CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 91,877	$ 92,369
Short-term investments	171,589	98,066
Total cash and cash equivalents	263,466	190,435
Investment securities:
Available for sale	1,461,552	1,611,745
Held to maturity (fair value of $658,343 and $719,183, respectively)	667,831	740,186
Total investment securities	2,129,383	2,351,931
Loans:
Commercial, financial and agricultural	645,862	600,704
Real estate construction and development	75,609	121,662
Real estate mortgage	2,213,321	2,091,026
Consumer and installment	16,840	18,681
Loans held for sale	28,866	25,548
Net deferred loan fees	(921)	(526)
Total loans	2,979,577	2,857,095
Allowance for loan losses	(74,694)	(81,033)
Net loans	2,904,883	2,776,062
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock	30,623	27,357
Bank premises and equipment, net	122,080	124,328
Deferred income taxes	318,897	315,881
Other real estate	55,709	66,702
Other assets	61,774	66,287
Total assets	5,886,815	5,918,983
LIABILITIES
Noninterest-bearing demand	1,302,622	1,243,545
Interest-bearing demand	693,670	679,527
Savings and money market	1,883,993	1,844,710
Time deposits of $100 or more	352,323	389,056
Other time deposits	594,322	657,057
Total deposits	4,826,930	4,813,895
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	42,682	43,143
Subordinated debentures	354,267	354,210
Deferred income taxes	44,067	28,397
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	110,176	191,082
Total liabilities	5,378,122	5,430,727
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 earnings	59,397	42,719
Accumulated other comprehensive income	11,347	7,502
Total First Banks, Inc. stockholders’ equity	414,945	394,422
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	93,748	93,834
Total stockholders’ equity	508,693	488,256
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	5,886,815	5,918,983
Class A Convertible Adjustable Rate Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock	12,822	12,822
Class B Adjustable Rate Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock	241	241
Class C Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock	295,400	295,400
Class D Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock	$ 17,343	$ 17,343