Bank Loans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market	$ 179,588	$ 179,588	$ 121,900	$ 179,588	$ 121,900	$ 121,939
Gains recognized from sale of loans		3,300	$ 2,200	9,400	$ 5,800
Nonaccrual loans more than 90 days past due	600	600		600		4,900
Troubled debt restructurings	200	200		200		1,000
Specific allowance	$ 174	$ 174		$ 174		$ 272
Collateralized loan portfolio	96.40%	96.40%		96.40%		95.80%
Residential Mortgages [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gains recognized from sale of loans	$ 14,700
Reclassification of loans held for sale		$ 227,600
Principal balance of loans sold	184,400
Remaining portion of loans held for sale	33,900	33,900		$ 33,900
Stifel Bank [Member] | Executive Officers Directors and Their Affiliates [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans outstanding amount	1,900	1,900		1,900		$ 600
Stifel Financial Corp. [Member] | Executive Officers Directors and Their Affiliates [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans outstanding amount	$ 9,600	$ 9,600		$ 9,600		$ 5,300