Portfolio Assets (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Other commercial UBN	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Other commercial UBN	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Other commercial Other	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Other commercial Other	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Other commercial Other	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Other commercial Other	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Domestic Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Domestic Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Domestic Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Domestic Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Domestic Business assets Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Domestic Business assets Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Domestic Business assets Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Domestic Business assets Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Domestic Other commercial Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Domestic Other commercial Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Domestic Other commercial Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Jun. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Domestic Other commercial Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Latin America Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Latin America Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2012 Loan Portfolios Latin America Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Latin America Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Europe Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans	Sep. 30, 2011 Loan Portfolios Europe Commercial real estate Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans
Changes in the allowance for loan losses related to portfolio assets
Beginning balance	$ 785	$ 781	$ 617	$ 47,464	$ 781	$ 45,162	$ 46,233	$ 43,291	$ 20	$ 12	$ 5	$ 49	$ 415	$ 546	$ 553	$ 354	$ 170	$ 183	$ 185	$ 252	$ 99	$ 38	$ 90	$ 12		$ 339		$ 260	$ 52	$ 866
Provisions			1,598	577	2,130	1,619			89		114	16	1,356	514	1,761	1,121	72	49	169	401	6	5	24		81	8	81	57
Recoveries			(36)	(111)	(80)	(810)	(78)	(719)		(9)		(28)		(17)		(49)	(36)		(80)	(7)	(7)		(7)
Charge offs			(1,616)	(1,586)	(2,268)	(3,282)	(701)	(701)	(84)	(3)	(94)	(37)	(1,378)	(767)	(1,921)	(1,150)	(154)	(56)	(222)	(470)	(60)	(31)	(69)						1	(855)
Transfer from "held for sale" classification			210		210																				210		210
Translation adjustments			12	554	12	4,209	584	4,167																	12	(30)	12			42
Ending balance	$ 785	$ 781	$ 785	$ 46,898	$ 785	$ 46,898	$ 46,038	$ 46,038	$ 25		$ 25		$ 393	$ 276	$ 393	$ 276	$ 52	$ 176	$ 52	$ 176	$ 38	$ 12	$ 38	$ 12	$ 303	$ 317	$ 303	$ 317	$ 53	$ 53