Bank Loans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Nonaccrual loans more than 90 days past due	$ 300,000	$ 300,000		$ 1,100,000
Specific allowance	100,000	100,000		200,000
Troubled debt restructurings	400,000	400,000		400,000
Collateralized loan portfolio	98.00%	98.00%		98.00%
Loans outstanding amount				900,000
Mortgage loans held for sale	55,110,000	55,110,000		86,344,000
Gains recognized from sale of loans	1,400,000	3,400,000	2,500,000	1,400,000
Stifel Financial Corp. [Member]
Loans outstanding amount	2,800,000	2,800,000		3,500,000
Stifel Bank [Member]
Loans outstanding amount	$ 900,000	$ 900,000