CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Interest Income
Loans and leases	$ 725,080	$ 704,745	$ 708,851
Securities	174,143	167,787	176,661
Due from banks - interest-bearing	1,883	1,285	721
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	6,340	5,844	318
Total interest income	907,446	879,661	886,551
Interest Expense
Deposits	8,271	11,114	14,042
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements	1	401	46
Subordinated debt	20,689	24,481	20,619
Other long-term debt	20,248	19,401	21,008
Other short-term borrowings		549
Total interest expense	49,209	55,946	55,715
Net interest income	858,237	823,715	830,836
(Reversal of) provision for credit losses on loans and leases, excluding covered loans	(14,000)		10,000
Provision for losses on covered loans	3,829	635	45,346
Net interest income after provision	868,408	823,080	775,490
Noninterest Income
Trust and investment fees	221,335	196,474	155,224
Brokerage and mutual fund fees	46,142	34,101	27,804
Cash management and deposit transaction charges	48,822	50,501	45,649
International services	46,068	42,037	39,963
FDIC loss sharing expense, net	(52,858)	(64,774)	(6,017)
Gain on disposal of assets	13,280	9,026	11,293
(Loss)Gain on sale of securities	7,631	7,975	1,113
Other	81,578	80,155	82,865
Impairment loss on securities:
Total other-than-temporary impairment loss on securities	(684)	(326)	(1,279)
Less: Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income	264	0	988
Net impairment loss recognized in earnings	(420)	(326)	(291)
Total noninterest income	411,578	355,169	357,603
Noninterest Expense
Salaries and employee benefits	561,285	517,743	479,302
Net occupancy of premises	64,273	65,720	61,534
Legal and professional fees	61,957	52,255	53,995
Information services	39,645	37,352	34,244
Depreciation and amortization	32,421	32,267	32,485
Amortization of intangibles	5,791	7,517	7,268
Marketing and advertising	36,676	33,185	29,510
Office services and equipment	20,723	19,480	17,848
Other real estate owned	7,467	18,127	38,253
FDIC assessments	13,517	15,566	18,117
Other operating	58,434	51,902	52,582
Total noninterest expense	902,189	851,114	825,138
Income before income taxes	377,797	327,135	307,955
Income taxes	119,208	94,619	98,822
Net income	258,589	232,516	209,133
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,770	2,507	1,084
Net income attributable to City National Corporation	255,819	230,009	208,049
Less: Dividends on preferred stock	16,375	9,625
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 239,444	$ 220,384	$ 208,049
Net income per common share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 4.31	$ 4.02	$ 3.85
Net income per common share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 4.26	$ 3.99	$ 3.83
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	54,959	54,139	53,211
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	55,691	54,640	53,475
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.32	$ 0.75	$ 1.50