CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to First Banks, Inc.	$ 26,278	$ (41,150)	$ (191,737)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	(297)	(2,950)	(6,514)
Less: net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(5,523)	(6,459)	3,562
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	31,504	(37,641)	(201,813)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of bank premises and equipment	12,079	13,445	16,537
Amortization of intangible assets	0	3,024	3,292
Amortization and accretion of investment securities	17,412	11,934	6,267
Originations of loans held for sale	(470,119)	(274,254)	(396,855)
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale	442,476	301,343	385,109
Provision for loan losses	2,000	69,000	214,000
(Benefit) provision for current income taxes	(32)	181	(437)
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes	6,638	(23,521)	(70,845)
(Decrease) increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowance	(6,745)	12,686	75,396
Decrease in accrued interest receivable	4,000	3,884	5,732
Increase in accrued interest payable	12,106	7,890	4,079
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
Write-downs on other real estate and repossessed assets	14,510	16,922	34,680
Other operating activities, net	4,356	20,945	11,785
Net cash provided by operating activities – continuing operations	61,423	122,979	74,654
Net cash used in operating activities – discontinued operations	(5,241)	(6,626)	(5,083)
Net cash provided by operating activities	56,182	116,353	69,571
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash paid for sale of assets and liabilities of discontinued operations, net of cash and cash equivalents sold	0	(51,339)	(1,400,472)
Cash paid for sale of branches, net of cash and cash equivalents sold	0	(16,256)	(8,408)
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale	315,238	283,713	249,209
Maturities and calls of investment securities available for sale	684,639	341,179	189,887
Maturities and calls of investment securities held to maturity	107,061	1,660	2,418
Purchases of investment securities available for sale	(1,296,857)	(1,587,313)	(1,419,739)
Purchases of investment securities held to maturity	0	(3,450)	0
Net (purchases) redemptions of Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock	(251)	3,043	34,955
Proceeds from sales of commercial loans	55,081	65,867	107,414
Cash paid for purchase of one-to-four-family residential real estate loans	(141,048)	0	0
Net decrease in loans	367,233	884,010	1,309,598
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off	29,962	22,304	52,102
Purchases of bank premises and equipment	(5,906)	(5,170)	(4,024)
Net proceeds from sales of other real estate and repossessed assets	48,531	65,398	108,321
Proceeds from termination of bank-owned life insurance policy	0	0	25,957
Other investing activities, net	295	2,109	3,621
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities – continuing operations	163,978	5,755	(749,161)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities – discontinued operations	(92)	3,030	50,052
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	163,886	8,785	(699,109)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in demand, savings and money market deposits	118,479	(86,668)	83,838
Decrease in time deposits	(248,687)	(528,795)	(189,783)
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances	0	0	(600,000)
(Decrease) increase in other borrowings	(25,145)	19,416	(134,958)
Net cash used in financing activities – continuing operations	(155,353)	(596,047)	(840,903)
Net cash used in financing activities – discontinued operations	(19,009)	(51,709)	(50,052)
Net cash used in financing activities	(174,362)	(647,756)	(890,955)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	45,706	(522,618)	(1,520,493)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	473,140	995,758	2,516,251
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	518,846	473,140	995,758
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest on liabilities	17,982	36,649	71,941
Cash received for income taxes	(661)	(239)	(1,873)
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Reclassification of investment securities from available for sale to held to maturity	729,142	0	0
Loans transferred to other real estate and repossessed assets	24,223	69,941	158,889
Bank premises and equipment transferred to other real estate and repossessed assets	$ 0	$ 6,537	$ 0