Business Segment Information (Amounts Of Consolidated Revenue, Expense, Tax And Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 number		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	$ 158,838		$ 173,465		$ 480,239		$ 518,069
Provision/(provision credit) for loan losses	10,000		40,000		40,000		63,000
Noninterest income	150,475		163,538		449,534		524,886
Noninterest expense	433,556		263,169		901,504		1,112,340
Income/(loss) before income taxes	(134,243)		33,834		(11,731)		(132,385)
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	(31,094)		5,260		1,644		(72,348)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations	(103,149)		28,574		(13,375)		(60,037)
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	123	[1]	108	[1]	554	[1]	160	[1]
Net income/(loss)	(103,026)		28,682		(12,821)		(59,877)
Average assets	24,192,606		25,089,754		24,619,958		25,101,544
Number of Operating Segments	4
Regional Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	148,511		151,136		441,903		447,248
Provision/(provision credit) for loan losses	5,159		2,927		15,875		329
Noninterest income	63,884		64,235		184,928		189,324
Noninterest expense	131,438		141,576		390,723		425,480
Income/(loss) before income taxes	75,798		70,868		220,233		210,763
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	27,359		25,727		79,510		76,509
Net income/(loss)	48,439		45,141		140,723		134,254
Average assets	12,922,737		12,935,133		12,939,436		12,509,334
Capital Markets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	3,756		4,753		11,687		16,041
Noninterest income	64,115		80,817		208,926		262,560
Noninterest expense	58,036		64,602		179,631		205,844
Income/(loss) before income taxes	9,835		20,968		40,982		72,757
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	3,703		7,899		15,432		27,540
Net income/(loss)	6,132		13,069		25,550		45,217
Average assets	2,116,415		2,232,047		2,342,728		2,322,656
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	(10,333)		(6,096)		(28,917)		(17,820)
Noninterest income	6,558		7,904		18,224		20,991
Noninterest expense	21,584		21,538		56,239		63,058
Income/(loss) before income taxes	(25,359)		(19,730)		(66,932)		(59,887)
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	(16,024)		(13,632)		(42,743)		(39,332)
Net income/(loss)	(9,335)		(6,098)		(24,189)		(20,555)
Average assets	5,166,039		5,149,235		5,162,727		5,289,352
Non Strategic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income	16,904		23,672		55,566		72,600
Provision/(provision credit) for loan losses	4,841		37,073		24,125		62,671
Noninterest income	15,918		10,582		37,456		52,011
Noninterest expense	222,498		35,453		274,911		417,958
Income/(loss) before income taxes	(194,517)		(38,272)		(206,014)		(356,018)
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	(46,132)		(14,734)		(50,555)		(137,065)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations	(148,385)		(23,538)		(155,459)		(218,953)
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	123		108		554		160
Net income/(loss)	(148,262)		(23,430)		(154,905)		(218,793)
Average assets	$ 3,987,415		$ 4,773,339		$ 4,175,067		$ 4,980,202

[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.