NON COVERED LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES, Nonaccrual and Past Due Loans (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	$ 53,255				$ 53,255				$ 55,821
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	17,750				17,750				19,891
Total accruing past due loans	71,005				71,005				75,712
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	33,244				33,244				76,897
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	131,489				131,489				96,032
Total nonaccrual past due loans	164,733				164,733				172,929
Current loans	9,430,360				9,430,360				8,688,802
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	9,666,098				9,666,098				8,937,443
Unearned fees, premiums and discounts, net	(24,258)				(24,258)				(56,781)
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, total	9,641,840				9,641,840				8,880,662
Number of days past due generally required before loan is placed on nonaccrual status (in days)					90D
Interest Income Foregone on Nonaccrual Loans [Abstract]
Interest income that would have been recognized had nonaccrual loans performed in accordance with their original terms	2,798		3,656		5,563		7,522
Less: Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans on a cash basis	(415)	[1]	(1,085)	[1]	(830)	[1]	(2,202)	[1]
Interest income foregone on nonaccrual loans	2,383		2,571		4,733		5,320
Residential [Member] | Single-family [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	9,617				9,617				5,449
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	2,588				2,588				5,432
Total accruing past due loans	12,205				12,205				10,881
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	0				0				355
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	13,326				13,326				7,058
Total nonaccrual past due loans	13,326				13,326				7,413
Current loans	1,260,704				1,260,704				1,100,730
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	1,286,235				1,286,235				1,119,024
Residential [Member] | Multifamily [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	6,250				6,250				18,894
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	637				637				4,368
Total accruing past due loans	6,887				6,887				23,262
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	3,708				3,708				7,694
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	11,174				11,174				9,687
Total nonaccrual past due loans	14,882				14,882				17,381
Current loans	929,212				929,212				934,102
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	950,981				950,981				974,745
Commercial Real Estate [Member] | Income Producing [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	13,289				13,289				27,002
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	4,084				4,084				6,034
Total accruing past due loans	17,373				17,373				33,036
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	3,432				3,432				7,962
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	25,699				25,699				38,454
Total nonaccrual past due loans	29,131				29,131				46,416
Current loans	3,362,056				3,362,056				3,313,532
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	3,408,560				3,408,560				3,392,984
Commercial Real Estate [Member] | Construction [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	2,859				2,859				0
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	0				0				1,486
Total accruing past due loans	2,859				2,859				1,486
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	16,231				16,231				25,688
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	17,296				17,296				9,778
Total nonaccrual past due loans	33,527				33,527				35,466
Current loans	180,303				180,303				241,095
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	216,689				216,689				278,047
Commercial Real Estate [Member] | Land (Commercial Real Estate) [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	13,410				13,410				479
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	2,758				2,758				0
Total accruing past due loans	16,168				16,168				479
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	4,782				4,782				20,761
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	19,368				19,368				8,138
Total nonaccrual past due loans	24,150				24,150				28,899
Current loans	163,062				163,062				206,329
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	203,380				203,380				235,707
Commercial and Industrial [Member] | Commercial Business [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	6,773				6,773				3,216
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	5,619				5,619				1,086
Total accruing past due loans	12,392				12,392				4,302
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	5,091				5,091				14,437
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	17,969				17,969				8,235
Total nonaccrual past due loans	23,060				23,060				22,672
Current loans	2,248,465				2,248,465				1,647,724
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	2,283,917				2,283,917				1,674,698
Commercial and Industrial [Member] | Trade Finance [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	0				0				0
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	0				0				0
Total accruing past due loans	0				0				0
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	0				0				0
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	1,109				1,109				0
Total nonaccrual past due loans	1,109				1,109				0
Current loans	399,446				399,446				308,657
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	400,555				400,555				308,657
Consumer [Member] | Student Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	0				0				0
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	0				0				0
Total accruing past due loans	0				0				0
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	0				0				0
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	0				0				0
Total nonaccrual past due loans	0				0				0
Current loans	358,378				358,378				490,314
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	358,378				358,378				490,314
Consumer [Member] | Other Consumer [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	1,057				1,057				781
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	2,064				2,064				1,485
Total accruing past due loans	3,121				3,121				2,266
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	0				0				0
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	1,077				1,077				620
Total nonaccrual past due loans	1,077				1,077				620
Current loans	226,364				226,364				240,326
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	230,562				230,562				243,212
Consumer [Member] | Loans Held for Sale [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Accruing loans 30 - 59 days past due	0				0				0
Accruing loans 60 - 89 days past due	0				0				0
Total accruing past due loans	0				0				0
Nonaccrual loans less than 90 days past due	0				0				0
Nonaccrual loans 90 or more days past due	24,471				24,471				14,062
Total nonaccrual past due loans	24,471				24,471				14,062
Current loans	302,370				302,370				205,993
Total recorded investment in non-covered loans and loans held for sale, gross	$ 326,841				$ 326,841				$ 220,055

[1] Includes interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans held for sale.