Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Operations On December 15, 2005, Howard Bancorp, Inc. (“Bancorp”) acquired all of the stock and became the holding company of Howard Bank (the “Bank”) pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization approved by the shareholders of the Bank and by federal and state regulatory agencies. Each share of Bank common stock was converted into two shares of Bancorp common stock effected by the filing of Articles of Exchange on that date, and the shareholders of the Bank became the shareholders of Bancorp. The Bank has three subsidiaries, two of which hold foreclosed real estate and the other owns and manages real estate that is used as a branch location and has office and retail space. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Bancorp and its wholly-owned subsidiary bank (collectively the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited, however they reflect all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring accruals that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The balances as of December 31, 2011 have been derived from audited financial statements. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s accounting policies as disclosed in the 2011 Annual Report. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the remainder of the year or any other period. Bancorp was incorporated in April of 2005 under the laws of the State of Maryland and is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Bancorp is a single bank holding company with one subsidiary, Howard Bank, which operates as a state trust company with commercial banking powers regulated by the Maryland Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation (the “Commissioner”). The Company is a diversified financial services company providing commercial banking, mortgage banking and consumer finance through banking branches, the internet and other distribution channels to businesses, business owners, professionals and other consumers located primarily in Howard County Maryland, Anne Arundel County Maryland and their contiguous counties. The following is a description of the Company’s significant accounting policies. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bancorp, its subsidiary bank and the bank’s subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications may have been made to the prior year’s consolidated financial statements to conform to current period presentation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant changes in the near-term relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses, other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities, deferred income taxes and share-based compensation. Segment Information The Company has one reportable segment, “Community Banking.” All of the Company’s activities are interrelated, and each activity is dependent and assessed based on how each of the activities of the Company supports the others. For example, lending is dependent upon the ability of the Bank to fund itself with deposits and other borrowings and manage interest rate and credit risk. Accordingly, all significant operating decisions are based upon analysis of the Company as one segment or unit. New Accounting Pronouncements ASU No. 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” ASU No. 2011-11 requires an entity to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. This scope would include derivatives, sale and repurchase agreements and reverse sale and repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending arrangements. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods and is not expected to have a significant impact on the financial statements. ASU No. 2011-12, “Deferral of Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05.” ASU No. 2011-12 defer the effective date pertaining to reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income in Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income, until the Board is able to reconsider those paragraphs. While the Board is considering the concerns entities should continue to report reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect before Update 2011-05. ASU No. 2011-12 became effective January 1, 2012 and did not have a significant impact on the financial statements.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

On December 15, 2005, Howard Bancorp, Inc. (“Bancorp”) acquired all of the stock and became the holding company of Howard Bank (the “Bank”) pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization approved by the shareholders of the Bank and by federal and state regulatory agencies. Each share of Bank common stock was converted into two shares of Bancorp common stock effected by the filing of Articles of Exchange on that date, and the shareholders of the Bank became the shareholders of Bancorp. The Bank has three subsidiaries, two of which hold foreclosed real estate and the other owns and manages real estate that is used as a branch location and has office and retail space. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Bancorp and its wholly-owned subsidiary bank (collectively the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited, however they reflect all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring accruals that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The balances as of December 31, 2011 have been derived from audited financial statements. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s accounting policies as disclosed in the 2011 Annual Report. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the remainder of the year or any other period.

Bancorp was incorporated in April of 2005 under the laws of the State of Maryland and is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Bancorp is a single bank holding company with one subsidiary, Howard Bank, which operates as a state trust company with commercial banking powers regulated by the Maryland Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation (the “Commissioner”).

The Company is a diversified financial services company providing commercial banking, mortgage banking and consumer finance through banking branches, the internet and other distribution channels to businesses, business owners, professionals and other consumers located primarily in Howard County Maryland, Anne Arundel County Maryland and their contiguous counties.

The following is a description of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bancorp, its subsidiary bank and the bank’s subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain reclassifications may have been made to the prior year’s consolidated financial statements to conform to current period presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant changes in the near-term relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses, other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities, deferred income taxes and share-based compensation.

Segment Information

The Company has one reportable segment, “Community Banking.” All of the Company’s activities are interrelated, and each activity is dependent and assessed based on how each of the activities of the Company supports the others. For example, lending is dependent upon the ability of the Bank to fund itself with deposits and other borrowings and manage interest rate and credit risk. Accordingly, all significant operating decisions are based upon analysis of the Company as one segment or unit.

New Accounting Pronouncements

ASU No. 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” ASU No. 2011-11 requires an entity to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. This scope would include derivatives, sale and repurchase agreements and reverse sale and repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending arrangements. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods and is not expected to have a significant impact on the financial statements.

ASU No. 2011-12, “Deferral of Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05.” ASU No. 2011-12 defer the effective date pertaining to reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income in Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income, until the Board is able to reconsider those paragraphs. While the Board is considering the concerns entities should continue to report reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect before Update 2011-05. ASU No. 2011-12 became effective January 1, 2012 and did not have a significant impact on the financial statements.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.

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