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Share-based Compensation
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]  
Share-based Compensation
Note 12 - 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. At September 30, 2015, Synovus had a total of 7.1 million shares of its authorized but unissued common stock reserved for future grants under the 2013 Omnibus Plan. 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. 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. Stock options are granted at exercise prices which equal the fair value of a share of common stock on the grant-date. 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
Share-based compensation costs associated with employee grants are recorded as a component of salaries and other personnel expense in the consolidated statements of income. Share-based compensation costs associated with grants made to non-employee directors of Synovus are recorded as a component of other operating expenses. Total share-based compensation expense was $9.5 million and $3.2 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and $7.5 million and $2.8 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.
Stock Options
No stock option grants were made during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. At September 30, 2015, there were 1.8 million outstanding options to purchase shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $37.36.

Restricted Share Units, Performance Share Units, and Market Restricted Share Units
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, Synovus awarded 320 thousand restricted share units that have a service-based vesting period of three years and awarded 82 thousand performance share units that vest upon service and performance conditions. Synovus also granted 82 thousand market restricted share units during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The weighted average grant-date fair value of the awarded restricted share units, performance share units and market restricted share units was $28.30 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) 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). 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 (TSR). At September 30, 2015, including dividend equivalents granted, there were 1.1 million restricted share units, performance share units and market restricted share units outstanding with a weighted average grant-date fair value of $24.92.