Share-Based Compensation (Grants Under All Synovus Equity Compensation Plan) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Shareholder Approved Equity Compensation Plans for Shares of Synovus Stock [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 2007 Omnibus Plan [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Non-Shareholder Approved Equity Compensation Plans [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Assumed in Mergers [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] Shareholder Approved Equity Compensation Plans for Shares of Synovus Stock [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] Non-Shareholder Approved Equity Compensation Plans [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of securities to be issued upon vesting of restricted share units												6,442,979	[1]	4,527,975	880,401	74,815	6,442,979	[1]	0	[1]
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options	19,103,267	[1]			19,103,267	[1]			0	[1]
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options in column (b)	$ 8.41	[1]			$ 8.41	[1]			$ 0.00	[1]
Number of shares remaining available for issuance excluding shares reflected in columns (a) and (b)	23,855,801	[1]			23,855,801	[1],[2]	23,855,801	[1]	0	[1]
Options exercised, shares	13,296,595		14,365,773	16,879,440							186,438
Options granted, weighted-average exercise price (per share)	$ 2.05		$ 0.00	$ 2.80							$ 7.46

[1] Does not include information for equity compensation plans assumed by Synovus in mergers. A total of 186,438 shares of Common Stock were issuable upon exercise of options granted under plans assumed in mergers and outstanding at December 31, 2012. The weighted average exercise price of all options granted under plans assumed in mergers and outstanding at December 31, 2012 was $7.46. Synovus cannot grant additional awards under these assumed plans.

[2] Includes 23,855,801 shares available for future grants as share awards under the 2007 Omnibus Plan.