CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Interest Income
Loans and leases	$ 708,851	$ 681,900	$ 690,912
Securities	176,661	159,264	136,760
Due from banks - interest-bearing	721	1,504	1,890
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	318	422	634
Total interest income	886,551	843,090	830,196
Interest Expense
Deposits	14,042	33,685	49,030
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements	46	2	5,292
Subordinated debt	20,619	17,778	18,628
Other long-term debt	21,008	18,634	26,912
Other short-term borrowings		1	9
Total interest expense	55,715	70,100	99,871
Net interest income	830,836	772,990	730,325
Provision for credit losses on loans and leases, excluding covered loans	10,000	12,500	103,000
Provision for losses on covered loans	45,346	43,646	76,218
Net interest income after provision	775,490	716,844	551,107
Noninterest Income
Trust and investment fees	155,224	140,732	134,727
Brokerage and mutual fund fees	27,804	20,440	23,742
Cash management and deposit transaction charges	45,649	44,305	47,593
International services	39,963	36,466	31,297
FDIC loss sharing (expense) income, net	(6,017)	(8,637)	63,335
Gain on disposal of assets	11,293	20,300	2,837
Gain on sale of securities	1,113	5,066	393
Gain on acquisition		8,164	27,339
Other	82,865	75,682	32,143
Impairment loss on securities:
Total other-than-temporary impairment loss on securities	(1,279)	(4,849)	(9,513)
Less: Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income	988	4,198	7,482
Net impairment loss recognized in earnings	(291)	(651)	(2,031)
Total noninterest income	357,603	341,867	361,375
Noninterest Expense
Salaries and employee benefits	479,302	448,702	409,823
Net occupancy of premises	61,534	54,340	55,567
Legal and professional fees	52,840	49,955	47,641
Information services	34,244	32,097	30,824
Depreciation and amortization	32,485	27,596	25,845
Amortization of intangibles	7,268	7,727	9,036
Marketing and advertising	30,665	28,920	23,112
Office services and equipment	17,848	17,968	16,381
Other real estate owned	38,253	65,044	63,111
FDIC assessments	18,117	29,480	29,055
Other operating	52,582	43,266	40,935
Total noninterest expense	825,138	805,095	751,330
Income before income taxes	307,955	253,616	161,152
Income taxes	98,822	77,561	26,055
Net income	209,133	176,055	135,097
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,084	3,634	3,920
Net income attributable to City National Corporation	208,049	172,421	131,177
Less: Dividends and accretion on preferred stock			5,702
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 208,049	$ 172,421	$ 125,475
Net income per common share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.85	$ 3.24	$ 2.38
Net income per common share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.83	$ 3.21	$ 2.36
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	53,211	52,439	51,992
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	53,475	52,849	52,455
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.50	$ 0.80	$ 0.40