Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Preferred stock	Common stock	Common stock issuable	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net	Treasury stock
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 8,357,695	$ 740,657	$ 60,198	$ 4,189	$ 2,398,615	$ 5,426,701	$ (205,220)	$ (67,445)
Total comprehensive income	505,082					528,631	(23,549)
Acquisition of Wilmington Trust Corporation - common stock issued	405,557		2,348		403,209
Partial redemption of Series A preferred stock	(370,000)	(370,000)
Conversion of Series B preferred stock into 433,144 shares of common stock		(26,500)	192		21,754			4,554
Issuance of Series D preferred stock	495,000	500,000			(5,000)
Preferred stock cash dividends	(20,046)					(20,046)
Amortization of preferred stock discount		16,744				(16,744)
Stock-based compensation plans:
Compensation expense, net	21,311		27		(10,382)			31,666
Exercises of stock options, net	21,170		12		(8,948)			30,106
Directors' stock plan	563				(49)			612
Deferred compensation plans, net, including dividend equivalents	35			(159)	(219)	(94)		507
Other	1,022				1,022
Common stock cash dividends - $1.40 per share	(173,195)					(173,195)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	9,244,194	860,901	62,777	4,030	2,800,002	5,745,253	(228,769)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	9,271,209	864,585	62,842	4,072	2,828,986	5,867,165	(356,441)
Total comprehensive income	518,435					439,843	78,592
Preferred stock cash dividends	(26,725)					(26,725)
Amortization of preferred stock discount		3,848				(3,848)
Stock-based compensation plans:
Compensation expense, net	18,505		216		18,289
Exercises of stock options, net	25,139		227		24,912
Directors' stock plan	768		4		764
Deferred compensation plans, net, including dividend equivalents	(169)		5	(643)	549	(80)
Other	1,016				1,016
Common stock cash dividends - $1.40 per share	(178,271)					(178,271)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 9,629,907	$ 868,433	$ 63,294	$ 3,429	$ 2,874,516	$ 6,098,084	$ (277,849)