Note 1 - Nature of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				33 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2007	Sep. 30, 2001	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2012
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues			4,400,000		3,964,481
Percentage of Outstanding Shares					20.00%
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01			$ 52.00	$ 10.00		$ 0.01
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock (in Dollars)			$ 26,600,000		$ 37,200,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	9,500			508,842		1,186,858
Stock Repurchase Plan		5.00%
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value (in Dollars)	$ 88,838
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	18,220,260						18,229,760
First Charter [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	11,457,924
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	62.70%
Public [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	6,819,616
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	37.30%
First Charter MHC [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	18,277,540
First Charter [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues					15,857,924
Percentage of Outstanding Shares					80.00%
Treasury Stock, Shares, Retired			4,400,000