Allowance for Credit Losses - Summary of Provision for Credit Losses (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Banking and Thrift, Interest [Abstract]
Provision for non-covered loans	$ 0vly_ProvisionForNonCoveredLoans	$ 4,949vly_ProvisionForNonCoveredLoans
Provision for covered loans	0vly_ProvisionCreditForCoveredLoanLosses
Total provision for loan losses	0us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses	4,949us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses
Provision for unfunded letters of credit	0vly_ProvisionForUnfundedLettersOfCredit	(951)vly_ProvisionForUnfundedLettersOfCredit
Total provision for credit losses	$ 0	$ 3,998

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Amount of expense related to estimated loss from loan and lease transactions.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.11)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=SL6953423-111524

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of expense related loan transactions, lease transactions, credit loss from transactions other than loan and lease transactions, and other loss based on assessment of uncollectability from the counterparty to reduce the account to their net realizable value.

+ References

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Provision for loans acquired in FDIC-assisted transactions which are covered under the terms of loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Provision for loans not subject to the loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Provision charged for the period based on estimated losses related to unfunded letters of credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vly_ProvisionForUnfundedLettersOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	vly_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration