LOANS AND LEASES (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	$ 2,958,321	$ 3,049,505	$ 2,868,220
Real estate mortgage
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	1,796,484	1,917,670	1,896,052
Real estate mortgage | Hospitality
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	172,472	181,144
Real estate mortgage | SBA 504
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	55,403	54,158
Real estate mortgage | Other
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	1,568,609	1,682,368
Real estate construction
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	126,707	129,959	118,304
Real estate construction | Residential
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	43,073	48,629
Real estate construction | Commercial
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	83,634	81,330
Commercial
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	794,419	787,775	665,441
Commercial | Collateralized
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	432,652	453,176
Commercial | Unsecured
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	78,428	69,844
Commercial | Asset-based
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	258,264	239,430
Commercial | SBA 7(a)
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	25,075	25,325
Leases
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	204,766	174,373	153,845
Consumer
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	18,677	22,487	15,826
Foreign
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	17,268	17,241	18,752
Nonaccrual
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	41,893	39,284
Nonaccrual | Real estate mortgage
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	29,804	25,819
Nonaccrual | Real estate mortgage | Hospitality
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	6,823	6,908
Nonaccrual | Real estate mortgage | SBA 504
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	2,936	2,982
Nonaccrual | Real estate mortgage | Other
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	20,045	15,929
Nonaccrual | Real estate construction
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	2,493	3,772
Nonaccrual | Real estate construction | Residential
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	1,046	1,057
Nonaccrual | Real estate construction | Commercial
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	1,447	2,715
Nonaccrual | Commercial
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	8,925	9,024
Nonaccrual | Commercial | Collateralized
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	3,306	2,648
Nonaccrual | Commercial | Unsecured
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	1,471	2,019
Nonaccrual | Commercial | Asset-based
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	281	176
Nonaccrual | Commercial | SBA 7(a)
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	3,867	4,181
Nonaccrual | Leases
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	244	244
Nonaccrual | Consumer
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	427	425
Performing
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	2,916,428	3,010,221
Performing | Real estate mortgage
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	1,766,680	1,891,851
Performing | Real estate mortgage | Hospitality
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	165,649	174,236
Performing | Real estate mortgage | SBA 504
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	52,467	51,176
Performing | Real estate mortgage | Other
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	1,548,564	1,666,439
Performing | Real estate construction
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	124,214	126,187
Performing | Real estate construction | Residential
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	42,027	47,572
Performing | Real estate construction | Commercial
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	82,187	78,615
Performing | Commercial
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	785,494	778,751
Performing | Commercial | Collateralized
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	429,346	450,528
Performing | Commercial | Unsecured
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	76,957	67,825
Performing | Commercial | Asset-based
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	257,983	239,254
Performing | Commercial | SBA 7(a)
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	21,208	21,144
Performing | Leases
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	204,522	174,129
Performing | Consumer
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	18,250	22,062
Performing | Foreign
Nonaccrual and performing non-covered loans by portfolio segment and class
Total non-covered loans and leases	$ 17,268	$ 17,241