Commitments and contingencies (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Commitments and contingencies [Abstract]

Company's significant commitments

	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Commitments to extend credit
Home equity lines of credit	$	6,369,114		6,393,332
Commercial real estate loans to be sold		134,471		177,982
Other commercial real estate and construction		3,138,855		2,818,071
Residential real estate loans to be sold		771,278		182,474
Other residential real estate		438,197		129,466
Commercial and other		10,004,023		10,442,754
Standby letters of credit		3,811,819		3,930,271
Commercial letters of credit		56,725		44,981
Financial guarantees and indemnification contracts		1,895,755		1,903,254
Commitments to sell real estate loans		1,068,940		635,899