Note 10 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of selected financial instruments: (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets:
Carrying Value	$ 4,599,216	$ 4,451,416
Liabilities:
Carrying Value	4,176,491	4,009,051
Cash and due from banks [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	42,196	40,425
Cash and due from banks [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	42,196	40,425
Fair Value	42,196	40,425
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	759,458	696,638
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	22,930	23,475
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	782,388	720,113
Fair Value	782,388	720,113
Other securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	240,641	213,374
Other securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	17,694	16,079
Other securities [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	258,335	229,453
Fair Value	258,335	229,453
Loans Held For Sale [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	335	5,313
Loans Held For Sale [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	335	5,313
Fair Value	335	5,313
Loans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	3,360,672	3,416,313
Loans [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	3,288,102	3,234,121
Fair Value	3,360,672	3,416,313
FHLB-NY stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	47,420	42,337
FHLB-NY stock [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	47,420	42,337
Fair Value	47,420	42,337
Interest Rate Cap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	8	19
Interest Rate Cap [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	8	19
Fair Value	8	19
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	646	3
Liabilities:
Fair Value		1,922
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	646	3
Fair Value	646	3
Liabilities:
Carrying Value		1,922
Fair Value		1,922
Other real estate owned [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	2,591	5,278
Other real estate owned [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	2,591	5,278
Fair Value	2,591	5,278
Total Assets, Financial Instruments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	42,196	40,425
Total Assets, Financial Instruments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	1,048,173	952,371
Total Assets, Financial Instruments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Fair Value	3,404,222	3,466,458
Total Assets, Financial Instruments [Member]
Assets:
Carrying Value	4,422,021	4,277,062
Fair Value	4,494,591	4,459,254
Total Liabilities, Financial Instruments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Fair Value	1,905,378	1,761,964
Total Liabilities, Financial Instruments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Fair Value	2,246,296	2,265,257
Total Liabilities, Financial Instruments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Fair Value	26,192	23,922
Total Liabilities, Financial Instruments [Member]
Liabilities:
Carrying Value	4,129,699	3,965,520
Fair Value	4,177,866	4,051,143
Deposits [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Fair Value	1,905,378	1,761,964
Deposits [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Fair Value	1,190,286	1,295,188
Deposits [Member]
Liabilities:
Carrying Value	3,070,535	3,015,193
Fair Value	3,095,664	3,057,152
Borrowings [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Fair Value	1,056,010	968,147
Borrowings [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Fair Value	26,192	23,922
Borrowings [Member]
Liabilities:
Carrying Value	1,059,164	948,405
Fair Value	$ 1,082,202	$ 992,069