Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 859,479	$ 736,161	$ 379,891
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Provision for credit losses	270,000	368,000	604,000
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment	80,304	67,677	64,398
Amortization of capitalized servicing rights	55,859	56,582	62,268
Amortization of core deposit and other intangible assets	61,617	58,103	64,255
Provision for deferred income taxes	33,924	51,068	82,501
Asset write-downs	170,632	101,106	171,225
Net gain on sales of assets	(187,120)	(10,426)	(88)
Net change in accrued interest receivable, payable	(27,508)	(9,942)	(38,920)
Net change in other accrued income and expense	147,465	144,705	(154,992)
Net change in loans originated for sale	238,156	202,089	(57,105)
Net change in trading account assets and liabilities	69,438	(89,476)	11,956
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,772,246	1,675,647	1,189,389
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sales of investment securities, Available for sale	1,909,829	23,310	9,427
Proceeds from sales of investment securities, Other	116,410	107,320	137,577
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities Available for sale	1,307,567	1,539,591	2,187,553
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities, Held to maturity	272,841	248,087	125,466
Purchases of investment securities, Available for sale	(3,491,759)	(440,560)	(651,549)
Purchases of investment securities, Held to maturity	(28,454)	(1,003,796)	(37,453)
Purchase of investment securities, Other	(30,727)	(7,647)	(21,088)
Net decrease in agreements to resell securities	15,000		90,000
Net (increase) decrease in loans and leases	(2,233,600)	(201,854)	657,458
Net (increase) decrease in interest-bearing deposits at banks	2,552,527	32,113	(123,051)
Other investments, net	(29,306)	(52,179)	(35,934)
Capital expenditures, net	(70,008)	(70,458)	(58,967)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired Banks and bank holding companies	178,940	213,204	202,993
Purchase of Wilmington Trust Corporation preferred stock	(330,000)
Proceeds from the sales of real estate acquired and settlement of loans	208,546	89,206	90,241
Other, net	21,126	(927)	(70,978)
Net cash provided by investing activities	368,932	475,410	2,501,695
Cash flows from financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in deposits	742,653	1,879,491	(528,964)
Net decrease in short-term borrowings	(313,050)	(1,522,646)	(745,251)
Payments on long-term borrowings	(1,809,984)	(2,514,342)	(2,390,182)
Dividends paid - common	(350,129)	(335,303)	(325,706)
Dividends paid - preferred	(48,203)	(40,225)	(31,946)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	495,000
Redemption of preferred stock	(370,000)
Other, net	31,177	69,381	9,156
Net cash used by financing activities	(1,622,536)	(2,463,644)	(4,012,893)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	518,642	(312,587)	(321,809)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	933,755	1,246,342	1,568,151
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	1,452,397	933,755	1,246,342
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Interest received during the year	2,807,071	2,765,101	2,748,880
Interest paid during the year	440,810	490,767	704,173
Income taxes paid (refunded) during the year	251,810	287,740	(19,549)
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities
Real estate acquired in settlement of loans	81,588	199,285	102,392
Acquisitions, Fair value of:
Assets acquired (noncash)	10,666,102	342,443	6,581,433
Liabilities assumed	10,044,555	528,108	6,318,998
Preferred stock issued			155,779
Common stock issued	405,557		272,824
Retirement of Wilmington Trust Corporation preferred stock	330,000
Common stock options			1,367
Common stock warrants			6,467
Increase (decrease) from consolidation of securitization trusts
Loans		423,865
Investment securities - available for sale		(360,471)
Long-term borrowings		65,419
Accrued interest and other		2,025
Securitization of residential mortgage loans allocated to: Available for sale investment securities			140,942
Securitization of residential mortgage loans allocated to: Capitalized servicing rights			$ 788