NON-COVERED LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Allowance for loan losses on non-covered loans	$ (249,268)		$ (241,930)
Non-covered loans, net	19,097,117		15,412,715
Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	19,351,556	[1]	15,678,317	[1]
Unearned fees, premiums and discounts, net	(5,171)		(23,672)
Allowance for loan losses on non-covered loans	(249,268)		(241,930)
Non-covered loans, net	19,097,117		15,412,715
Residential | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	4,649,295		4,185,309
Residential | Single-family | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	3,472,725		3,192,875
Residential | Multifamily | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	1,176,570		992,434
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	5,949,350		4,585,077
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Income producing | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	5,463,209		4,301,030
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Construction | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	287,341		140,186
Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") | Land | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	198,800		143,861
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	7,283,658		5,360,193
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") | Commercial Business | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	6,539,640		4,637,056
Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") | Trade finance | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	744,018		723,137
Consumer | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	1,469,253		1,547,738
Consumer | Student loans | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	93,179		679,220
Consumer | Other Consumer | Non-covered loans
Non-Covered loans receivable disclosures
Non-Covered Loans	$ 1,376,074		$ 868,518

[1] Loans net of ASC 310-30 discount.