Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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Amount before tax of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale.

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This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

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Amount of accumulated unrealized loss on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale in a continuous loss position.

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Number of investment positions in available-for-sale investments in a continuous unrealized loss position for which an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has not been recognized in the income statement.

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The fair value of available-for-sale securities that serve as collateral for borrowings.

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The net gain (loss) realized from the sale, exchange, redemption, or retirement of securities, not separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity.

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The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of an investment. A gain would be recognized when the sale price of the investment is greater than the carrying value of the investment. This element refers to the Gain included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale.

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No definition available.

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Amount after other than temporary impairment (OTTI) accretion, of investments in debt securities classified as held-to-maturity.

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Disclosure regarding factors used to determine that the impairment of securities categorized as held-to-maturity where cost exceeds fair value is not an other than temporary impairment (OTTI). This item contains disclosure of the number of investment positions in the held-to-maturity investments determined to be temporarily impaired.

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The carrying amount of held-to-maturity securities that serve as collateral for borrowings.

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Amount of operating dividend and interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts, on trading securities and other forms of securities that provide ownership interests.

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The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of an investment. A loss would be recognized when the sale price of the investment is less than the carrying value of the investment. This element refers to the Loss included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale.

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No definition available.

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The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).

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Amount of investments in debt and equity securities and other forms of securities that provide ownership interests classified as trading.

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This amount represents amortized cost of securities sold during the reporting period.

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No definition available.

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Weighted-average remaining expected life of residential mortgage-backed securities available for sale

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Weighted-average remaining expected life of residential mortgage-backed securities held to maturity

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Investment Securities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 Security	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 Security	Dec. 31, 2013
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Held to Maturity, Amortized Cost	$ 1,825,819,000us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities		$ 1,778,316,000us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
Loss on Sale of Investments	947,000us-gaap_LossOnSaleOfInvestments	0us-gaap_LossOnSaleOfInvestments
Available for sale	843,518,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities		886,970,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Fair value of trading securities	0us-gaap_TradingSecurities		14,233,000us-gaap_TradingSecurities
Number of security positions in the securities held to maturity portfolio in an unrealized loss position	72		57
Fair value of investments held to maturity pledged as collateral	902,000,000
Weighted-average remaining expected life of residential mortgage-backed securities held to maturity, years	6 years 8 months
Amortized cost	843,044,000		889,958,000
Gross unrealized losses	9,047,000		12,331,000
Gross unrealized losses	9,047,000		12,331,000
Fair value of securities available for sale pledged as collateral	396,700,000
Weighted-average remaining expected life of residential mortgage-backed securities available for sale, years	5 years 2 months 5 days
Gains (losses) on securities transactions, net	2,416,000us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfSecuritiesNet	(8,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfSecuritiesNet
Interest income on trading securities	213,000	290,000
Amortized Cost		25,852,000vly_AmortizedCost
Gross gains, Sales transactions	3,274,000us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments	0us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments
The credit loss component of cumulative other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings	6,421,000	9,792,000	8,947,000	9,990,000
Number of security positions in the securities available for sale portfolio in an unrealized loss position	83		96
Corporate and Other Debt Securities [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Held to Maturity, Amortized Cost	9,800,000
Trust Preferred Securities Subject to Mandatory Redemption [Member] \| Previously Other-Than-Temporarily Impaired Securities [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Available for sale	2,000,000
Amortized cost	2,800,000
Trust Preferred Securities [Member] \| Non-Rated [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Number of security positions in the securities held to maturity portfolio in an unrealized loss position	4
Pooled Trust Preferred Securities [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Available for sale	8,500,000
Amortized cost	10,600,000
Number of security positions in the securities available for sale portfolio in an unrealized loss position	2		2
Pooled Trust Preferred Securities [Member] \| Investment Grade [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses	1,400,000
Number of security positions in the securities available for sale portfolio in an unrealized loss position	1
Three Private Label Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Available for sale	13,400,000
Amortized cost	13,300,000
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Held to Maturity, Amortized Cost	490,757,000		500,018,000
Available for sale	44,207,000		44,051,000
Amortized cost	44,432,000		44,500,000
Gross unrealized losses	440,000		576,000
Gross unrealized losses	440,000		576,000
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Held to Maturity, Amortized Cost	1,059,278,000		986,992,000
Available for sale	617,715,000		644,276,000
Amortized cost	615,880,000		643,382,000
Gross unrealized losses	4,246,000		4,960,000
Gross unrealized losses	4,246,000		4,960,000
Pooled Trust Preferred Securities Sold [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Available for sale	2,600,000
Trust Preferred Securities Subject to Mandatory Redemption [Member]
Investment Securities [Line Items]
Available for sale	$ 8,300,000