CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans	$ 143,765	$ 184,593	$ 281,654
Investment securities:
Taxable	56,547	45,172	24,612
Nontaxable	287	481	595
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock	1,146	1,416	2,063
Short-term investments	820	1,634	3,544
Total interest income	202,565	233,296	312,468
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand	569	1,023	1,409
Savings and money market	3,535	8,577	13,959
Time deposits of $100 or more	4,153	8,068	15,257
Other time deposits	7,002	13,233	24,539
Other borrowings	(18)	15	7,844
Subordinated debentures	14,847	13,623	13,012
Total interest expense	30,088	44,539	76,020
Net interest income	172,477	188,757	236,448
Provision for loan losses	2,000	69,000	214,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	170,477	119,757	22,448
Noninterest income:
Service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees	36,197	39,101	42,370
Gain on loans sold and held for sale	12,931	5,176	9,516
Net gain on investment securities	1,306	5,335	8,315
Decrease in fair value of servicing rights	(5,475)	(7,652)	(5,558)
Loan servicing fees	7,403	8,271	8,783
Other	13,844	11,963	15,066
Total noninterest income	66,206	62,194	78,492
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits	77,788	79,518	84,101
Occupancy, net of rental income	21,911	23,887	26,675
Furniture and equipment	11,498	11,781	13,802
Postage, printing and supplies	2,721	2,777	3,379
Information technology fees	22,446	25,804	27,745
Legal, examination and professional fees	8,890	12,215	13,818
Amortization of intangible assets	0	3,024	3,292
Advertising and business development	2,125	1,868	1,479
FDIC insurance	12,436	16,103	21,664
Write-downs and expenses on other real estate and repossessed assets	18,672	22,983	44,662
Other	26,831	30,286	58,022
Total noninterest expense	205,318	230,246	298,639
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before (benefit) provision for income taxes	31,365	(48,295)	(197,699)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(139)	(10,654)	4,114
Net income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	31,504	(37,641)	(201,813)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(5,523)	(6,459)	3,562
Net income (loss)	25,981	(44,100)	(198,251)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	(297)	(2,950)	(6,514)
Net income (loss) attributable to First Banks, Inc.	26,278	(41,150)	(191,737)
Preferred stock dividends declared and undeclared	18,886	17,908	16,980
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 3,838	$ (62,524)	$ (212,098)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 395.64	$ (2,369.48)	$ (9,114.61)
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (233.42)	$ (272.98)	$ 150.54
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 162.22	$ (2,642.46)	$ (8,964.07)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	23,661	23,661	23,661