CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans	$ 36,576	$ 47,336	$ 74,767	$ 99,912
Investment securities	14,603	10,838	28,159	19,499
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock	223	339	560	735
Short-term investments	206	480	459	1,012
Total interest income	51,608	58,993	103,945	121,158
Interest expense:
Interest-bearing demand	136	263	280	563
Savings and money market	875	2,265	1,862	4,730
Time deposits of $100 or more	1,034	2,045	2,198	4,531
Other time deposits	1,737	3,328	3,752	7,256
Other borrowings	20	40	41	66
Subordinated debentures	3,683	3,366	7,369	6,668
Total interest expense	7,485	11,307	15,502	23,814
Net interest income	44,123	47,686	88,443	97,344
Provision for loan losses	0	23,000	2,000	33,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	44,123	24,686	86,443	64,344
Noninterest income:
Service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees	9,007	9,706	17,634	19,099
Gain on loans sold and held for sale	3,595	1,022	5,983	1,408
Net (loss) gain on investment securities	(5)	590	517	1,117
Net loss on derivative instruments	(2)	(165)	(38)	(221)
Decrease in fair value of servicing rights	(1,981)	(1,880)	(2,191)	(2,369)
Loan servicing fees	1,910	2,100	3,918	4,369
Other	3,164	3,595	6,756	5,474
Total noninterest income	15,688	14,968	32,579	28,877
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits	18,632	19,176	37,807	38,850
Occupancy, net of rental income	5,296	5,652	10,045	11,954
Furniture and equipment	2,622	3,044	5,172	6,057
Postage, printing and supplies	669	715	1,414	1,516
Information technology fees	5,865	6,612	11,911	13,108
Legal, examination and professional fees	2,937	3,213	5,460	6,267
Amortization of intangible assets	0	783	0	1,566
Advertising and business development	464	429	1,047	927
FDIC insurance	3,285	3,608	6,715	8,662
Write-downs and expenses on other real estate and repossessed assets	4,732	5,493	8,282	10,419
Other	5,599	6,127	11,988	11,919
Total noninterest expense	50,101	54,852	99,841	111,245
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	9,710	(15,198)	19,181	(18,024)
Provision for income taxes	121	72	216	124
Net income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	9,589	(15,270)	18,965	(18,148)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2,466)	(2,706)	(5,004)	(5,911)
Net income (loss)	7,123	(17,976)	13,961	(24,059)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	(385)	(927)	(445)	(862)
Net income (loss) attributable to First Banks, Inc.	7,508	(17,049)	14,406	(23,197)
Preferred stock dividends declared and undeclared	4,690	4,447	9,317	8,835
Accretion of discount on preferred stock	883	864	1,767	1,719
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 1,935	$ (22,360)	$ 3,322	$ (33,751)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 186.00	$ (830.64)	$ 351.90	$ (1,176.59)
Basic and diluted loss per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (104.22)	$ (114.36)	$ (211.49)	$ (249.82)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 81.78	$ (945.00)	$ 140.41	$ (1,426.41)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	23,661	23,661	23,661	23,661