CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 97,255us-gaap_CashAndDueFromBanks	$ 100,349us-gaap_CashAndDueFromBanks
Short-term investments	133,480us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsInBanks	105,053us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsInBanks
Total cash and cash equivalents	230,735	205,402
Investment securities:
Available for sale	1,554,442us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities	1,445,689us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Held to maturity (fair value of $597,341 and $614,272, respectively)	595,335us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities	618,148us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
Total investment securities	2,149,777us-gaap_MarketableSecurities	2,063,837us-gaap_MarketableSecurities
Loans:
Commercial, financial and agricultural	700,183	695,267
Real estate construction and development	110,705	89,851
Real estate mortgage	2,319,175	2,315,186
Consumer and installment	20,956	18,950
Net deferred loan fees	(1,277)	(1,422)
Total loans held for portfolio	3,149,742	3,117,832
Loans held for sale	43,655us-gaap_LoansHeldForSaleMortgages	31,411us-gaap_LoansHeldForSaleMortgages
Total loans	3,193,397	3,149,243
Allowance for loan losses	(64,142)	(66,874)
Net loans	3,129,255	3,082,369
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock	30,348	30,458
Bank premises and equipment, net	117,803us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	123,016us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Deferred income taxes	310,698us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet	312,575us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Other real estate	15,227	55,666
Other assets	62,787us-gaap_OtherAssets	62,196us-gaap_OtherAssets
Total assets	6,046,630us-gaap_Assets	5,935,519us-gaap_Assets
LIABILITIES
Noninterest-bearing deposits	1,386,562	1,303,519
Interest-bearing deposits	3,585,527	3,545,985
Total deposits	4,972,089us-gaap_Deposits	4,849,504us-gaap_Deposits
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	51,032	64,875
Subordinated debentures	354,305us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt	354,286us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt
Deferred income taxes	43,558us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	40,728us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	106,275us-gaap_OtherLiabilities	113,682us-gaap_OtherLiabilities
Total liabilities	5,527,259us-gaap_Liabilities	5,423,075us-gaap_Liabilities
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock, $250.00 par value, 25,000 shares authorized, 23,661 shares issued and outstanding	5,915us-gaap_CommonStockValue	5,915us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Additional paid-in capital	324,913us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital	324,913us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital
Retained earnings	67,048	64,374
Accumulated other comprehensive income	14,355	10,111
Total First Banks, Inc. stockholders’ equity	425,604us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	418,686us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	93,767us-gaap_MinorityInterest	93,758us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Total stockholders’ equity	519,371	512,444
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	6,046,630	5,935,519
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	295
Class D Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock	$ 15	$ 15

Amount before allowance and after deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans, and loans held for sale. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

No definition available.