BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Business segments
Number of reportable segments	3
Non-covered loans, net of unearned income	$ 2,956,897	$ 3,046,970	$ 2,865,283
Allowance for loan losses	(65,216)	(65,899)	(74,767)	(85,313)
Non-covered loans and leases, net	2,891,681	2,981,071	2,790,516
Covered loans, net	483,063	517,258	660,297
Total loans and leases, net	3,374,744	3,498,329	3,450,813
Goodwill	79,673	79,866	56,144
Core deposit and customer relationship intangibles, net	13,547	14,723	17,380
Total assets	5,299,905	5,463,658	5,448,108
Total deposits	4,553,230	4,709,121	4,556,670
Interest income	69,269	73,702	74,400
Other interest expense	(3,576)	(4,099)	(6,720)
Net interest income	65,693	69,603	67,680
(Provision) negative provision for credit losses:
Non-covered loans and leases			10,000
Covered loans	(3,137)	4,333	(3,926)
Total (provision) negative provision for credit losses	(3,137)	4,333	6,074
Noninterest income	2,840	2,057	3,262
Intangible asset amortization	(1,176)	(1,176)	(1,735)
Debt termination expense			(22,598)
Other noninterest expense	(43,007)	(42,349)	(44,562)
Total noninterest expense	(44,183)	(43,525)	(68,895)
Earnings before income taxes	21,213	32,468	8,121
Income taxes (expense) benefit	(7,719)	(12,576)	(2,857)
Net earnings	13,494	19,892	5,264
Banking
Business segments
Non-covered loans, net of unearned income	2,492,159		2,563,893
Allowance for loan losses	(60,079)		(72,062)
Non-covered loans and leases, net	2,432,080		2,491,831
Covered loans, net	483,063		660,297
Total loans and leases, net	2,915,143		3,152,128
Goodwill	53,995		39,140
Core deposit and customer relationship intangibles, net	11,159		15,707
Total assets	4,773,916		5,087,364
Total deposits	4,580,514		4,569,708
Interest income	56,907	61,834	65,483
Intersegment interest income (expense)	471	448	523
Other interest expense	(2,650)	(3,041)	(5,311)
Net interest income	54,728	59,241	60,695
(Provision) negative provision for credit losses:
Non-covered loans and leases	801	482	10,000
Covered loans	(3,137)	4,333	(3,926)
Total (provision) negative provision for credit losses	(2,336)	4,815	6,074
Noninterest income	2,273	359	2,058
Intangible asset amortization	(993)	(1,043)	(1,708)
Debt termination expense			(24,195)
Other noninterest expense	(35,538)	(34,343)	(38,352)
Total noninterest expense	(36,531)	(35,386)	(64,255)
Earnings before income taxes	18,134	29,029	4,572
Income taxes (expense) benefit	(6,430)	(11,130)	(1,358)
Net earnings	11,704	17,899	3,214
Asset Financing
Business segments
Non-covered loans, net of unearned income	464,738		301,390
Allowance for loan losses	(5,137)		(2,705)
Non-covered loans and leases, net	459,601		298,685
Total loans and leases, net	459,601		298,685
Goodwill	25,678		17,004
Core deposit and customer relationship intangibles, net	2,388		1,673
Total assets	504,554		342,743
Interest income	12,362	11,868	8,917
Intersegment interest income (expense)	(471)	(448)	(523)
Other interest expense	(143)	(226)	(218)
Net interest income	11,748	11,194	8,176
(Provision) negative provision for credit losses:
Non-covered loans and leases	(801)	(482)
Total (provision) negative provision for credit losses	(801)	(482)
Noninterest income	544	1,672	1,166
Intangible asset amortization	(183)	(133)	(27)
Other noninterest expense	(6,053)	(6,540)	(4,812)
Total noninterest expense	(6,236)	(6,673)	(4,839)
Earnings before income taxes	5,255	5,711	4,503
Income taxes (expense) benefit	(2,199)	(2,386)	(1,900)
Net earnings	3,056	3,325	2,603
Other
Business segments
Total assets	21,435		18,001
Total deposits	(27,284)		(13,038)
Other interest expense	(783)	(832)	(1,191)
Net interest income	(783)	(832)	(1,191)
(Provision) negative provision for credit losses:
Noninterest income	23	26	38
Debt termination expense			1,597
Other noninterest expense	(1,416)	(1,466)	(1,398)
Total noninterest expense	(1,416)	(1,466)	199
Earnings before income taxes	(2,176)	(2,272)	(954)
Income taxes (expense) benefit	910	940	401
Net earnings	$ (1,266)	$ (1,332)	$ (553)