Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 1,029,498	$ 859,479	$ 736,161
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Provision for credit losses	204,000	270,000	368,000
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment	84,375	80,304	67,677
Amortization of capitalized servicing rights	59,555	55,859	56,582
Amortization of core deposit and other intangible assets	60,631	61,617	58,103
Provision for deferred income taxes	131,858	33,924	51,068
Asset write-downs	63,790	170,632	101,106
Net gain on sales of assets	(6,868)	(187,120)	(10,426)
Net change in accrued interest receivable, payable	(13,898)	(27,508)	(9,942)
Net change in other accrued income and expense	(200,704)	147,465	144,705
Net change in loans originated for sale	(924,839)	238,156	202,089
Net change in trading account assets and liabilities	12,583	69,438	(89,476)
Net cash provided by operating activities	499,981	1,772,246	1,675,647
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sales of investment securities Available for sale	49,528	1,909,829	23,310
Proceeds from sales of investment securities Other	78,071	116,410	107,320
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities Available for sale	1,585,260	1,307,567	1,539,591
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities Held to maturity	329,279	272,841	248,087
Purchases of investment securities Available for sale	(28,161)	(3,491,759)	(440,560)
Purchases of investment securities Held to maturity	(285,125)	(28,454)	(1,003,796)
Purchases of investment securities Other	(13,833)	(30,727)	(7,647)
Net decrease in agreements to resell securities		15,000
Net increase in loans and leases	(5,672,747)	(2,233,600)	(201,854)
Net decrease in interest-bearing deposits at banks	25,015	2,552,527	32,113
Other investments, net	(18,224)	(29,306)	(52,179)
Capital expenditures, net	(91,519)	(70,008)	(70,458)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired Banks and bank holding companies		178,940	213,204
Purchase of Wilmington Trust Corporation preferred stock		(330,000)
Proceeds from sales of real estate acquired in settlement of loans	102,208	208,546	89,206
Other, net	(120,610)	21,126	(927)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(4,060,858)	368,932	475,410
Cash flows from financing activities
Net increase in deposits	6,230,391	742,653	1,879,491
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings	292,422	(313,050)	(1,522,646)
Payments on long-term borrowings	(2,080,167)	(1,809,984)	(2,514,342)
Dividends paid - common	(357,717)	(350,129)	(335,303)
Dividends paid - preferred	(53,450)	(48,203)	(40,225)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock		495,000
Redemption of preferred stock		(370,000)
Other, net	63,616	31,177	69,381
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	4,095,095	(1,622,536)	(2,463,644)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	534,218	518,642	(312,587)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,452,397	933,755	1,246,342
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	1,986,615	1,452,397	933,755
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Interest received during the year	2,931,409	2,807,071	2,765,101
Interest paid during the year	371,887	440,810	490,767
Income taxes paid during the year	405,598	251,810	287,740
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities
Real estate acquired in settlement of loans	48,932	81,588	199,285
Acquisitions Fair value of
Assets acquired (noncash)		10,666,102	342,443
Liabilities assumed		10,044,555	528,108
Common stock issued		405,557
Increase (decrease) from consolidation of securitization trusts
Loans			423,865
Investment securities - available for sale			(360,471)
Long-term borrowings			65,419
Accrued interest and other			$ 2,025