SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation Citizens Bancshares Corporation (the “Company”) is a holding company that provides a full range of commercial and personal banking services to individual and corporate customers in metropolitan Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia, and in Birmingham and Eutaw, Alabama, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Citizens Trust Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank operates under a state charter and serves its customers through seven full-service financial centers in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, one full-service financial center in Columbus, Georgia, one full-service financial center in Birmingham, Alabama, and one full-service financial center in Eutaw, Alabama. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles are not included herein. These interim statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2014. The results of operations for the interim periods reported herein are not necessarily representative of the results expected for the full 2015 fiscal year. The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2015 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the three and nine month period have been included. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Accounting Policies The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which often require the judgment of management in the selection and application of certain accounting principles and methods. Reference is made to the accounting policies of the Company described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company has followed those policies in preparing this report. Management believes that the quality and reasonableness of its most critical policies enable the fair presentation of its financial position and of its results of operations. Troubled Asset Relief Program On August 13, 2010, as part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) Community Development Capital Initiative, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement, and an Exchange Agreement–Standard Terms (“Exchange Agreement”), with the Treasury, pursuant to which the Company agreed to exchange 7,462 shares of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (“Series A Preferred Shares”), issued on March 6, 2009, pursuant to the Company’s participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program, for 7,462 shares of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B (“Series B Preferred Shares”) issued pursuant to the TARP Community Development Capital Initiative, both of which have a liquidation preference of $1,000 (the “Exchange Transaction”). No new monetary consideration was exchanged in connection with the Exchange Transaction. The Exchange Transaction closed on August 13, 2010 (the “Closing Date”). On September 17, 2010, the Company issued 4,379 shares of its Series C Preferred Shares to the Treasury as part of its TARP Community Development Capital Initiative for a total of 11,841 shares of Series B and C Preferred Shares issued to Treasury. The issuance of the Series B and Series C Preferred Shares was a private placement exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Series B and Series C Preferred Shares qualify as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 2% per annum for the first eight years after the Closing Date and 9% per annum thereafter. The Company may, subject to consultation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, redeem the Series B and Series C Preferred Shares at any time for its aggregate liquidation amount plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In January 2014, the FASB amended Receivables topic of the Accounting Standards Codification. The amendments are intended to resolve diversity in practice with respect to when a creditor should reclassify a collateralized consumer mortgage loan to other real estate owned (OREO). In addition, the amendments require a creditor reclassify a collateralized consumer mortgage loan to OREO upon obtaining legal title to the real estate collateral, or the borrower voluntarily conveying all interest in the real estate property to the lender to satisfy the loan through a deed in lieu of foreclosure or similar legal agreement. The amendments were effective for the Company for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual period beginning after December 15, 2014, with early implementation of the guidance permitted. In implementing this guidance, assets that are reclassified from real estate to loans are measured at the carrying value of the real estate at the date of adoption. Assets reclassified from loans to real estate are measured at the lower of the net amount of the loan receivable or the fair value of the real estate less costs to sell at the date of adoption. The Company applied the amendments prospectively. These amendments did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance to change the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The core principle of the new guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to reflect the transfer of goods and services to customers in an amount equal to the consideration the entity receives or expects to receive. The guidance will be effective for the Company for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will apply the guidance using a full retrospective approach. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements. In February 2015, the FASB issued guidance which amends the consolidation requirements and significantly changes the consolidation analysis required under U.S. GAAP. Although the amendments are expected to result in the deconsolidation of many entities, the Company will need to reevaluate all its previous consolidation conclusions. The amendments will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted (including during an interim period), provided that the guidance is applied as of the beginning of the annual period containing the adoption date. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements. In June 2015, the FASB issued amendments to clarify the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), correct unintended application of guidance, and make minor improvements to the ASC that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities. The amendments were effective upon issuance (June 12, 2015) for amendments that do not have transition guidance. Amendments that are subject to transition guidance will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements. In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. As a result of the deferral, the guidance in ASU 2014-09 will be effective for the Company for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will apply the guidance using a full retrospective approach. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements. Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

Citizens Bancshares Corporation (the “Company”) is a holding company that provides a full range of commercial and personal banking services to individual and corporate customers in metropolitan Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia, and in Birmingham and Eutaw, Alabama, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Citizens Trust Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank operates under a state charter and serves its customers through seven full-service financial centers in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, one full-service financial center in Columbus, Georgia, one full-service financial center in Birmingham, Alabama, and one full-service financial center in Eutaw, Alabama.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles are not included herein. These interim statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2014. The results of operations for the interim periods reported herein are not necessarily representative of the results expected for the full 2015 fiscal year.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2015 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the three and nine month period have been included. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Accounting Policies

The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which often require the judgment of management in the selection and application of certain accounting principles and methods. Reference is made to the accounting policies of the Company described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company has followed those policies in preparing this report. Management believes that the quality and reasonableness of its most critical policies enable the fair presentation of its financial position and of its results of operations.

Troubled Asset Relief Program

On August 13, 2010, as part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) Community Development Capital Initiative, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement, and an Exchange Agreement–Standard Terms (“Exchange Agreement”), with the Treasury, pursuant to which the Company agreed to exchange 7,462 shares of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (“Series A Preferred Shares”), issued on March 6, 2009, pursuant to the Company’s participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program, for 7,462 shares of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B (“Series B Preferred Shares”) issued pursuant to the TARP Community Development Capital Initiative, both of which have a liquidation preference of $1,000 (the “Exchange Transaction”). No new monetary consideration was exchanged in connection with the Exchange Transaction. The Exchange Transaction closed on August 13, 2010 (the “Closing Date”).

On September 17, 2010, the Company issued 4,379 shares of its Series C Preferred Shares to the Treasury as part of its TARP Community Development Capital Initiative for a total of 11,841 shares of Series B and C Preferred Shares issued to Treasury. The issuance of the Series B and Series C Preferred Shares was a private placement exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The Series B and Series C Preferred Shares qualify as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 2% per annum for the first eight years after the Closing Date and 9% per annum thereafter. The Company may, subject to consultation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, redeem the Series B and Series C Preferred Shares at any time for its aggregate liquidation amount plus any accrued and unpaid dividends.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In January 2014, the FASB amended Receivables topic of the Accounting Standards Codification. The amendments are intended to resolve diversity in practice with respect to when a creditor should reclassify a collateralized consumer mortgage loan to other real estate owned (OREO). In addition, the amendments require a creditor reclassify a collateralized consumer mortgage loan to OREO upon obtaining legal title to the real estate collateral, or the borrower voluntarily conveying all interest in the real estate property to the lender to satisfy the loan through a deed in lieu of foreclosure or similar legal agreement. The amendments were effective for the Company for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual period beginning after December 15, 2014, with early implementation of the guidance permitted. In implementing this guidance, assets that are reclassified from real estate to loans are measured at the carrying value of the real estate at the date of adoption. Assets reclassified from loans to real estate are measured at the lower of the net amount of the loan receivable or the fair value of the real estate less costs to sell at the date of adoption. The Company applied the amendments prospectively. These amendments did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance to change the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The core principle of the new guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to reflect the transfer of goods and services to customers in an amount equal to the consideration the entity receives or expects to receive. The guidance will be effective for the Company for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will apply the guidance using a full retrospective approach. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued guidance which amends the consolidation requirements and significantly changes the consolidation analysis required under U.S. GAAP. Although the amendments are expected to result in the deconsolidation of many entities, the Company will need to reevaluate all its previous consolidation conclusions. The amendments will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted (including during an interim period), provided that the guidance is applied as of the beginning of the annual period containing the adoption date. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In June 2015, the FASB issued amendments to clarify the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), correct unintended application of guidance, and make minor improvements to the ASC that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities. The amendments were effective upon issuance (June 12, 2015) for amendments that do not have transition guidance. Amendments that are subject to transition guidance will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. As a result of the deferral, the guidance in ASU 2014-09 will be effective for the Company for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will apply the guidance using a full retrospective approach. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.