LOANS AND LEASES (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses on Non-Covered Loans and Leases:
Balance, beginning of period	$ 72,061	$ 96,427	$ 85,313	$ 98,653
Charge-offs	(2,127)	(6,584)	(9,356)	(25,043)
Recoveries	1,108	567	2,585	3,950
Provision	(1,900)	(300)	(9,400)	12,550
Balance, end of period	69,142	90,110	69,142	90,110
The ending balance of the allowance is composed of amounts applicable to loans and leases:
Individually evaluated for impairment	14,352	16,799	14,352	16,799
Collectively evaluated for impairment	54,790	73,311	54,790	73,311
Non-Covered Loan and Lease Balances:
Ending balance	3,053,081	2,897,820	3,053,081	2,897,820	2,812,105
Individually evaluated for impairment	149,819	146,373	149,819	146,373
Collectively evaluated for impairment	2,903,262	2,751,447	2,903,262	2,751,447
Real estate mortgage
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses on Non-Covered Loans and Leases:
Balance, beginning of period	42,236	53,540	50,205	51,657
Charge-offs	(1,118)	(4,293)	(5,891)	(9,859)
Recoveries	845	225	1,217	349
Provision	(3,226)	2,341	(6,794)	9,666
Balance, end of period	38,737	51,813	38,737	51,813
The ending balance of the allowance is composed of amounts applicable to loans and leases:
Individually evaluated for impairment	5,568	6,399	5,568	6,399
Collectively evaluated for impairment	33,169	45,414	33,169	45,414
Non-Covered Loan and Lease Balances:
Ending balance	1,928,890	2,031,893	1,928,890	2,031,893	1,982,464
Individually evaluated for impairment	99,137	91,495	99,137	91,495
Collectively evaluated for impairment	1,829,753	1,940,398	1,829,753	1,940,398
Real estate construction
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses on Non-Covered Loans and Leases:
Balance, beginning of period	5,496	11,185	8,697	8,766
Charge-offs	(492)		(492)	(5,838)
Recoveries	11	33	35	1,021
Provision	1,582	(885)	(1,643)	6,384
Balance, end of period	6,597	10,333	6,597	10,333
The ending balance of the allowance is composed of amounts applicable to loans and leases:
Individually evaluated for impairment	2,468	3,363	2,468	3,363
Collectively evaluated for impairment	4,129	6,970	4,129	6,970
Non-Covered Loan and Lease Balances:
Ending balance	152,748	152,411	152,748	152,411	113,059
Individually evaluated for impairment	31,792	32,621	31,792	32,621
Collectively evaluated for impairment	120,956	119,790	120,956	119,790
Commercial
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses on Non-Covered Loans and Leases:
Balance, beginning of period	21,979	28,259	23,308	33,229
Charge-offs	(492)	(2,237)	(2,715)	(7,967)
Recoveries	218	235	1,232	1,160
Provision	(685)	(925)	(805)	(1,090)
Balance, end of period	21,020	25,332	21,020	25,332
The ending balance of the allowance is composed of amounts applicable to loans and leases:
Individually evaluated for impairment	6,051	7,035	6,051	7,035
Collectively evaluated for impairment	14,969	18,297	14,969	18,297
Non-Covered Loan and Lease Balances:
Ending balance	772,768	671,963	772,768	671,963	671,939
Individually evaluated for impairment	17,847	21,692	17,847	21,692
Collectively evaluated for impairment	754,921	650,271	754,921	650,271
Leases
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses on Non-Covered Loans and Leases:
Balance, beginning of period	498
Provision	629		1,127
Balance, end of period	1,127		1,127
The ending balance of the allowance is composed of amounts applicable to loans and leases:
Collectively evaluated for impairment	1,127		1,127
Non-Covered Loan and Lease Balances:
Ending balance	161,934		161,934
Individually evaluated for impairment	420		420
Collectively evaluated for impairment	161,514		161,514
Consumer
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses on Non-Covered Loans and Leases:
Balance, beginning of period	1,735	2,910	2,768	4,652
Charge-offs	(25)	(54)	(258)	(1,379)
Recoveries	32	74	79	1,375
Provision	(188)	(642)	(1,035)	(2,360)
Balance, end of period	1,554	2,288	1,554	2,288
The ending balance of the allowance is composed of amounts applicable to loans and leases:
Individually evaluated for impairment	265	2	265	2
Collectively evaluated for impairment	1,289	2,286	1,289	2,286
Non-Covered Loan and Lease Balances:
Ending balance	20,615	20,621	20,615	20,621	23,711
Individually evaluated for impairment	623	565	623	565
Collectively evaluated for impairment	19,992	20,056	19,992	20,056
Foreign
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses on Non-Covered Loans and Leases:
Balance, beginning of period	117	533	335	349
Recoveries	2		22	45
Provision	(120)	(189)	(250)	(50)
Balance, end of period	107	344	107	344
The ending balance of the allowance is composed of amounts applicable to loans and leases:
Collectively evaluated for impairment	107	344	107	344
Non-Covered Loan and Lease Balances:
Ending balance	16,126	20,932	16,126	20,932	20,932
Collectively evaluated for impairment	$ 16,126	$ 20,932	$ 16,126	$ 20,932