CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss attributable to First Banks, Inc.	$ (41,150)	$ (191,737)	$ (427,621)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	(2,950)	(6,514)	(21,315)
Less: net loss from discontinued operations	(11,605)	(3,194)	(72,314)
Net loss from continuing operations	(32,495)	(195,057)	(376,622)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of bank premises and equipment	13,053	16,001	16,838
Amortization of intangible assets	2,962	3,260	4,326
Amortization and accretion of investment securities	11,934	6,267	1,701
Goodwill impairment	0	0	75,000
Originations of loans held for sale	(274,254)	(396,855)	(568,966)
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale	301,343	385,109	573,764
Payments received on loans held for sale	237	521	3,283
Provision for loan losses	69,000	214,000	390,000
Provision (benefit) for current income taxes	181	(437)	76
Benefit for deferred income taxes	(21,395)	(68,012)	(121,128)
Increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowance	10,560	72,563	123,445
Decrease in accrued interest receivable	3,884	5,732	5,173
Increase in accrued interest payable	7,948	4,148	268
Decrease in current income taxes receivable	89	2,488	62,050
Gain on loans sold and held for sale	(5,176)	(9,516)	(4,112)
Net gain on investment securities	(5,335)	(8,315)	(7,697)
Net loss on derivative instruments	193	2,925	4,874
Decrease in fair value of servicing rights	7,652	5,558	2,896
Write-downs on other real estate and repossessed assets	16,922	34,680	37,400
Net cash paid from termination of derivative instruments	0	(1,671)	0
Other operating activities, net	20,426	7,522	(1,241)
Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations	127,729	80,911	221,328
Net cash used in operating activities - discontinued operations	(12,505)	(11,340)	(55,062)
Net cash provided by operating activities	115,224	69,571	166,266
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash (paid) received for sale of assets and liabilities of discontinued operations, net of cash and cash equivalents sold	(51,339)	(1,400,472)	155,695
Cash paid for sale of branches, net of cash and cash equivalents sold	(16,256)	(8,408)	(17,786)
Cash paid for earn-out consideration to Adrian N. Baker & Company	0	0	(2,939)
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale	283,713	249,209	521,795
Maturities of investment securities available for sale	341,179	189,887	667,797
Maturities of investment securities held to maturity	1,660	2,418	3,667
Purchases of investment securities available for sale	(1,587,313)	(1,419,739)	(1,126,519)
Purchases of investment securities held to maturity	(3,450)	0	0
Redemptions of Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock	3,577	35,068	6,422
Purchases of Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock	(534)	(113)	(23,666)
Proceeds from sales of commercial loans	65,867	107,414	157,230
Net decrease in loans	884,338	1,309,598	759,470
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off	22,304	52,102	13,682
Purchases of bank premises and equipment	(5,179)	(4,017)	(22,984)
Net proceeds from sales of other real estate and repossessed assets	65,398	108,321	66,710
Proceeds from termination of bank-owned life insurance policy	0	25,957	90,578
Cash paid attributable to noncontrolling interest in SBLS LLC	0	0	(1,857)
Other investing activities, net	2,109	3,621	833
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	6,074	(749,154)	1,248,128
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	2,711	50,045	(20,081)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	8,785	(699,109)	1,228,047
Cash flows from financing activities:
(Decrease) increase in demand, savings and money market deposits	(84,767)	83,927	255,954
Decrease in time deposits	(495,427)	(170,926)	(101,747)
Decrease in Federal Reserve Bank advances	0	0	(100,000)
Advances drawn on Federal Home Loan Bank advances	0	0	600,000
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances	0	(600,000)	(200,710)
Increase (decrease) in securities sold under agreements to repurchase	19,376	(134,775)	(91,630)
Payment of preferred stock dividends	0	0	(6,365)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities - continuing operations	(560,818)	(821,774)	355,502
Net cash used in financing activities - discontinued operations	(86,938)	(69,181)	(75,880)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(647,756)	(890,955)	279,622
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(523,747)	(1,520,493)	1,673,935
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	995,758	2,516,251	842,316
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	472,011	995,758	2,516,251
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest on liabilities	34,711	68,789	108,206
Cash received for income taxes	(239)	(1,873)	(62,317)
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Loans transferred to other real estate and repossessed assets	69,941	158,889	143,586
Bank premises and equipment transferred to other real estate and repossessed assets	6,537	0	0
Business combinations:
Goodwill and other intangible assets recorded with net assets acquired	$ 0	$ 0	$ 2,939