Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) after taxes/net increase (decrease) on net assets resulting from operations		$ 1,996,000		$ (22,739,000)	[1]
Adjustments to reconcile net loss/net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for loan losses		47,386,000		59,008,000	[1]
Paid-in-kind interest		(834,000)		(1,869,000)	[1]
Depreciation and amortization		7,499,000		5,564,000	[1]
Amortization of origination fees, net		4,952,000		3,132,000	[1]
(Decrease) increase in deferred and other tax liabilities, net		853,000		13,637,000	[1]
Net change in loan collateral in process of foreclosure		11,838,000		9,926,000	[1]
Net realized gains on sale of investments		(1,820,000)		(5,921,000)	[1]
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments		1,734,000		6,457,000	[1]
Stock-based compensation expense		1,221,000		576,000	[1]
Gain on deconsolidation of Trust III	[1]			(25,325,000)
Gain on extinguishment of debt		(4,145,000)
Intangible asset impairment	[1]			5,615,000
(Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable		(1,249,000)		797,000	[1]
Decrease in other assets		2,838,000		1,309,000	[1]
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses		(8,024,000)		(675,000)	[1]
Increase in accrued interest payable		690,000		139,000	[1]
Loans originated	[1]			(8,193,000)
Proceeds from principal receipts, sales, and maturities of loans	[1]			13,279,000
Capital returned by Medallion Bank and other controlled subsidiaries, net	[1]			93,000
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investment other than securities	[1]			1,915,000
Increase in unrealized appreciation on Medallion Bank and other controlled subsidiaries	[1]			(29,115,000)
Net realized losses on investments	[1],[2]			34,745,000
Increase in other liabilities	[1]			4,196,000
Net cash provided by operating activities		64,935,000		66,551,000	[1]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Loans originated		(471,069,000)		(333,740,000)	[1]
Proceeds from principal receipts, sales, and maturities of loans		251,653,000		302,409,000	[1]
Purchases of investments		(10,507,000)		(10,376,000)	[1]
Proceeds from principal receipts, sales, and maturities of investments		7,119,000		6,417,000	[1]
Proceeds from the sale of loan collateral in process of foreclosure		16,294,000		11,593,000	[1]
Net cash used for investing activities		(206,510,000)		(23,697,000)	[1]
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from time deposits and funds borrowed		525,842,000		364,139,000	[1]
Repayments of time deposits and funds borrowed		(414,277,000)		(389,951,000)	[1]
Purchase of federal funds		4,000,000		8,000,000	[1]
Repayments of federal funds		(4,000,000)		(8,000,000)	[1]
Non-controlling interest equity raised by Medallion Bank		42,485,000
Distributions to non-controlling interests		(2,367,000)		(1,776,000)	[1]
Payments of declared distributions	[1]			(66,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities		151,683,000		(27,654,000)	[1]
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		10,108,000		15,200,000	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	[1],[3]	57,713,000	[4]	42,513,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		67,821,000	[4]	57,713,000	[1],[3],[4]	$ 42,513,000	[1],[3]
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Cash paid during the period for interest		32,008,000		25,102,000	[1]
Cash paid during the period for income taxes		310,000		85,000	[1]
Deposit	[5]	17,700,000		23,842,000
NON-CASH INVESTING
Loans transferred to loan collateral in process of foreclosure		$ 31,348,000		32,125,000	[1]
Medallion Bank [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) after taxes/net increase (decrease) on net assets resulting from operations						56,408,000
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Deposit				100,000
Investment Company Accounting [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) after taxes/net increase (decrease) on net assets resulting from operations						278,000
Adjustments to reconcile net loss/net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Paid-in-kind interest						(2,268,000)
Depreciation and amortization						1,019,000
Amortization of origination fees, net						68,000
(Decrease) increase in deferred and other tax liabilities, net						(33,364,000)
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments						(8,222,000)
Stock-based compensation expense						785,000
(Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable						222,000
Decrease in other assets						122,000
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses						(907,000)
Increase in accrued interest payable						949,000
Loans originated						(29,131,000)
Proceeds from principal receipts, sales, and maturities of loans						46,755,000
Capital returned by Medallion Bank and other controlled subsidiaries, net						696,000
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investment other than securities						2,060,000
Increase in unrealized appreciation on Medallion Bank and other controlled subsidiaries						(9,483,000)
Net realized losses on investments	[2]					43,744,000
Net cash provided by operating activities						13,323,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayments of time deposits and funds borrowed						(21,450,000)
Payments of declared distributions						(145,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities						(21,595,000)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS						(8,272,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period				12,690,000	[4]	20,962,000	[3]
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	[4]					12,690,000
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Cash paid during the period for interest						11,897,000
Cash paid during the period for income taxes						$ 62,000
Previously Unconsolidated Subsidiaries [Member]
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Cash, cash equivalents and federal funds sold				$ 29,923,000

[1] Balance includes the nine months ended December 31, 2018 under Bank Holding Company Accounting and the three months ended March 31, 2018 under Investment Company Accounting.

[2] There were no net losses on investment securities of affiliated issuers for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

[3] Included in the beginning balance for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $29,923 of cash, cash equivalents, and federal funds sold as a result of the consolidation of previously unconsolidated subsidiaries and excludes $100 of cash held by the Company on deposit with the Bank.

[4] Includes federal funds sold at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

[5] Includes restricted cash of $2,970 as of December 31, 2019.