Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation	Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (BancShares) is a financial holding company organized under the laws of Delaware and conducts operations through its banking subsidiary, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (FCB), which is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. General These consolidated financial statements and notes are presented in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all information and notes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flow activity required in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). In the opinion of management, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations have been made. The information contained in the financial statements and footnotes included in BancShares Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, should be referred to in connection with these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. BancShares evaluates all subsequent events prior to filing this Form 10-Q. Reclassifications In certain instances, amounts reported in prior years' consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported cash flows, shareholders' equity or net income. Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and different assumptions in the application of these policies could result in material changes in BancShares' consolidated financial position and/or consolidated results of operations and related disclosures. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses, determination of fair value for financial instruments, other real estate owned (OREO), cash flow estimates on acquired loans receivable and payable from/to FDIC for loss share agreements, purchase accounting related adjustments, and income tax assets, liabilities, and expense. Goodwill Impairment Annual impairment tests are conducted as of July 31 each year. Based on the third quarter 2012 impairment test, management concluded there was no impairment of goodwill. In addition to the annual testing requirement, impairment tests are performed for various other events including significant adverse changes in the business climate, considering various qualitative and quantitative factors to determine whether impairment exists. Recent Accounting and Regulatory Pronouncements Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU ) 2013-01, “Balance Sheet” This ASU's objective is to clarify that the scope of ASU No. 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, would apply to derivatives including bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset in accordance with Section 210-20-45 or Section 815-10-45 or are subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement. BancShares is required to apply the amendments for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The effective date is the same as the effective date of Update 2011-11. BancShares has adopted the methodologies prescribed by this ASU by the date required, and the ASU did not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations. FASB ASU 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” This ASU requires BancShares to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts, BancShares is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. For public entities, the amendments are effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. BancShares has adopted the methodologies prescribed by this ASU by the date required, and the ASU did not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations. BancShares has included the required disclosures in Note L. FASB ASU 2013-04, “Liabilities” This ASU provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this Update is fixed at the reporting date, except for obligations addressed within existing guidance in GAAP. The guidance requires BancShares to measure those obligations as the sum of the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. The guidance in this Update also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. BancShares will adopt the methodologies prescribed by this ASU by the date required, and does not anticipate that the ASU will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (BancShares) is a financial holding company organized under the laws of Delaware and conducts operations through its banking subsidiary, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (FCB), which is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

General

These consolidated financial statements and notes are presented in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all information and notes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flow activity required in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). In the opinion of management, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations have been made. The information contained in the financial statements and footnotes included in BancShares Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, should be referred to in connection with these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

BancShares evaluates all subsequent events prior to filing this Form 10-Q.

Reclassifications

In certain instances, amounts reported in prior years' consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported cash flows, shareholders' equity or net income.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and different assumptions in the application of these policies could result in material changes in BancShares' consolidated financial position and/or consolidated results of operations and related disclosures. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses, determination of fair value for financial instruments, other real estate owned (OREO), cash flow estimates on acquired loans receivable and payable from/to FDIC for loss share agreements, purchase accounting related adjustments, and income tax assets, liabilities, and expense.

Goodwill Impairment

Annual impairment tests are conducted as of July 31 each year. Based on the third quarter 2012 impairment test, management concluded there was no impairment of goodwill. In addition to the annual testing requirement, impairment tests are performed for various other events including significant adverse changes in the business climate, considering various qualitative and quantitative factors to determine whether impairment exists.

Recent Accounting and Regulatory Pronouncements

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU ) 2013-01, “Balance Sheet”

This ASU's objective is to clarify that the scope of ASU No. 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, would apply to derivatives including bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset in accordance with Section 210-20-45 or Section 815-10-45 or are subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement.

BancShares is required to apply the amendments for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The effective date is the same as the effective date of Update 2011-11. BancShares has adopted the methodologies prescribed by this ASU by the date required, and the ASU did not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASU 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.”

This ASU requires BancShares to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts, BancShares is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts.

For public entities, the amendments are effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. BancShares has adopted the methodologies prescribed by this ASU by the date required, and the ASU did not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations. BancShares has included the required disclosures in Note L.

FASB ASU 2013-04, “Liabilities”

This ASU provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this Update is fixed at the reporting date, except for obligations addressed within existing guidance in GAAP.

The guidance requires BancShares to measure those obligations as the sum of the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. The guidance in this Update also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations.

The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. BancShares will adopt the methodologies prescribed by this ASU by the date required, and does not anticipate that the ASU will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.