Parent Company Financial Information - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income
Gain on extinguishment of debt										$ 552
Interest income	$ 18,920	$ 17,669	$ 17,743	$ 17,015	$ 17,464	$ 16,957	$ 16,741	$ 16,928	$ 71,347	68,090	$ 64,088
Loss on sale of investment securities									891	641	646
Expense
Interest expense									5,737	5,831	5,157
Share-based compensation									1,362	1,092	993
Income before income taxes	7,937	6,851	6,818	6,404	5,410	6,051	6,084	6,686	28,010	24,231	13,714
Income tax expense									11,077	8,882	4,749
Dividends and accretion on preferred stock							(70)			(70)	(168)
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 4,550	$ 4,183	$ 4,215	$ 3,985	$ 3,478	$ 4,002	$ 3,730	$ 4,069	16,933	15,279	8,797
Heritage Oaks Bancorp
Income
Dividends from subsidiaries									10,000	10,000	10,000
Gain on extinguishment of debt										450
Interest income									20	17	16
Loss on sale of investment securities									(41)
Total income									9,979	10,467	10,016
Expense
Interest expense									532	540	499
Share-based compensation									257	294	211
Other professional fees and outside services									555	573	737
Total expense									1,344	1,407	1,447
Income before income taxes									8,635	9,060	8,569
Income tax expense									(574)	(395)	(576)
Net income before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries									9,209	9,455	9,145
Equity in undisbursed income of subsidiaries									7,724	5,894	(180)
Dividends and accretion on preferred stock										(70)	(168)
Net income available to common shareholders									$ 16,933	$ 15,279	$ 8,797