Variable Interest Entities (Summary Of VIE Consolidated By FHN) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and due from banks	$ 330,931			$ 384,667	$ 313,416
Loans, net of unearned income	16,185,763	[1],[2]		16,397,127	16,061,646	[1],[2]
Allowance for loan losses	321,051	[1],[2]	346,016	384,351	524,091	[1],[2]	589,128	664,799
Total net loans	15,864,712			16,012,776	15,537,555
Other assets	2,189,700			2,151,656	2,117,544
Total assets	25,492,955			24,789,384	25,054,066
Noninterest-bearing deposits	4,833,994			4,613,014	4,937,103
Term borrowings	2,294,224			2,481,660	2,502,517
Other liabilities	1,017,534			838,483	816,331
Total liabilities	22,978,549			22,104,747	22,372,684
Subordinated Debentures Subject To Mandatory Redemption [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Term borrowings	206,200
Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Carrying Amount Assets [Member] | On-Balance Sheet Consumer Loan Securitizations [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and due from banks	0				1,805
Loans, net of unearned income	129,319				694,031
Allowance for loan losses	6,046				33,030
Total net loans	123,273				661,001
Other assets	2,606				13,983
Total assets	125,879				676,789
Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Carrying Amount Assets [Member] | Rabbi Trusts Used For Deferred Compensation Plans [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Other assets	59,650				62,207
Total assets	59,650				62,207
Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Carrying Amount Liabilities [Member] | On-Balance Sheet Consumer Loan Securitizations [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Noninterest-bearing deposits					903
Term borrowings	120,553				682,764
Other liabilities	21				49
Total liabilities	120,574				683,716
Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Carrying Amount Liabilities [Member] | Rabbi Trusts Used For Deferred Compensation Plans [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Other liabilities	48,991				55,387
Total liabilities	$ 48,991				$ 55,387

[1] Balances as of June 30, 2012 and 2011 include $19.0 million and $29.9 million of reserves, respectively, and $447.5 million and $649.2 million of balances in restricted consumer real estate loans and secured borrowings, respectively.

[2] Balances as of June 30, 2012 and 2011 include $1.3 million and $3.1 million of reserves, respectively, and $16.9 million and $44.9 million of balances in restricted permanent mortgage loans and secured borrowings, respectively.