809	3,512
Minimum
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Number of days past due generally required before loan is placed on nonaccrual status (in days)	90 days
Loans Held for Sale
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	25,655	14,062
Total nonaccrual past due loans	25,655	14,062
Current loans	252,948	205,993
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	278,603	220,055
Residential | Single-family
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	6,991	5,449
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	1,198	5,432
Total accruing past due loans	8,189	10,881
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due		355
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	3,569	7,058
Total nonaccrual past due loans	3,569	7,413
Current loans	1,784,877	1,100,730
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	1,796,635	1,119,024
Residential | Multifamily
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	6,366	18,894
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	745	4,368
Total accruing past due loans	7,111	23,262
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	6,889	7,694
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	11,306	9,687
Total nonaccrual past due loans	18,195	17,381
Current loans	907,862	934,102
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	933,168	974,745
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Income producing
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	18,179	27,002
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	1,549	6,034
Total accruing past due loans	19,728	33,036
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	6,885	7,962
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	25,690	38,454
Total nonaccrual past due loans	32,575	46,416
Current loans	3,435,563	3,313,532
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	3,487,866	3,392,984
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Construction
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due		1,486
Total accruing past due loans		1,486
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	26,482	25,688
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	14,688	9,778
Total nonaccrual past due loans	41,170	35,466
Current loans	130,240	241,095
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	171,410	278,047
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Land
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due		479
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	573
Total accruing past due loans	573	479
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	1,136	20,761
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	9,589	8,138
Total nonaccrual past due loans	10,725	28,899
Current loans	161,791	206,329
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	173,089	235,707
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") | Commercial Business
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	342	3,216
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	2,957	1,086
Total accruing past due loans	3,299	4,302
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	4,394	14,437
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	6,843	8,235
Total nonaccrual past due loans	11,237	22,672
Current loans	2,641,381	1,647,724
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	2,655,917	1,674,698
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") | Trade finance
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Current loans	486,555	308,657
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	486,555	308,657
Consumer | Student loans
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	109
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	188
Total accruing past due loans	297
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	257
Total nonaccrual past due loans	257
Current loans	305,771	490,314
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	306,325	490,314
Consumer | Other Consumer
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	1,130	781
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due		1,485
Total accruing past due loans	1,130	2,266
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	2,249	620
Total nonaccrual past due loans	2,249	620
Current loans	274,082	240,326
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	$ 277,461	$ 243,212