CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Variable Interest Entity
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 34,802		$ 46,597
Portfolio Assets	123,946		216,061
Loans receivable	45,696		56,815
Equity investments	109,393		107,209
Other assets	25,593		27,071
Total assets	356,346	[1]	460,404	[1]
Notes payable	189,936		293,034
Other liabilities	23,690		30,825
Total liabilities	218,943	[2]	335,664	[2]
Loan portfolios, allowance for loan losses (in dollars)	781		45,162
Loans receivable - SBA held for investment, allowance for loan losses (in dollars)	333		365
Loans receivable - other, allowance for loan losses (in dollars)	1,083		1,083
Service fees receivable, affiliates (in dollars)	834		805
Optional preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Optional preferred stock, shares authorized	98,000,000		98,000,000
Optional preferred stock, shares issued	0		0
Optional preferred stock, shares outstanding	0		0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000		100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	11,890,590		11,779,464
Common stock, shares outstanding	10,390,590		10,279,464
Treasury stock, shares	1,500,000		1,500,000
Consolidated VIE's
Variable Interest Entity
Cash and cash equivalents	20,400		29,800
Portfolio Assets	98,400		203,000
Loans receivable	45,700		56,800
Equity investments	51,700		67,300
Other assets	35,900		27,900
Total assets	252,200		384,800
Notes payable	70,200		39,300
Other liabilities	19,000		23,400
Total liabilities	$ 89,200		$ 62,700

[1] Our consolidated assets at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 include the following assets of certain variable interest entities ("VIEs") that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs: Cash and cash equivalents, $20.4 million and $29.8 million; Portfolio Assets, $98.4 million and $203.0 million; Loans receivable, $45.7 million and $56.8 million; Equity investments, $51.7 million and $67.3 million; various other assets, $35.9 million and $27.9 million; and Total assets, $252.2 million and $384.8 million, respectively.

[2] Our consolidated liabilities at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 include the following VIE liabilities for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to FirstCity: Notes payable, $70.2 million and $39.3 million; Other liabilities, $19.0 million and $23.4 million; and Total liabilities, $89.2 million and $62.7 million, respectively.