Dividend Restrictions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dividend Restrictions [Abstract]
Dividend Restrictions	Note 16. Dividend Restrictions The Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") has stated that generally, a bank holding company, should not maintain a rate of distributions to shareholders unless its available net income has been sufficient to fully fund the distributions, and the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the bank holding company's capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. As a Louisiana corporation, the Company is restricted under the Louisiana corporate law from paying dividends under certain conditions. First Guaranty Bank may not pay dividends or distribute capital assets if it is in default on any assessment due to the FDIC. First Guaranty Bank is also subject to regulations that impose minimum regulatory capital and minimum state law earnings requirements that affect the amount of cash available for distribution. In addition, under the Louisiana Banking Law, dividends may not be paid if it would reduce the unimpaired surplus below 50% of outstanding capital stock in any year. The Bank is restricted under applicable laws in the payment of dividends to an amount equal to current year earnings plus undistributed earnings for the immediately preceding year, unless prior permission is received from the Commissioner of Financial Institutions for the State of Louisiana. Dividends payable by the Bank in 2013 without permission will be limited to 2013 earnings plus the undistributed earnings of $6.1 million from 2012. Accordingly, at January 1, 2013, $129.4 million of the Company's equity in the net assets of the Bank was restricted. In addition, dividends paid by the Bank to the Company would be prohibited if the effect thereof would cause the Bank's capital to be reduced below applicable minimum capital requirements. Under the requirements of the United States Treasury's Small Business Lending Fund, the Company is permitted to pay dividends on its common stock, provided that: (i) the Company's Tier 1 capital would be at least 90% of the amount of Tier 1 capital existing immediately after receipt of SBLF funds; and (ii) the SBLF Dividends have been declared and paid to Treasury as of the most recent applicable dividend period. The Company has met each SBLF dividend obligation in a timely manner since receipt of SBLF funds. After two years, the 90% limitation will decrease by 10% for every 1% increase in qualified small business lending. See Note 13 for disclosure on the Company's SBLF Preferred Stock Series C.

Note 16. Dividend Restrictions

The Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") has stated that generally, a bank holding company, should not maintain a rate of distributions to shareholders unless its available net income has been sufficient to fully fund the distributions, and the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the bank holding company's capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. As a Louisiana corporation, the Company is restricted under the Louisiana corporate law from paying dividends under certain conditions.

First Guaranty Bank may not pay dividends or distribute capital assets if it is in default on any assessment due to the FDIC. First Guaranty Bank is also subject to regulations that impose minimum regulatory capital and minimum state law earnings requirements that affect the amount of cash available for distribution. In addition, under the Louisiana Banking Law, dividends may not be paid if it would reduce the unimpaired surplus below 50% of outstanding capital stock in any year.

The Bank is restricted under applicable laws in the payment of dividends to an amount equal to current year earnings plus undistributed earnings for the immediately preceding year, unless prior permission is received from the Commissioner of Financial Institutions for the State of Louisiana. Dividends payable by the Bank in 2013 without permission will be limited to 2013 earnings plus the undistributed earnings of $6.1 million from 2012.

Accordingly, at January 1, 2013, $129.4 million of the Company's equity in the net assets of the Bank was restricted. In addition, dividends paid by the Bank to the Company would be prohibited if the effect thereof would cause the Bank's capital to be reduced below applicable minimum capital requirements.

Under the requirements of the United States Treasury's Small Business Lending Fund, the Company is permitted to pay dividends on its common stock, provided that: (i) the Company's Tier 1 capital would be at least 90% of the amount of Tier 1 capital existing immediately after receipt of SBLF funds; and (ii) the SBLF Dividends have been declared and paid to Treasury as of the most recent applicable dividend period. The Company has met each SBLF dividend obligation in a timely manner since receipt of SBLF funds. After two years, the 90% limitation will decrease by 10% for every 1% increase in qualified small business lending. See Note 13 for disclosure on the Company's SBLF Preferred Stock Series C.