Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities - Carrying Amounts and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Interest bearing deposits with banks	$ 370,712us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsInBanks	$ 367,838us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsInBanks
Total investment securities held to maturity	1,868,625	1,815,976
Accrued interest receivable	56,590	57,333
Time	2,772,235us-gaap_TimeDeposits	2,742,468us-gaap_TimeDeposits
Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	1,825,819	1,778,316
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Cash and due from banks	394,002	462,569
Interest bearing deposits with banks	370,712	367,838
Accrued interest receivable	56,590	57,333
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock	135,032	133,117
Deposits without stated maturities	11,444,508	11,291,648
Short-term borrowings	133,866	146,781
Accrued interest payable	12,448	15,526
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| U.S. Treasury Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	139,087	139,121
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Time	2,772,235	2,742,468
Long-term borrowings	2,529,073	2,526,408
Junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts	41,292	41,252
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| U.S. Government Agency Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	13,630	14,081
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	490,757	500,018
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	1,059,278	986,992
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Trust Preferred Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	98,458	98,456
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Corporate and Other Debt Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	24,609	39,648
Carrying Amount [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Net loans	13,631,830	13,371,560
Fair Value [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	1,868,625	1,815,976
Fair Value [Member] \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Cash and due from banks	394,002	462,569
Interest bearing deposits with banks	370,712	367,838
Accrued interest receivable	56,590	57,333
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock	135,032	133,117
Deposits without stated maturities	11,444,508	11,291,648
Short-term borrowings	133,866	146,781
Accrued interest payable	12,448	15,526
Fair Value [Member] \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| U.S. Treasury Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	153,676	151,300
Fair Value [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Time	2,837,408	2,807,522
Long-term borrowings	2,751,489	2,738,122
Junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts	43,824	44,584
Fair Value [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| U.S. Government Agency Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	14,040	14,385
Fair Value [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	512,916	519,693
Fair Value [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	1,074,679	998,981
Fair Value [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Trust Preferred Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	86,080	86,243
Fair Value [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Corporate and Other Debt Securities [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Total investment securities held to maturity	27,234	45,374
Fair Value [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair value and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial condition
Net loans	$ 13,419,880	$ 13,085,830

Interest, dividends, rents, ancillary and other revenues earned but not yet received by the entity on its investments.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 4

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccruedInvestmentIncomeReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Equivalents

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of subordinated debt obligations including, but not limited to, subordinated loan, subordinated bond, subordinated debenture or junior debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a),(b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisSubordinatedDebtObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of investments in debt securities classified as held-to-maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (aa)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For banks and other depository institutions (including Federal Reserve Banks, if applicable): Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions for relatively short periods of time including, for example, certificates of deposits, which are presented separately from cash on the balance sheet.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6476743&loc=d3e59706-112781

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsInBanks
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of investments in Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 325

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638263&loc=d3e39828-111592

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentInFederalHomeLoanBankStockFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of loan receivable, including, but not limited to, mortgage loans held for investment, finance receivables held for investment, policy loans on insurance contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Glossary Loan

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517073

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of deposits that cannot be withdrawn before a set date without penalty or for which notice of withdrawal is required. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Accrued interest payable fair value disclosure

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vly_AccruedInterestPayableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	vly_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the aggregate of all deposit liabilities held by the entity, including foreign and domestic, interest and noninterest bearing; may include demand deposits, saving deposits, and negotiable orders of withdrawal (NOW).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vly_DepositsWithoutStatedMaturitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	vly_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	vly_FairValueAndCarryingAmountsOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesNotMeasuredAndNotReportedAtFairValueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	vly_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Long term borrowings fair value disclosure

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vly_LongTermBorrowingsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	vly_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Short term borrowings fair value disclosure

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vly_ShortTermBorrowingsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	vly_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: