CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 117,276	$ 100,693
Short-term investments	204,431	371,318
Total cash and cash equivalents	321,707	472,011
Investment securities:
Available for sale	2,099,897	2,457,887
Held to maturity (fair value of $741,973 and $13,424, respectively)	741,727	12,817
Total investment securities	2,841,624	2,470,704
Loans:
Commercial, financial and agricultural	636,163	725,130
Real estate construction and development	216,894	249,987
Real estate mortgage	2,113,949	2,255,332
Consumer and installment	18,785	23,333
Loans held for sale	46,289	31,111
Net deferred loan fees	(635)	(942)
Total loans	3,031,445	3,283,951
Allowance for loan losses	(120,227)	(137,710)
Net loans	2,911,218	3,146,241
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost	26,115	27,078
Bank premises and equipment, net	124,701	127,868
Goodwill and other intangible assets	121,967	121,967
Deferred income taxes	20,375	19,121
Other real estate and repossessed assets	109,026	129,896
Other assets	68,930	73,018
Assets of discontinued operations	20,501	21,009
Total assets	6,566,164	6,608,913
LIABILITIES
Noninterest-bearing demand	1,287,222	1,209,759
Interest-bearing demand	907,381	884,168
Savings and money market	1,854,808	1,893,560
Time deposits of $100 or more	481,178	521,674
Other time deposits	860,674	942,669
Total deposits	5,391,263	5,451,830
Other borrowings	37,814	50,910
Subordinated debentures	354,095	354,057
Deferred income taxes	27,515	26,261
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	129,420	115,902
Liabilities of discontinued operations	339,924	346,282
Total liabilities	6,280,031	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	(180,029)	(183,351)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	33,884	16,066
Total First Banks, Inc. stockholders' equity	192,626	169,719
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	93,507	93,952
Total stockholders' equity	286,133	263,671
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	6,566,164	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	289,970	288,203
Class D Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock	$ 17,343	$ 17,343