Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012
Entity Registrant Name	FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000854395
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Trading Symbol	FFKY
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,773,100
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012