Note 8 - Investments in Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2010 Sherman [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Sherman [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Sherman [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage				28.70%
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments				$ 172,000,000
Gain on sale of affiliate	0	34,815,000	0	34,800,000
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party				1,300,000
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity				29,700,000
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value [Roll Forward]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value					121,424,000	99,656,000
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	65,000	14,668,000	33,226,000		14,590,000	33,226,000
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value, Dividends Received					(29,498,000)	(11,040,000)
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value, Other Comprehensive Loss					(381,000)	(418,000)
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value, Sale of Ownership Interest					(106,135,000)	0
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value					0	121,424,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Assets						1,913,296,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Liabilities						1,461,076,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue From Receivable Portfolios Net of Amortization						1,216,742,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Other Income						16,873,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Derivative Mark to Market						12,071,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue						1,245,686,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Operating and Servicing Expenses						515,125,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Provision for Loan Losses						446,917,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Interest Expense						105,537,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Other Expenses						42,542,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Total Expenses						1,110,121,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income (Loss)						$ 135,565,000