Stock Compensation and Share Repurchase Plan (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 18, 2014	Nov. 30, 2014	Apr. 16, 2013
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Stock options granted	0	0
Shares issued from exercise of warrants	2,889,996
Common stock, shares authorized	400,000,000	200,000,000		400,000,000
Compensation cost	$ 15,292,000	$ 5,017,000	$ 4,041,000
Accelerated compensation expense	2,800,000
Cash received from exercise of stock options	4,600,000	159,000	831,000
Income tax benefits received	6,300,000	1,700,000	1,200,000
Net tax benefit from stock options exercised	1,200,000
Tax deficiency from stock options exercised		148,000	59,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares		98,027	512,280
2013 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Shares of common stock for issuance under the plan						4,000,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock awards	8,300,000
Expected recognized over a weighted-average period, years	2 years 3 months 13 days
Total fair value of restricted stock shares/units vested and released	4,769,000	0	0
Cancellation Of Restricted Stock Units To Pay Withholding	129,766	0
Stock Repurchase Plan [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program Number Of Shares Authorized, Amended	15,000,000
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased	12,013,429
Stock Options [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Compensation cost	12,500,000	5,000,000	4,000,000
Total income tax benefit recognized related to stock-based compensation	4,800,000	1,900,000	1,600,000
Aggregate Intrinsic Value	2,500,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	3 years 8 months
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	3,100,000	2,300,000	1,200,000
Stock option compensation cost	3,100,000	6,400,000	981,000
Stock Repurchase Program Number Of Shares Tendered	161,568	438,136
Nonvested Stock [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock awards	320,000
Expected recognized over a weighted-average period, years	1 year 7 months 17 days
Restricted Stock [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock awards	10,500,000
Expected recognized over a weighted-average period, years	1 year 3 months
Fair value of restricted shares	7,100,000	2,000,000	1,900,000
Cancellation Of Restricted Stock Shares To Pay Withholding	107,131	48,514
Prior To 2011 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Share-based compensation award, vesting period	5 years
Subsequent To 2011 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Share-based compensation award, vesting period	3 years
Sterling Financial Corporation [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Common shares issued				104,385,087
Stock options granted				439,921
Warrants outstanding				2,960,238
Equity issuable, share conversion ratio				1.671
Exercise price of warrants (usd per share)				$ 12.88
Shares issued from exercise of warrants					2,889,896
Value of shares issued from exercise of warrants					$ 6,600,000
Sterling Financial Corporation [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Shareholders Equity and Share-Based Payments [Line Items]
Restricted stock units granted				994,214
Equity issuable, share conversion ratio				1.7896