Condensed Financial Statements Of Parent Company (Schedule Of Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	$ 5,713	$ 4,074	$ (1,975)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(502)	(3,383)	(3,994)
Depreciation	1,286	1,393	1,566
Other-than-temporary impairment of securities	451	2,646	988
Realized securities (gains)	(2,348)	(4,006)	(2,051)
Stock compensation expense	2	10
(Increase) in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance	(269)	(825)	(541)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(2,289)	(1,552)	2,028
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	(1,259)	564	623
Net cash provided by operating activities	21,746	18,232	21,099
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale	72,056	131,950	50,893
Principal payments received on available for sale securities	66,377	57,670	57,444
Purchases of securities available for sale	(141,297)	(214,130)	(165,390)
Purchases of premises and equipment	(343)	(384)	(426)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	29,453	(1,478)	94,426
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Dividends paid on common stock
Dividends paid on preferred stock	(731)	(297)	(297)
Exercise of stock options
Reinvested dividends
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings	(11,998)	14,373	(48,157)
Repayment of long-term borrowings	(66,986)	(34,697)	(77,384)
Proceeds from issuance of subordinated debentures
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock		5,807
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(69,089)	(34,410)	(106,237)
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
Interest	24,745	31,775	40,537
Summit Financial Group, Inc. [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	5,713	4,074	(1,975)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in (undistributed) distributed net income of subsidiaries	(6,795)	(4,447)	1,089
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(61)	(11)	(120)
Depreciation	12	21	113
Realized securities (gains)	18	(1,112)	(343)
Stock compensation expense	2	10
(Increase) in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance	(1)	5	(11)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(11)	44	(729)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	599	439	883
Net cash provided by operating activities	(524)	(977)	(1,093)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Investment in subsidiaries			(4,824)
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale	648	1,130	356
Principal payments received on available for sale securities	662
Purchases of securities available for sale	(1,672)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment			5,552
Purchases of premises and equipment			(4)
Proceeds from sale of other assets			1,322
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(362)	1,130	2,402
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Dividends paid on preferred stock	(731)	(297)	(297)
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings			(2,666)
Repayment of long-term borrowings	(1,354)	(1,805)	(902)
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock		5,807
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,085)	3,705	(3,865)
Increase (decrease) in cash	(2,971)	3,858	(2,556)
Cash, Beginning Balance	8,466	4,608	7,164
Cash, Ending Balance	5,495	8,466	4,608
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
Interest	$ 1,824	$ 1,832	$ 1,941