Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 15, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	FFKY
Entity Registrant Name	FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000854395
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,765,222
Entity Public Float			$ 13,060,375