Mergers and Acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified						1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended						1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Savannah Bancorp ("SAVB") item	Jun. 30, 2012 Savannah Bancorp ("SAVB")	Apr. 30, 2012 Peoples	Sep. 30, 2012 Peoples	Apr. 24, 2012 Peoples	Apr. 30, 2012 Peoples As previously recorded by acquiree	Apr. 24, 2012 Peoples As previously recorded by acquiree	Apr. 24, 2012 Peoples Initial Fair Value Adjustments	Apr. 24, 2012 Peoples Subsequent Fair Value Adjustments	Apr. 24, 2012 Peoples Fair Value Adjustments	Oct. 24, 2012 Savannah Bancorp ("SAVB")	Aug. 31, 2012 Savannah Bancorp ("SAVB") Agreement and Plan of Merger	Oct. 24, 2012 Savannah Bancorp ("SAVB") Agreement and Plan of Merger
Mergers and Acquisitions
Number of wholly-owned bank subsidiaries				2
Total assets	$ 4,325,232	$ 3,896,557	$ 3,935,518		$ 952,200
Loans					725,300
Deposits	3,589,298	3,254,472	3,287,653		818,000
Number of branches				11
Shares issued to aquiree shareholders						1,002,741			1,002,741						1,802,000
Fixed exchange ratio for shares issued (as a percent)															25.03%
Common stock, shares outstanding	15,114,185	14,039,422	14,004,372											7,199,237
Closing stock price (in dollars per share)														$ 39.38
Value of transaction								44,500		44,549						71,000
Per share value of transaction (in dollars per share)																$ 9.86
Number of shares of common stock issued per share								0.1413
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents								24,459		24,459
Investment securities								175,892		176,334	(442)
Loans								234,245		262,858	(28,613)
Premises and equipment								13,296		10,094	3,240	(38)
Intangible assets								2,930			2,930
Other real estate owned and repossessed assets								8,030		13,257	(5,341)	114
Deferred tax asset								16,371		4,702	11,669
Other assets								16,699		17,588	(883)	(6)
Total assets								491,922		509,292	(17,440)	70
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing								54,884		54,884
Interest-bearing								380,186		378,781	1,405
Total deposits								435,070		433,665	1,405
Other borrowings								9,542		9,542
Other liabilities								6,402		4,291	2,054	57
Total liabilities								451,014		447,498	3,459	57
Net identifiable assets acquired over (under) liabilities assumed								40,908		61,794	(20,899)	13
Goodwill							66,529	3,641			3,654	(13)
Net assets acquired over (under) liabilities assumed								44,549		61,794	(17,245)
Consideration:
SCBT Financial Corporation common shares issued						1,002,741			1,002,741						1,802,000
Purchase price per share of the Company's common stock (in dollars per share)										$ 31.06
Company common stock issued and cash exchanged for fractional shares								31,100		31,160
Stock options converted										96
Cash paid for TARP preferred stock								13,400		13,293
Fair value of total consideration transferred								44,500		44,549						71,000
Income tax rate at which purchase accounting adjustments are made to adjust deferred tax asset (as a percent)													35.80%
Reconciliation of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period							62,888	3,641			3,654	(13)
Additions, goodwill from acquisition							3,641
Balance at the end of the period							$ 66,529	$ 3,641			$ 3,654	$ (13)