CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Variable Interest Entity
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 41,044		$ 34,802
Portfolio Assets	99,971		123,946
Loans receivable	39,455		45,696
Equity investments	116,008		109,393
Other assets	24,729		25,593
Total assets	341,385	[1]	356,346	[1]
Notes payable	165,304		189,936
Other liabilities	23,830		23,690
Total liabilities	194,427	[2]	218,943	[2]
Loan portfolios, allowance for loan losses (in dollars)	753		781
Loans receivable - SBA held for investment, allowance for loan losses (in dollars)	441		333
Loans receivable - other, allowance for loan losses (in dollars)	1,083		1,083
Service fees receivable, affiliates (in dollars)	3,227		834
Optional preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Optional preferred stock, shares authorized	98,000,000		98,000,000
Optional preferred stock, shares issued	0		0
Optional preferred stock, shares outstanding	0		0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000		100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	12,056,197		11,890,590
Common stock, shares outstanding	10,556,197		10,390,590
Treasury stock, shares	1,500,000		1,500,000
Consolidated VIE's
Variable Interest Entity
Cash and cash equivalents	28,600		20,400
Portfolio Assets	78,600		98,400
Loans receivable	39,500		45,700
Equity investments	55,000		51,700
Other assets	35,800		35,900
Total assets	237,500		252,200
Notes payable	56,500		70,200
Other liabilities	18,500		19,000
Total liabilities	$ 75,000		$ 89,200

[1] Our consolidated assets at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include the following assets of certain variable interest entities ("VIEs") that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs: Cash and cash equivalents, $28.6 million and $20.4 million; Portfolio Assets, $78.6 million and $98.4 million; Loans receivable, $39.5 million and $45.7 million; Equity investments, $55.0 million and $51.7 million; various other assets, $35.8 million and $35.9 million; and Total assets, $237.5 million and $252.2 million, respectively.

[2] Our consolidated liabilities at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include the following VIE liabilities for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to FirstCity: Notes payable, $56.5 million and $70.2 million; Other liabilities, $18.5 million and $19.0 million; and Total liabilities, $75.0 million and $89.2 million, respectively.