Regulatory And Capital Requirements (Schedule Of Actual Capital Positions And Ratios Under Banking Regulations) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Risk-based capital actual, amount	$ 1,312,945	$ 1,349,832
Risk-based capital actual, ratio	12.80%	12.90%
Risk-based capital minimum capital requirements, amount	823,705	836,268
Risk-based capital minimum capital requirements, ratio	8.00%	8.00%
Risk-based capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, amount
Risk-based capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, ratio	10.00%
Tier one risk-based capital actual, amount	1,124,833	1,143,328
Tier one risk-based capital actual, ratio	10.90%	10.90%
Tier one risk-based capital minimum capital requirements, amount	411,853	418,134
Tier one risk-based capital minimum capital requirements, ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier one risk-based capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, amount
Tier one risk-based capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, ratio	6.00%
Tier one leverage capital actual, amount	1,124,833	1,143,328
Tier one leverage capital actual, ratio	8.10%	8.30%
Tier one leverage capital minimum capital requirements, amount	557,210	550,665
Tier one leverage capital minimum capital requirements, ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier one leverage capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, amount
Tier one leverage capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, ratio	5.00%
Valley National Bank [Member]
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Risk-based capital actual, amount	1,255,714	1,291,928
Risk-based capital actual, ratio	12.30%	12.40%
Risk-based capital minimum capital requirements, amount	819,274	834,728
Risk-based capital minimum capital requirements, ratio	8.00%	8.00%
Risk-based capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, amount	1,024,092	1,043,410
Risk-based capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, ratio	10.00%	10.00%
Tier one risk-based capital actual, amount	1,067,602	1,085,424
Tier one risk-based capital actual, ratio	10.40%	10.40%
Tier one risk-based capital minimum capital requirements, amount	409,637	417,364
Tier one risk-based capital minimum capital requirements, ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier one risk-based capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, amount	614,455	626,046
Tier one risk-based capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, ratio	6.00%	6.00%
Tier one leverage capital actual, amount	1,067,602	1,085,424
Tier one leverage capital actual, ratio	7.70%	7.90%
Tier one leverage capital minimum capital requirements, amount	555,785	549,860
Tier one leverage capital minimum capital requirements, ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier one leverage capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, amount	$ 694,731	$ 687,325
Tier one leverage capital to be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provision, ratio	5.00%	5.00%