NON-COVERED LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Age analysis of past Due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	$ 46,285		$ 46,285		$ 34,414
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	36,014		36,014		9,183
Total accruing past due loans	82,299		82,299		43,597
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	43,803		43,803		27,207
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	68,228		68,228		80,902
Total nonaccrual past due loans	112,031		112,031		108,109
Current loans	13,576,610		13,576,610		11,981,484
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	13,770,940		13,770,940		12,133,190
Unearned fees, premiums and discounts, net	(28,219)		(28,219)		(19,301)
Recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale	13,742,721		13,742,721		12,113,889
Interest Income Foregone on Nonaccrual Loans
Interest income that would have been recognized had nonaccrual loans performed in accordance with their original terms	1,353	1,767	3,009	3,497
Less: Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans on a cash basis	(623)	(609)	(1,057)	(1,073)
Interest income foregone on nonaccrual loans	730	1,158	1,952	2,424
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	25,837		25,837
Total nonaccrual past due loans	25,837		25,837
Current loans	219,189		219,189		174,317
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	245,026		245,026		174,317
Residential | Single-family
Age analysis of past Due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	12,885		12,885		4,820
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	6,585		6,585		2,244
Total accruing past due loans	19,470		19,470		7,064
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	4,144		4,144		1,301
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	3,066		3,066		9,809
Total nonaccrual past due loans	7,210		7,210		11,110
Current loans	2,549,295		2,549,295		2,169,149
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	2,575,975		2,575,975		2,187,323
Residential | Multifamily
Age analysis of past Due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	6,929		6,929		7,127
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	570		570		924
Total accruing past due loans	7,499		7,499		8,051
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	21,548		21,548		6,788
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	8,678		8,678		11,052
Total nonaccrual past due loans	30,226		30,226		17,840
Current loans	892,142		892,142		874,817
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	929,867		929,867		900,708
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	15,779		15,779		18,118
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	26,227		26,227		4,731
Total accruing past due loans	42,006		42,006		22,849
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	5,735		5,735		9,485
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	11,536		11,536		8,354
Total nonaccrual past due loans	17,271		17,271		17,839
Current loans	3,857,805		3,857,805		3,603,347
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	3,917,082		3,917,082		3,644,035
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	6,888		6,888
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due					27,039
Total nonaccrual past due loans	6,888		6,888		27,039
Current loans	98,196		98,196		94,550
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	105,084		105,084		121,589
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	3,332		3,332
Total accruing past due loans	3,332		3,332
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	956		956		637
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	3,357		3,357		3,984
Total nonaccrual past due loans	4,313		4,313		4,621
Current loans	120,573		120,573		124,450
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	128,218		128,218		129,071
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	6,256		6,256		3,293
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	2,485		2,485		316
Total accruing past due loans	8,741		8,741		3,609
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	4,214		4,214		8,068
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	14,413		14,413		14,740
Total nonaccrual past due loans	18,627		18,627		22,808
Current loans	4,009,427		4,009,427		3,542,971
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	4,036,795		4,036,795		3,569,388
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") | Trade finance
Age analysis of past Due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due					500
Total accruing past due loans					500
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	318		318		429
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	545		545		2,003
Total nonaccrual past due loans	863		863		2,432
Current loans	672,017		672,017		658,945
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	672,880		672,880		661,877
Consumer | Student loans
Age analysis of past Due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due					71
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	65		65
Total accruing past due loans	65		65		71
Current loans	615,642		615,642		475,728
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	615,707		615,707		475,799
Consumer | Other Consumer
Age analysis of past Due non-covered loans and loans held for sale
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	1,104		1,104		485
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	82		82		968
Total accruing past due loans	1,186		1,186		1,453
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due					499
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	796		796		3,921
Total nonaccrual past due loans	796		796		4,420
Current loans	542,324		542,324		263,210
Total non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	$ 544,306		$ 544,306		$ 269,083