NON-COVERED LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	$ 25,217		$ 25,217		$ 33,117
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	7,650		7,650		7,210
Total accruing past due loans	32,867		32,867		40,327
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	21,240		21,240		45,786
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	91,194		91,194		99,846
Total nonaccrual past due loans	112,434		112,434		145,632
Current loans	10,787,381		10,787,381		10,381,070
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	10,932,682		10,932,682		10,567,029
Unearned fees, premiums and discounts, net	(19,762)		(19,762)		(16,762)
Recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale	10,912,920		10,912,920		10,550,267
Interest Income Foregone on Nonaccrual Loans
Interest income that would have been recognized had nonaccrual loans performed in accordance with their original terms	1,767	2,798	3,497	5,563
Less: Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans on a cash basis	(609)	(415)	(1,073)	(830)
Interest income foregone on nonaccrual loans	1,158	2,383	2,424	4,733
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	9,642		9,642		25,655
Total nonaccrual past due loans	9,642		9,642		25,655
Current loans	128,170		128,170		252,948
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	137,812		137,812		278,603
Residential | Single-family
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	4,899		4,899		6,991
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	893		893		1,198
Total accruing past due loans	5,792		5,792		8,189
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	1,350		1,350
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	6,405		6,405		3,569
Total nonaccrual past due loans	7,755		7,755		3,569
Current loans	2,004,330		2,004,330		1,784,877
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	2,017,877		2,017,877		1,796,635
Residential | Multifamily
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	2,592		2,592		6,366
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	3,907		3,907		745
Total accruing past due loans	6,499		6,499		7,111
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	11,129		11,129		6,889
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	9,278		9,278		11,306
Total nonaccrual past due loans	20,407		20,407		18,195
Current loans	886,035		886,035		907,862
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	912,941		912,941		933,168
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	11,596		11,596		18,179
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	324		324		1,549
Total accruing past due loans	11,920		11,920		19,728
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	2,092		2,092		6,885
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	13,109		13,109		25,690
Total nonaccrual past due loans	15,201		15,201		32,575
Current loans	3,417,836		3,417,836		3,435,563
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	3,444,957		3,444,957		3,487,866
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Construction
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due					26,482
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	24,480		24,480		14,688
Total nonaccrual past due loans	24,480		24,480		41,170
Current loans	110,141		110,141		130,240
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	134,621		134,621		171,410
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	498		498
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	1,437		1,437		573
Total accruing past due loans	1,935		1,935		573
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	669		669		1,136
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	7,911		7,911		9,589
Total nonaccrual past due loans	8,580		8,580		10,725
Current loans	154,603		154,603		161,791
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	165,118		165,118		173,089
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	4,236		4,236		342
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	900		900		2,957
Total accruing past due loans	5,136		5,136		3,299
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	6,000		6,000		4,394
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	15,152		15,152		6,843
Total nonaccrual past due loans	21,152		21,152		11,237
Current loans	2,833,884		2,833,884		2,641,381
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	2,860,172		2,860,172		2,655,917
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") | Trade finance
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	1,919		1,919
Total nonaccrual past due loans	1,919		1,919
Current loans	556,546		556,546		486,555
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	558,465		558,465		486,555
Consumer | Student loans
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	227		227		109
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	189		189		188
Total accruing past due loans	416		416		297
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	99		99		257
Total nonaccrual past due loans	99		99		257
Current loans	436,012		436,012		305,771
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	436,527		436,527		306,325
Consumer | Other Consumer
Age analysis of past due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	1,169		1,169		1,130
Total accruing past due loans	1,169		1,169		1,130
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	3,199		3,199		2,249
Total nonaccrual past due loans	3,199		3,199		2,249
Current loans	259,824		259,824		274,082
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	$ 264,192		$ 264,192		$ 277,461