Share-based Compensation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation	Note 11 - Share-based Compensation General Description of Share-based Plans Synovus has a long-term incentive plan under which the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the authority to grant share-based awards to Synovus employees. The 2013 Omnibus Plan authorizes 8.6 million common share equivalents available for grant, where grants of options count as one share equivalent and grants of full value awards (e.g., restricted share units, market restricted share units, and performance share units) count as two share equivalents. Any restricted share units that are forfeited and options that expire unexercised will again become available for issuance under the Plan. At March 31, 2018, Synovus had a total of 4.9 million shares of its authorized but unissued common stock reserved for future grants under the 2013 Omnibus Plan. The Plan permits grants of share-based compensation including stock options, restricted share units, market restricted share units, and performance share units. The grants generally include vesting periods ranging from three to five years and contractual terms of ten years. Vesting for grants made in 2018 accelerates upon retirement for plan participants who have reached age 65 and who also have no less than 10 years of service at the date of their election to retire. Market restricted share units and performance share units are granted at a defined target level and are compared annually to required market and performance metrics to determine actual units vested and compensation expense. Synovus has historically issued new shares to satisfy share option exercises and share unit conversions. Dividend equivalents are paid on outstanding restricted share units, market restricted share units, and performance share units in the form of additional restricted share units that vest over the same vesting period or the vesting period left on the original restricted share unit grant. Share-based Compensation Expense Total share-based compensation expense was $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Accelerated share-based compensation expense associated with the provision in 2018 of a retirement vesting provision was approximately $170 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018 for retirement eligible employees. Stock Options No stock option grants were made during the three months ended March 31, 2018. At March 31, 2018, there were 693 thousand outstanding stock options to purchase shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $16.94 per share. Restricted Share Units, Performance Share Units, and Market Restricted Share Units During the three months ended March 31, 2018, Synovus awarded 213 thousand restricted share units that have a service-based vesting period of three years and awarded 87 thousand performance share units that vest upon service and performance conditions. Synovus also granted 58 thousand market restricted share units during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The weighted average grant-date fair value of the awarded restricted share units, performance share units and market restricted share units was $47.43 per share. Market restricted share units and performance share units are granted at target and are compared annually to required market and performance metrics. The performance share units vest upon meeting certain service and performance conditions. Return on average assets (ROAA) and return on average tangible common equity (ROATCE) performance is evaluated each year over a three-year performance period, with share distribution determined at the end of the three years. The number of performance share units that will ultimately vest ranges from 0% to 150% of target based on Synovus' three-year weighted average ROAA (as defined) and ROATCE (as defined). The market restricted share units have a three-year service-based vesting component as well as a total shareholder return multiplier. The number of market restricted share units that will ultimately vest ranges from 75% to 125% of target based on Synovus' total shareholder return. At March 31, 2018, including dividend equivalents granted, there were 921 thousand restricted share units, performance share units and market restricted share units outstanding with a weighted average grant-date fair value of $39.94 per share.

Note 11 - Share-based Compensation

General Description of Share-based Plans

Synovus has a long-term incentive plan under which the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the authority to grant share-based awards to Synovus employees. The 2013 Omnibus Plan authorizes 8.6 million common share equivalents available for grant, where grants of options count as one share equivalent and grants of full value awards (e.g., restricted share units, market restricted share units, and performance share units) count as two share equivalents. Any restricted share units that are forfeited and options that expire unexercised will again become available for issuance under the Plan. At March 31, 2018, Synovus had a total of 4.9 million shares of its authorized but unissued common stock reserved for future grants under the 2013 Omnibus Plan. The Plan permits grants of share-based compensation including stock options, restricted share units, market restricted share units, and performance share units. The grants generally include vesting periods ranging from three to five years and contractual terms of ten years. Vesting for grants made in 2018 accelerates upon retirement for plan participants who have reached age 65 and who also have no less than 10 years of service at the date of their election to retire. Market restricted share units and performance share units are granted at a defined target level and are compared annually to required market and performance metrics to determine actual units vested and compensation expense. Synovus has historically issued new shares to satisfy share option exercises and share unit conversions. Dividend equivalents are paid on outstanding restricted share units, market restricted share units, and performance share units in the form of additional restricted share units that vest over the same vesting period or the vesting period left on the original restricted share unit grant.

Share-based Compensation Expense

Total share-based compensation expense was $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Accelerated share-based compensation expense associated with the provision in 2018 of a retirement vesting provision was approximately $170 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018 for retirement eligible employees.

Stock Options

No stock option grants were made during the three months ended March 31, 2018. At March 31, 2018, there were 693 thousand outstanding stock options to purchase shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $16.94 per share.

Restricted Share Units, Performance Share Units, and Market Restricted Share Units

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, Synovus awarded 213 thousand restricted share units that have a service-based vesting period of three years and awarded 87 thousand performance share units that vest upon service and performance conditions. Synovus also granted 58 thousand market restricted share units during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The weighted average grant-date fair value of the awarded restricted share units, performance share units and market restricted share units was $47.43 per share. Market restricted share units and performance share units are granted at target and are compared annually to required market and performance metrics. The performance share units vest upon meeting certain service and performance conditions. Return on average assets (ROAA) and return on average tangible common equity (ROATCE) performance is evaluated each year over a three-year performance period, with share distribution determined at the end of the three years. The number of performance share units that will ultimately vest ranges from 0% to 150% of target based on Synovus' three-year weighted average ROAA (as defined) and ROATCE (as defined). The market restricted share units have a three-year service-based vesting component as well as a total shareholder return multiplier. The number of market restricted share units that will ultimately vest ranges from 75% to 125% of target based on Synovus' total shareholder return. At March 31, 2018, including dividend equivalents granted, there were 921 thousand restricted share units, performance share units and market restricted share units outstanding with a weighted average grant-date fair value of $39.94 per share.