CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans	$ 118,015	$ 142,003	$ 182,356
Investment securities:
Taxable	52,199	56,547	45,172
Nontaxable	246	287	481
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock	1,216	1,146	1,416
Short-term investments	1,134	820	1,634
Total interest income	172,810	200,803	231,059
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand	368	437	604
Savings and money market	2,679	3,518	8,562
Time deposits of $100 or more	2,274	4,010	7,884
Other time deposits	3,738	6,817	12,950
Other borrowings	(9)	(18)	15
Subordinated debentures	15,054	14,847	13,623
Total interest expense	24,104	29,611	43,638
Net interest income	148,706	171,192	187,421
Provision (benefit) for loan losses	(5,000)	2,000	69,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	153,706	169,192	118,421
Noninterest income:
Service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees	34,320	36,078	38,946
Gain on loans sold and held for sale	5,041	12,931	5,176
Net gain on investment securities	36	1,306	5,335
Net gain (loss) on sale of other real estate and repossessed assets	6,005	2,626	(1,346)
Increase (decrease) in fair value of servicing rights	439	(5,475)	(7,652)
Loan servicing fees	6,948	7,403	8,271
Other	12,331	11,109	13,194
Total noninterest income	65,120	65,978	61,924
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits	78,141	75,205	76,999
Occupancy, net of rental income	23,302	21,899	23,877
Furniture and equipment	10,951	11,409	11,667
Postage, printing and supplies	2,470	2,586	2,649
Information technology fees	21,379	22,446	25,804
Legal, examination and professional fees	7,177	8,828	12,185
Goodwill impairment	107,267	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	3,024
Advertising and business development	2,542	1,994	1,755
FDIC insurance	6,609	11,313	14,876
Write-downs and expenses on other real estate and repossessed assets	5,676	18,672	22,983
Other	21,113	26,155	29,886
Total noninterest expense	286,627	200,507	225,705
(Loss) income from continuing operations, before benefit for income taxes	(67,801)	34,663	(45,360)
Benefit for income taxes	(288,501)	(139)	(10,654)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	220,700	34,802	(34,706)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	21,223	(8,821)	(9,394)
Net income (loss)	241,923	25,981	(44,100)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	179	(297)	(2,950)
Net income (loss) attributable to First Banks, Inc.	241,744	26,278	(41,150)
Preferred stock dividends declared	15,869	18,886	17,908
Accretion of discount on preferred stock	3,643	3,554	3,466
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 222,232	$ 3,838	$ (62,524)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 8,495.35	$ 535.03	$ (2,245.44)
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 896.96	$ (372.81)	$ (397.02)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 9,392.31	$ 162.22	$ (2,642.46)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	23,661	23,661	23,661