Note 8 - Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase and Other Long-term Borrowings (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2012 Amount Allowable in Tier 1 Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Amount Allowable in Tier 1 Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2005 Farmers Capital Bank Trust I [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Farmers Capital Bank Trust I [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Farmers Capital Bank Trust I [Member]	Dec. 31, 2005 Farmers Capital Bank Trust II [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Farmers Capital Bank Trust II [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Farmers Capital Bank Trust II [Member]	Dec. 31, 2007 Farmers Capital Bank Trust III [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Farmers Capital Bank Trust III [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Farmers Capital Bank Trust III [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Farmers Capital Bank Trust III [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Putable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Putable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible to a Floating Interest Rate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Convertible to a Floating Interest Rate [Member]
Federal Home Loan Bank, Advances, General Debt Obligations, Disclosures, Interest Rate, Range from	2.60%	2.60%
Federal Home Loan Bank, Advances, General Debt Obligations, Disclosures, Interest Rate, Range to	6.90%	6.90%
Federal Home Loan Bank, Advances, Activity for Year, Average Interest Rate for Year	4.04%	4.14%
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances General Debt Obligations Remaining Maturity Period	8 years	9 years
Long-term Federal Home Loan Bank Advances	$ 29,297,000	$ 40,694,000														$ 28,000,000	$ 28,000,000	$ 0	$ 10,000,000
Federal Home Loan Bank, Advances, General Debt Obligations, Amount of Available, Unused Funds	93,300,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Trust Preferred Securities				47,500,000	47,500,000	10,000,000			15,000,000			22,500,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage														6.60%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate (in Basis Points)							1.50%			1.65%			1.32%
Junior Subordinated Debenture Owed to Unconsolidated Subsidiary Trust	48,970,000	48,970,000					10,300,000	10,300,000		15,500,000	15,500,000		23,200,000		23,200,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage							1.81%	2.08%		1.96%	2.23%		1.63%		6.60%
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase	$ 100,000,000	$ 150,000,000	$ 200,000,000
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate	3.95%	3.96%	3.95%
Value as Percentage of Outstanding Principal Balance			106.00%