Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock Issuable [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 7,752,907	$ 730,235	$ 60,198	$ 4,342	$ 2,442,947	$ 5,076,884	$ (335,997)	$ (225,702)
Total comprehensive income	866,938					736,161	130,777
Preferred stock cash dividends	(40,225)					(40,225)
Amortization of preferred stock discount		10,422				(10,422)
Repayment of management stock ownership program receivable	3,783				3,783
Stock-based compensation plans:
Compensation expense, net	48,576				5,491			43,085
Exercises of stock options, net	49,326				(46,248)			95,574
Stock purchase plan	8,998				(8,482)			17,480
Directors' stock plan	1,117				(362)			1,479
Deferred compensation plans, net, including dividend equivalents	(14)			(153)	(305)	(195)		639
Other	1,791				1,791
Common stock cash dividends - $2.80 per share	(335,502)					(335,502)
Ending 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	708,258					859,479	(151,221)
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	(48,203)					(48,203)
Amortization of preferred stock discount		20,428				(20,428)
Stock-based compensation plans:
Compensation expense, net	43,912		50		12,196			31,666
Exercises of stock options, net	25,854		48		(4,300)			30,106
Directors' stock plan	1,431		6		813			612
Deferred compensation plans, net, including dividend equivalents	38			(117)	(164)	(188)		507
Other	1,863				1,863
Common stock cash dividends - $2.80 per share	(350,196)					(350,196)
Ending 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	1,145,675					1,029,498	116,177
Preferred stock cash dividends	(53,450)					(53,450)
Amortization of preferred stock discount		7,915				(7,915)
Stock-based compensation plans:
Compensation expense, net	48,166		229		47,937
Exercises of stock options, net	135,945		928		135,017
Stock purchase plan	10,117		75		10,042
Directors' stock plan	1,480		9		1,471
Deferred compensation plans, net, including dividend equivalents	(161)		5	(599)	593	(160)
Other	1,474				1,474
Common stock cash dividends - $2.80 per share	(357,862)					(357,862)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 10,202,593	$ 872,500	$ 64,088	$ 3,473	$ 3,025,520	$ 6,477,276	$ (240,264)