Business Segment Information (Amounts Of Consolidated Revenue, Expense, Tax And Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 number		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	$ 160,019		$ 172,675		$ 321,401		$ 344,604
Provision/(provision credit) for loan losses	15,000		15,000		30,000		23,000
Noninterest income	142,632		158,907		299,059		361,348
Noninterest expense	227,408		527,177		467,948		849,171
Income/(loss) before income taxes	60,243		(210,595)		122,512		(166,219)
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	15,008		(88,178)		32,738		(77,608)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations	45,235		(122,417)		89,774		(88,611)
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1	[1]	487	[1]	431	[1]	52	[1]
Net income/(loss)	45,236		(121,930)		90,205		(88,559)
Average assets	24,598,772		25,014,635		24,837,175		25,107,504
Number of Operating Segments	4
Regional Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	147,324		148,599		293,392		296,112
Provision/(provision credit) for loan losses	13,201		4,828		10,716		(2,598)
Noninterest income	61,900		65,037		121,044		125,089
Noninterest expense	128,948		143,322		259,285		283,904
Income/(loss) before income taxes	67,075		65,486		144,435		139,895
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	24,051		23,630		52,151		50,782
Net income/(loss)	43,024		41,856		92,284		89,113
Average assets	12,939,370		12,356,541		12,947,925		12,294,096
Capital Markets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	4,031		5,608		7,931		11,288
Noninterest income	68,199		74,968		144,811		181,743
Noninterest expense	59,926		60,936		121,595		141,242
Income/(loss) before income taxes	12,304		19,640		31,147		51,789
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	4,586		7,403		11,729		19,641
Net income/(loss)	7,718		12,237		19,418		32,148
Average assets	2,423,760		2,385,317		2,457,759		2,368,458
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	(9,963)		(5,538)		(18,584)		(11,724)
Noninterest income	3,811		3,825		11,666		13,087
Noninterest expense	17,070		19,143		34,655		41,520
Income/(loss) before income taxes	(23,222)		(20,856)		(41,573)		(40,157)
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	(15,201)		(13,388)		(26,719)		(25,700)
Net income/(loss)	(8,021)		(7,468)		(14,854)		(14,457)
Average assets	5,068,783		5,293,008		5,161,043		5,360,180
Non Strategic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	18,627		24,006		38,662		48,928
Provision/(provision credit) for loan losses	1,799		10,172		19,284		25,598
Noninterest income	8,722		15,077		21,538		41,429
Noninterest expense	21,464		303,776		52,413		382,505
Income/(loss) before income taxes	4,086		(274,865)		(11,497)		(317,746)
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	1,572		(105,823)		(4,423)		(122,331)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations	2,514		(169,042)		(7,074)		(195,415)
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1		487		431		52
Net income/(loss)	2,515		(168,555)		(6,643)		(195,363)
Average assets	$ 4,166,859		$ 4,979,769		$ 4,270,448		$ 5,084,770

[1] Due to the nature of the preferred stock issued by FHN and its subsidiaries, all components of Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax have been attributed solely to FHN as the controlling interest holder.