CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Interest Income
Loans and leases	$ 681,900	$ 690,912	$ 582,755
Securities	159,264	136,760	124,572
Due from banks - interest-bearing	1,504	1,890	1,486
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	422	634	264
Total interest income	843,090	830,196	709,077
Interest Expense
Deposits	33,685	49,030	60,429
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements	2	5,292	8,292
Subordinated debt	17,778	18,628	9,940
Other long-term debt	18,634	26,912	6,032
Other short-term borrowings	1	9	331
Total interest expense	70,100	99,871	85,024
Net interest income	772,990	730,325	624,053
Provision for credit losses on loans and leases, excluding covered loans	12,500	103,000	285,000
Provision for losses on covered loans	43,646	76,218
Net interest income after provision	716,844	551,107	339,053
Noninterest Income
Trust and investment fees	140,732	134,727	117,062
Brokerage and mutual fund fees	20,440	23,742	27,932
Cash management and deposit transaction charges	44,305	47,593	51,669
International services	36,466	31,297	31,007
FDIC loss sharing (expense) income, net	(8,637)	63,335	723
Gain on disposal of assets	20,300	2,837	1,276
Gain on sale of securities	5,066	393	14,286
Gain on acquisition	8,164	27,339	38,206
Other	75,682	32,143	26,481
Impairment loss on securities:
Total other-than-temporary impairment loss on securities	(4,849)	(9,513)	(33,613)
Less: Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income	4,198	7,482	17,168
Net impairment loss recognized in earnings	(651)	(2,031)	(16,445)
Total noninterest income	341,867	361,375	292,197
Noninterest Expense
Salaries and employee benefits	448,702	409,823	320,276
Net occupancy of premises	54,340	55,567	50,423
Legal and professional fees	49,955	47,641	37,010
Information services	32,097	30,824	27,835
Depreciation and amortization	27,596	25,845	26,219
Amortization of intangibles	7,727	9,036	7,357
Marketing and advertising	28,920	23,112	20,126
Office services and equipment	17,968	16,381	14,995
Other real estate owned	65,044	63,111	8,925
FDIC assessments	29,480	29,055	28,053
Other operating	43,266	40,935	39,868
Total noninterest expense	805,095	751,330	581,087
Income before income taxes	253,616	161,152	50,163
Income taxes	77,561	26,055	(1,886)
Net income	176,055	135,097	52,049
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,634	3,920	710
Net income attributable to City National Corporation	172,421	131,177	51,339
Less: Dividends and accretion on preferred stock		5,702	25,903
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 172,421	$ 125,475	$ 25,436
Net income per share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.24	$ 2.38	$ 0.50
Net income per share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.21	$ 2.36	$ 0.50
Shares used to compute net income per share, basic (in shares)	52,439	51,992	50,272
Shares used to compute net income per share, diluted (in shares)	52,849	52,455	50,421
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.40	$ 0.55