Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses Activity in the Allowance for Credit Losses (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2011
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance, Beginning Balance	$ 268,633	$ 280,377	$ 275,498	$ 257,553	$ 271,200
Loans charged off	(32,897)	(38,797)	(119,101)	(100,321)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off	2,081	3,294	7,420	7,642
Net loans charged off	(30,816)	(35,503)	(111,681)	(92,679)
Provision for credit losses	31,000	40,000	105,000	120,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance, Ending Balance	$ 268,817	$ 284,874	$ 268,817	$ 284,874	$ 271,200

Recoveries of debt previously charged off

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Namespace Prefix:	fult
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the increase in the allowance account attributable to collections of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially charged off as bad debts.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	fult
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the gross amount charged against earnings during the period as credit losses (bad debt expense) based on review of the loan and lease portfolio and application of the methodology for estimating credit losses.

+ 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 210.9-03.7(d))

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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 114

-Paragraph 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 9

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph d

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the amount of loans and leases that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953423-111524

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

+ Details

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