Note 23: Regulatory Matters: Schedule of Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Total risk-based capital | Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Actual Capital Amount	$ 407,725	$ 363,721
Actual Capital Ratio	16.90%	16.10%
Capital Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	192,816	180,877
Capital Ratio Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	8.00%	8.00%
Total risk-based capital | Great Southern Bank
Actual Capital Amount	338,859	342,690
Actual Capital Ratio	15.90%	15.30%
Capital Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	192,646	178,843
Capital Ratio Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	8.00%	8.00%
Capital Required to Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions	240,808	223,554
Capital Ratio Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions	10.00%	10.00%
Tier I risk-based capital | Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Actual Capital Amount	377,468	335,298
Actual Capital Ratio	15.70%	14.80%
Capital Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	96,408	90,438
Capital Ratio Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	4.00%	4.00%
Tier I risk-based capital | Great Southern Bank
Actual Capital Amount	353,628	314,582
Actual Capital Ratio	14.70%	14.10%
Capital Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	96,323	89,422
Capital Ratio Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	4.00%	4.00%
Capital Required to Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions	144,485	134,132
Capital Ratio Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions	6.00%	6.00%
Tier I leverage capital | Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Actual Capital Amount	377,468	335,298
Actual Capital Ratio	9.50%	9.20%
Capital Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	159,359	145,753
Capital Ratio Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	4.00%	4.00%
Tier I leverage capital | Great Southern Bank
Actual Capital Amount	353,628	314,582
Actual Capital Ratio	8.90%	8.60%
Capital Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	159,120	145,599
Capital Ratio Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes	4.00%	4.00%
Capital Required to Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions	$ 198,900	$ 181,999
Capital Ratio Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions	5.00%	5.00%