Notes payable (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Others	$ 19,629us-gaap_OtherNotesPayable	$ 19,830us-gaap_OtherNotesPayable
Notes Payable	1,757,313us-gaap_NotesPayable	1,711,828us-gaap_NotesPayable
Fixed Rate 045 To 419 Percent Advances Due 2015 To 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances Long Term	847,884	802,198
Fixed Rate 700 Percent Notes Due July 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Long Term Notes	450,000	450,000
Fixed Rate 6125 To 8327 Percent Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures Due 2027 To 2034 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Junior Subordinated Debenture Owed To Unconsolidated Subsidiary Trust	$ 439,800	$ 439,800

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Including both current and noncurrent portions, Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings initially due beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle if longer.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, the carrying value of junior subordinated long-term debt owed to unconsolidated subsidiary trusts as of the balance sheet date. Such debt places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets and was initially scheduled to be repaid after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle if longer.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of all types of notes payable, as of the balance sheet date, with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, the carrying value of notes payable which were initially due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, and which are not otherwise defined in the taxonomy.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion. Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

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