Note 25 - Condensed Parent Company Financial Statements (Detail) - Statements of Income (Parent Company Only) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income
Gains on early extinguishment of debt			$ 15,258
Expenses
Interest expense	39,891	49,518	90,219
Salaries and employee benefits	101,703	94,361	82,640
Other expenses	8,643	7,882	6,453
Income tax benefit	4,508	(28,544)	(50,176)
Income (loss) before undistributed (loss) income of subsidiaries	41,071	(38,228)	(75,926)
Equity in undistributed (loss) income of subsidiaries	(52,408)	4,818	(22,513)
Net income (loss)	36,563	(9,684)	(25,750)
Preferred dividends and accretion on preferred stock	10,776	10,299	10,265
Net (income) loss applicable to non-vested restricted shares	(350)	266	464
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	25,437	(19,717)	(35,551)
Parent Company [Member]
Income
Dividends from subsidiaries	104,000		750
Interest income	259	518	1,596
Gains on early extinguishment of debt			15,258
Securities transactions and other	(189)	1,950	3,157
Total income	104,070	2,468	20,761
Expenses
Interest expense	9,892	9,124	13,592
Salaries and employee benefits	10,865	11,056	8,308
Other expenses	4,756	6,178	4,715
Total expenses	25,513	26,358	26,615
Income (loss) before income tax benefit and equity in undistributed (loss) income of subsidiaries	78,557	(23,890)	(5,854)
Income tax benefit	10,414	9,388	2,617
Income (loss) before undistributed (loss) income of subsidiaries	88,971	(14,502)	(3,237)
Equity in undistributed (loss) income of subsidiaries	(52,408)	4,818	(22,513)
Net income (loss)	36,563	(9,684)	(25,750)
Preferred dividends and accretion on preferred stock	(10,776)	(10,299)	(10,265)
Net (income) loss applicable to non-vested restricted shares	(350)	266	464
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	$ 25,437	$ (19,717)	$ (35,551)