Stock Based Compensation Plan Stock-based Compensation Plan (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]

The following table presents a summary of restricted stock transactions for the years indicated:

	Number of Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (Per Share)
Unvested restricted stock, December 31, 2011	1,675,730		$	30.53
Granted	226,400		23.77
Shares issued by the Company upon vesting	(195,871	)	21.69
Forfeited	(7,978	)	22.31
Unvested restricted stock, December 31, 2012	1,698,281		30.68
Granted	673,900		29.06
Shares issued by the Company upon vesting	(819,461	)	24.84
Forfeited	(336,196	)	48.92
Unvested restricted stock, December 31, 2013	1,216,524		28.69
Granted	1,129,805		40.37
Shares issued by the Company upon vesting	(1,183,024	)	28.53
Forfeited	(54,800	)	38.97
Unvested restricted stock, December 31, 2014	1,108,505		$	40.37

Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Restricted Stock Units, Vested and Expected to Vest [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes information about outstanding time-based restricted stock awards as of the date indicated:

	December 31, 2014
		Weighted				Weighted
		Average		Weighted		Average
	Number	Grant Date		Average		Remaining
	of Shares	Fair Value		Fair Value(1)		Contractual
	Outstanding	(Per Share)		(In thousands)		Life (Years)
Time-based restricted stock granted in:
2013	27,000	$	35.08	$	1,228	1.6
2014	1,081,505	$	40.37	49,165		1.6
Outstanding time-based restricted stock awards	1,108,505	$	40.37	$	50,393	1.6

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(1) Determined using the $45.46 closing price of PacWest common stock on December 31, 2014.