Commitments and contingencies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Commitments and contingencies [Abstract]

Company's significant commitments

	September 30, 2011		December 31, 2010
	(in thousands)
Commitments to extend credit
Home equity lines of credit	$	6,428,783		6,281,366
Commercial real estate loans to be sold		55,622		72,930
Other commercial real estate and construction		2,978,229		1,672,006
Residential real estate loans to be sold		227,178		161,583
Other residential real estate		199,734		151,111
Commercial and other		10,967,112		8,332,199
Standby letters of credit		3,878,609		3,917,318
Commercial letters of credit		41,567		76,962
Financial guarantees and indemnification contracts		2,045,661		1,609,944
Commitments to sell real estate loans		445,207		734,696