Interest Income and Interest Expense (Schedule of Interest Income and Expense of Continuing Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2010	Apr. 30, 2009
Interest income	$ 134,153	$ 122,405	$ 154,516
Interest expense	95,435	90,569	102,375
Mortgage Loans [Member]
Interest income	24,693	31,877	46,396
Emerald Advance Lines of Credit [Member]
Interest income	94,300	77,891	91,019
Investment Securities [Member]
Interest income	1,609	2,318	4,896
Interest Income Other [Member]
Interest income	13,551	10,319	12,205
Borrowings [Member]
Interest expense	85,421	78,398	83,193
Deposits [Member]
Interest expense	8,488	10,174	14,069
FHLB Advances [Member]
Interest expense	$ 1,526	$ 1,997	$ 5,113