Note 8 - Deposits and Borrowed Funds (Details) - Deposits (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Deposits [Abstract]
Noninterest-bearing	$ 1,778,034	$ 1,740,182
Interest-bearing:
Transaction	771,299	763,088
Savings	1,207,881	1,167,744
Time	457,569	492,767
Total deposits	$ 4,214,783	$ 4,163,781

The amount of money in accounts that may bear interest and that the depositor is entitled to withdraw at any time without prior notice.

Name:	us-gaap_DemandDepositAccounts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate of all deposit liabilities held by the entity, including foreign and domestic, interest and noninterest bearing; may include demand deposits, saving deposits, Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) and time deposits among others.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Deposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepositsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of interest bearing deposits with no stated maturity, which may include passbook and statement savings accounts and money-market deposit accounts (MMDAs).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepositsSavingsDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of domestic noninterest-bearing deposits held by the entity, which may include demand deposits, checking, brokered and retail deposits.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoninterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesDomestic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of deposits that cannot be withdrawn before a set date without penalty or for which notice of withdrawal is required. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	wabc_InterestBearingAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	wabc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration