Loan Sales and Securitizations (Schedule of Principal Amount of Delinquent Loans, and Net Credit Losses) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Principal amount of loans securitized and sold	$ 5,300,000,000		$ 7,500,000,000
Residential Real Estate [Member]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Principal Amount of Residential Real Estate Loans	14,403,257,000	[1],[2],[3]	17,396,233,000	[1],[2],[3]
Net Credit Losses	62,627,000	[2]	116,486,000	[2]
Principal Amount90 Days Or More Past Due Or Nonaccrual [Member]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Principal Amount of Residential Real Estate Loans	700,000,000		800,000,000
Principal Amount90 Days Or More Past Due Or Nonaccrual [Member] | Government National Mortgage Association Certificates And Obligations G N M A [Member]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Principal Amount of Residential Real Estate Loans	$ 40,500,000		$ 40,000,000

[1] On March 31, 2013 and 2012, includes $.7 billion and $.8 billion, respectively, where the principal amount is 90 days or more past due or nonaccrual. Included in these amounts are $40.5 million and $40.0 million of GNMA guaranteed mortgages on March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

[2] No delinquency or net credit loss data is provided for the loans transferred to FNMA or FHLMC because these agencies retain credit risk. See Note 9 - Contingencies and Other Disclosures for discussion related to repurchase obligations for loans transferred to GSEs or private investors.

[3] Amounts represent real estate residential loans in FHN’s portfolio, held-for-sale, and loans that have been transferred in proprietary securitizations and whole loan sales in which FHN has a retained interest other than servicing rights. Also includes $5.3 billion and $7.5 billion of loans transferred to GSEs with any type of retained interest on March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.