CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 93,673	$ 100,693
Short-term investments	403,309	371,318
Total cash and cash equivalents	496,982	472,011
Investment securities:
Available for sale	2,637,795	2,457,887
Held to maturity (fair value of $13,256 and $13,424, respectively)	12,742	12,817
Total investment securities	2,650,537	2,470,704
Loans:
Commercial, financial and agricultural	686,597	725,130
Real estate construction and development	228,206	249,987
Real estate mortgage	2,174,176	2,255,332
Consumer and installment	19,984	23,333
Loans held for sale	48,074	31,111
Net deferred loan fees	(912)	(942)
Total loans	3,156,125	3,283,951
Allowance for loan losses	(130,348)	(137,710)
Net loans	3,025,777	3,146,241
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost	26,424	27,078
Bank premises and equipment, net	126,381	127,868
Goodwill and other intangible assets	121,967	121,967
Deferred income taxes	18,166	19,121
Other real estate and repossessed assets	117,927	129,896
Other assets	72,954	73,018
Assets of discontinued operations	21,123	21,009
Total assets	6,678,238	6,608,913
LIABILITIES
Noninterest-bearing demand	1,285,179	1,209,759
Interest-bearing demand	924,279	884,168
Savings and money market	1,892,226	1,893,560
Time deposits of $100 or more	506,321	521,674
Other time deposits	903,447	942,669
Total deposits	5,511,452	5,451,830
Other borrowings	37,652	50,910
Subordinated debentures	354,076	354,057
Deferred income taxes	25,306	26,261
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	128,352	115,902
Liabilities of discontinued operations	345,668	346,282
Total liabilities	6,402,506	6,345,242
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	(181,964)	(183,351)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	25,916	16,066
Total First Banks, Inc. stockholders' equity	181,840	169,719
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	93,892	93,952
Total stockholders' equity	275,732	263,671
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	6,678,238	6,608,913
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	289,087	288,203
Class D Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock	$ 17,343	$ 17,343