Loans Receivable (Details 3) (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
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 SBA Held for Sale	Sep. 30, 2011 SBA Held for Sale	Sep. 30, 2012 SBA Held for Sale	Sep. 30, 2011 SBA Held for Sale	Sep. 30, 2012 Affiliates	Sep. 30, 2011 Affiliates	Sep. 30, 2012 Affiliates	Sep. 30, 2011 Affiliates	Sep. 30, 2012 SBA Held for Investment, net	Sep. 30, 2011 SBA Held for Investment, net	Sep. 30, 2012 SBA Held for Investment, net	Sep. 30, 2011 SBA Held for Investment, net	Sep. 30, 2012 Other	Sep. 30, 2011 Other	Sep. 30, 2012 Other	Sep. 30, 2011 Other
Changes in loans receivable
Beginning Balance	$ 35,694	$ 45,696	$ 4,808	$ 5,072	$ 7,614	$ 11,608	$ 6,757	$ 15,029	$ 6,719	$ 16,781	$ 20,226	$ 17,278	$ 19,151	$ 15,415	$ 7,545	$ 12,741	$ 12,212	$ 13,011
Purchases of loans														696
Advances			953	5,465	8,707	16,337				700	317	1,726	2,902	3,774	(600)	755	129	2,474
Payments received			(19)	(16)	(58)	(79)	(63)	(710)	(191)	(1,427)	(879)	(289)	(1,912)	(925)	(361)	(1,041)	(3,257)	(3,095)
Noncash consideration (1)																	(2,500)
Capitalized interest and costs			(43)	22	(112)	(103)		61	122	69	9	20	76	70				50
Change in allowance for loan losses											(121)	(146)	(213)	(178)
Discount accretion, net							15	22	59	66	(7)	(20)	(178)	(170)				15
Loan transfer (1)			(2,861)	(3,720)	(13,313)	(20,940)				(1,402)
Other noncash adjustments										(492)
Foreign exchange gains										107
Charge-offs											18	(69)	(263)	(182)
Ending Balance	$ 35,694	$ 45,696	$ 2,838	$ 6,823	$ 2,838	$ 6,823	$ 6,709	$ 14,402	$ 6,709	$ 14,402	$ 19,563	$ 18,500	$ 19,563	$ 18,500	$ 6,584	$ 12,455	$ 6,584	$ 12,455