CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 100,693	$ 70,964
Short-term investments	371,318	924,794
Total cash and cash equivalents	472,011	995,758
Investment securities:
Available for sale	2,468,565	1,483,185
Held to maturity (fair value of $13,424 and $11,990, respectively)	12,817	11,152
Total investment securities	2,481,382	1,494,337
Loans:
Commercial, financial and agricultural	725,130	1,045,832
Real estate construction and development	249,987	490,766
Real estate mortgage	2,255,332	2,872,104
Consumer and installment	23,333	33,623
Loans held for sale	31,111	54,470
Net deferred loan fees	(942)	(4,511)
Total loans	3,283,951	4,492,284
Allowance for loan losses	(137,710)	(201,033)
Net loans	3,146,241	4,291,251
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost	27,078	30,121
Bank premises and equipment, net	127,868	161,414
Goodwill and other intangible assets	121,967	129,054
Deferred income taxes	19,121	18,004
Other real estate and repossessed assets	129,896	140,665
Other assets	62,340	71,726
Assets held for sale	0	2,266
Assets of discontinued operations	21,009	43,532
Total assets	6,608,913	7,378,128
LIABILITIES
Noninterest-bearing demand	1,209,759	1,167,206
Interest-bearing demand	884,168	919,973
Savings and money market	1,893,560	2,206,763
Time deposits of $100 or more	521,674	828,651
Other time deposits	942,669	1,335,822
Total deposits	5,451,830	6,458,415
Other borrowings	50,910	31,761
Subordinated debentures	354,057	353,981
Deferred income taxes	26,261	25,186
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	115,902	83,900
Liabilities held for sale	0	23,406
Liabilities of discontinued operations	346,282	94,184
Total liabilities	6,345,242	7,070,833
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock	0	0
Common stock, $250.00 par value, 25,000 shares authorized, 23,661 shares issued and outstanding	5,915	5,915
Additional paid-in capital	12,480	12,480
Retained deficit	(183,351)	(120,827)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	16,066	(2,318)
Total First Banks, Inc. stockholders' equity	169,719	210,393
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	93,952	96,902
Total stockholders' equity	263,671	307,295
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	6,608,913	7,378,128
Class A Convertible Adjustable Rate Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock	12,822	12,822
Class B Adjustable Rate Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock	241	241
Class C Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock	288,203	284,737
Class D Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock	$ 17,343	$ 17,343