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Allowance for credit losses (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Balance at beginning of the year | $ 88,547 |  | $ 78,615 |  | $ 73,789 |
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses (1) | (8,343) | [1] | 8,841 | [1] | 9,091 | [1]
Loan recoveries and other | 262 |  | 2,156 |  | 996 |
Loans written-off against the allowance for loan losses | (7,490) |  | (1,065) |  | (5,261) |
Balance at end of the year | 72,976 |  | 88,547 |  | 78,615 |
Components: |  |  |  |  |  |
Generic allowance | 72,976 |  | 73,747 |  | 67,115 |
Specific allowance | 0 |  | 14,800 |  | 11,500 |
Total of allowance for loan losses | 72,976 |  | 88,547 |  | 78,615 |
Reserve For Off-Balance Sheet Activities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | 8,887 |  | 13,335 |  | 27,261 |
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses (1) |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at end of the year | 4,841 |  | 8,887 |  | 13,335 |
Components: |  |  |  |  |  |
Total of allowance for loan losses | 4,841 |  | 8,887 |  | 13,335 |
Corporate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | 48,865 |  | 54,160 |  |  |
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses (1) | (8,887) | [1] | (5,295) | [1] |  |
Loan recoveries and other | 0 |  | 0 |  |  |
Loans written-off against the allowance for loan losses | (7,490) |  | 0 |  |  |
Balance at end of the year | 32,488 |  | 48,865 |  |  |
Components: |  |  |  |  |  |
Generic allowance | 32,488 |  | 34,065 |  |  |
Specific allowance | 0 |  | 14,800 |  |  |
Total of allowance for loan losses | 32,488 |  | 48,865 |  |  |
Bankingand Financial Institutions [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | 30,523 |  | 18,790 |  |  |
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses (1) | (1,704) | [1] | 10,017 | [1] |  |
Loan recoveries and other | 17 |  | 1,716 |  |  |
Loans written-off against the allowance for loan losses | 0 |  | 0 |  |  |
Balance at end of the year | 28,836 |  | 30,523 |  |  |
Components: |  |  |  |  |  |
Generic allowance | 28,836 |  | 30,523 |  |  |
Specific allowance | 0 |  | 0 |  |  |
Total of allowance for loan losses | 28,836 |  | 30,523 |  |  |
Middle Market Companies [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | 8,952 |  | 5,265 |  |  |
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses (1) | 1,690 | [1] | 4,312 | [1] |  |
Loan recoveries and other | 245 |  | 440 |  |  |
Loans written-off against the allowance for loan losses | 0 |  | (1,065) |  |  |
Balance at end of the year | 10,887 |  | 8,952 |  |  |
Components: |  |  |  |  |  |
Generic allowance | 10,887 |  | 8,952 |  |  |
Specific allowance | 0 |  | 0 |  |  |
Total of allowance for loan losses | 10,887 |  | 8,952 |  |  |
Sovereign [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | 207 |  | 400 |  |  |
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses (1) | 558 | [1] | (193) | [1] |  |
Loan recoveries and other | 0 |  | 0 |  |  |
Loans written-off against the allowance for loan losses | 0 |  | 0 |  |  |
Balance at end of the year | 765 |  | 207 |  |  |
Components: |  |  |  |  |  |
Generic allowance | 765 |  | 207 |  |  |
Specific allowance | 0 |  | 0 |  |  |
Total of allowance for loan losses | $ 765 |  | $ 207 |  |  |
[1] | It includes releases of specific reserves for $7,931 thousand during 2012, $1,600 thousand during 2011, and $1,031 thousand during 2010.

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- Definition Reflects a reduction in bad debt expense attributable to collections of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially charged off as bad debts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 114 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5212-111524 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph d -Article 9 + Details
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- Definition Reflects the amount of loans and leases that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 114 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5212-111524 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph d -Article 9 + Details
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- Definition Amount of allowance to cover probable credit losses on loans and leases. Includes carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations. Excludes allowance for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 8, 9 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher OTS -Name Federal Regulation (FR) -Number Title 12 -Section 563c.102 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph a(ii) -Chapter V -Subsection I -LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph d -Article 9 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 114 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 6 -Section L -Subsection 1 + Details
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- Definition Provision charged for the period based on estimated losses to be realized from loan and lease transactions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG) -Number AAG-DEP -Paragraph 168, 169, 170 -IssueDate 2006-05-01 -Chapter 5 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.11) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 11 -Article 9 + Details
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