Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

The following table displays a reconciliation of the information used in calculating basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Nine Months Ended September 30,				Three Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2012		2011		2012	2011
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$	62,202	(131,490	)	16,030	15,667
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	786,429		785,267		786,576	785,280
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.08	(0.17	)	0.02	0.02
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$	62,202	(131,490	)	16,030	15,667
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	786,429		785,267		786,576	785,280
Add:
Effect of dilutive share based awards	439		(a)		971	2,669
Effect of tMEDS settlement	122,849		(a)		122,849	122,867
Weighted average number of diluted common shares	909,717		785,267		910,396	911,247
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.07	(0.17	)	0.02	0.02

^(a) Synovus reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. For this period, diluted loss per share equals basic loss per share pursuant to ASC 260-10-45 as the effect of settling share based awards and tMEDS contracts would be anti-dilutive. For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2012, the number of anti-dilutive shares was 25.3 million and 24.8 million, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, the number of anti-dilutive shares was 18.1 million.

Basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share reflects the dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted. The dilutive effect of outstanding options and restricted shares is reflected in diluted earnings (loss) per share, unless the impact is anti-dilutive, by application of the treasury stock method.