Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Farmers Capital Bank Corporation [Member]	First Sentry Bancshares, Inc. [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Farmers Capital Bank Corporation [Member]	Common Stock [Member] First Sentry Bancshares, Inc. [Member]	Capital Surplus [Member]	Capital Surplus [Member] Farmers Capital Bank Corporation [Member]	Capital Surplus [Member] First Sentry Bancshares, Inc. [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member] Farmers Capital Bank Corporation [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Deferred Benefits for Directors [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,395,321			$ 91,756			$ 684,730			$ 651,357			$ (31,495)	$ (1,027)
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017				44,043,244
Net income	99,184									99,184
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(27,315)												(27,315)
Comprehensive income	71,869
Common dividends declared	(42,127)									(42,127)
Adoption of accounting standard ASU 2016-01										1,063			(1,063)
Shares issued for acquisition		$ 391,267	$ 107,347		$ 16,487	$ 5,206		$ 374,464	$ 102,141			$ 316
Shares issued for acquisition, shares					7,920,387	2,498,761
Treasury shares acquired	(696)						34				$ (730)
Treasury shares acquired, shares				(15,489)
Restricted stock granted				$ 205			(205)
Restricted stock granted, shares				98,301
Stock compensation expense	2,933						2,933
Deferred benefits for directors- net	(494)						(437)							(57)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,927,269			$ 113,758			1,165,006			709,477	(15)		(59,873)	(1,084)
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2018				54,603,967
Stock options exercised	1,849			$ 104			1,346				399
Stock options exercised, shares				58,763
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	1,524,106			$ 97,197			789,038			692,820	(555)		(53,352)	(1,042)
Beginning Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2018				46,643,250
Net income	32,486									32,486
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(6,521)												(6,521)
Comprehensive income	25,965
Common dividends declared	(15,829)									(15,829)
Shares issued for acquisition		$ 391,267			$ 16,487			$ 374,465				$ 315
Shares issued for acquisition, shares					7,920,387
Treasury shares acquired	(15)										(15)
Treasury shares acquired, shares				(330)
Restricted stock granted				$ 39			(39)
Restricted stock granted, shares				18,685
Stock compensation expense	1,094						1,094
Deferred benefits for directors- net	(25)						17							(42)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,927,269			$ 113,758			1,165,006			709,477	(15)		(59,873)	(1,084)
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2018				54,603,967
Stock options exercised	706			$ 35			431				240
Stock options exercised, shares				21,975
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,978,827			$ 113,758			1,166,701			737,581	(274)		(37,871)	(1,068)
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018				54,598,134
Net income	122,497									122,497
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	47,793												47,793
Comprehensive income	170,290
Common dividends declared	(50,746)									(50,746)
Treasury shares acquired	(797)						170				(967)
Treasury shares acquired, shares				(26,358)
Restricted stock granted				$ 188			(1,076)				888
Restricted stock granted, shares				113,449
Stock compensation expense	3,772						3,772
Deferred benefits for directors- net	(198)						16							(214)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	2,101,269			$ 113,954			1,169,595			809,332	(252)		9,922	(1,282)
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2019				54,691,225
Stock options exercised	121			$ 8			12				101
Stock options exercised, shares				6,000
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	2,074,116			$ 113,952			1,168,212			788,900	(2)		4,113	(1,059)
Beginning Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2019				54,697,199
Net income	37,347									37,347
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	5,809												5,809
Comprehensive income	43,156
Common dividends declared	(16,915)									(16,915)
Treasury shares acquired	(208)						42				(250)
Treasury shares acquired, shares				(6,974)
Restricted stock granted				$ 2			(2)
Restricted stock granted, shares				1,000
Stock compensation expense	1,333						1,333
Deferred benefits for directors- net	(213)						10							(223)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 2,101,269			$ 113,954			$ 1,169,595			$ 809,332	$ (252)		$ 9,922	$ (1,282)
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2019				54,691,225