Loans - Changes in Accretable Yield for Covered Loans (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 223,799	$ 169,309
Accretion	(13,934)	(16,235)
Net increase in expected cash flows	0	64
Balance, end of period	$ 209,865	$ 153,138

Amount of the excess of a loan's cash flows expected to be collected over the investor's initial investment in acquired loans not accounted for as debt securities with evidence of deterioration of credit quality.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 15

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27045933&loc=d3e13503-111538

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease from accretion of the excess of a loan's cash flows expected to be collected over the investor's initial investment in acquired loans not accounted for as debt securities with evidence of deterioration of credit quality.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReceivablesAbstract
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- Definition

This item represents an additional accretion from re-forecasted estimated cash flows.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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