NON-COVERED LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	$ 17,308,411	[1]	$ 15,678,317	[1]
Unearned fees, premiums and discounts, net	(9,349)		(23,672)
Allowance for non-covered loans receivable	(245,618)		(241,930)
Non-covered loans receivable, excluding covered loans, net	17,053,444		15,412,715
Residential
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	4,349,486		4,185,309
Residential | Single-family
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	3,238,298		3,192,875
Residential | Multifamily
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	1,111,188		992,434
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE")
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	5,519,920		4,585,077
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Income producing
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	5,118,377		4,301,030
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Construction
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	197,628		140,186
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Land
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	203,915		143,861
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I")
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	6,201,083		5,360,193
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") | Commercial Business
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	5,533,379		4,637,056
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") | Trade finance
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	667,704		723,137
Consumer
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	1,237,922		1,547,738
Consumer | Student loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	184,900		679,220
Consumer | Other Consumer
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans, gross	$ 1,053,022		$ 868,518

[1] Loans net of ASC 310-30 discount