Regulatory Requirements - Regulatory Capital Required (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Total Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Actual, ratio	13.30%	11.80%
Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Actual, ratio	12.20%	10.60%
Tier 1 Capital (to average assets)
Actual, ratio	9.20%	8.30%
Yadkin Valley Bank and Trust
Total Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Actual, amount	189,961	181,730
Actual, ratio	13.00%	11.49%
For capital adequacy purposes, amount	116,923	126,579
For capital adequacy purposes, ratio	8.00%	8.00%
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, amount	146,154	158,224
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, ratio	10.00%	10.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Actual, amount	171,505	161,790
Actual, ratio	11.70%	10.23%
For capital adequacy purposes, amount	58,462	63,290
For capital adequacy purposes, ratio	4.00%	4.00%
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, amount	87,692	94,935
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, ratio	6.00%	6.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to average assets)
Actual, amount	171,505	161,790
Actual, ratio	8.90%	7.90%
For capital adequacy purposes, amount	76,912	80,946
For capital adequacy purposes, ratio	4.00%	4.00%
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, amount	96,139	101,182
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, ratio	5.00%	5.00%
Yadkin Valley Financial Corporation
Total Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Actual, amount	194,932	186,614
Actual, ratio	13.30%	11.79%
For capital adequacy purposes, amount	116,960	126,677
For capital adequacy purposes, ratio	8.00%	8.00%
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, amount	146,200	158,346
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, ratio	10.00%	10.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Actual, amount	177,656	167,744
Actual, ratio	12.20%	10.59%
For capital adequacy purposes, amount	58,480	63,338
For capital adequacy purposes, ratio	4.00%	4.00%
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, amount	87,720	95,008
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, ratio	6.00%	6.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to average assets)
Actual, amount	177,656	167,744
Actual, ratio	9.20%	8.28%
For capital adequacy purposes, amount	76,998	81,035
For capital adequacy purposes, ratio	4.00%	4.00%
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, amount	96,247	101,294
To be well capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions, ratio	5.00%	5.00%