CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 114,841	$ 101,822
Short-term investments	404,005	371,318
Total cash and cash equivalents	518,846	473,140
Investment securities:
Available for sale	2,043,727	2,457,887
Held to maturity (fair value of $637,024 and $13,424, respectively)	631,553	12,817
Total investment securities	2,675,280	2,470,704
Loans:
Commercial, financial and agricultural	610,301	725,195
Real estate construction and development	174,979	249,987
Real estate mortgage	2,060,131	2,255,332
Consumer and installment	19,262	23,596
Loans held for sale	66,133	31,111
Net deferred loan fees	(59)	(942)
Total loans	2,930,747	3,284,279
Allowance for loan losses	(91,602)	(137,710)
Net loans	2,839,145	3,146,569
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock	27,329	27,078
Bank premises and equipment, net	127,520	137,199
Goodwill and other intangible assets	125,267	125,267
Deferred income taxes	29,042	19,121
Other real estate and repossessed assets	91,995	129,896
Other assets	67,996	73,026
Assets of discontinued operations	6,706	6,913
Total assets	6,509,126	6,608,913
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing demand	1,327,183	1,225,622
Interest-bearing demand	1,000,666	899,114
Savings and money market	1,880,271	1,964,905
Time deposits of $100 or more	460,791	546,045
Other time deposits	823,936	987,369
Total deposits	5,492,847	5,623,055
Other borrowings	26,025	51,170
Subordinated debentures	354,133	354,057
Deferred income taxes	36,182	26,261
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	144,269	115,962
Liabilities of discontinued operations	155,711	174,737
Total liabilities	6,209,167	6,345,242
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
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	(179,513)	(183,351)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	45,259	16,066
Total First Banks, Inc. stockholders’ equity	206,304	169,719
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	93,655	93,952
Total stockholders’ equity	299,959	263,671
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	6,509,126	6,608,913
Class A convertible, adjustable rate, $20.00 par value, 750,000 shares authorized, 641,082 shares issued and outstanding
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock:	12,822	12,822
Class B adjustable rate, $1.50 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 160,505 shares issued and outstanding
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock:	241	241
Class C fixed rate, cumulative, perpetual, $1.00 par value, 295,400 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock:	291,757	288,203
Class D fixed rate, cumulative, perpetual, $1.00 par value, 14,770 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock:	$ 17,343	$ 17,343