CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Finance and Servicing:
Servicing fees ($10,151 and $7,990 from affiliates, respectively)	$ 11,065	$ 8,658
Income from Portfolio Assets	40,622	45,971
Gain on sale of SBA loans held for sale, net	2,261	654
Gain on sale of investment securities	90	3,250
Interest income from SBA loans	1,433	1,212
Interest income from loans receivable - affiliates	2,942	3,315
Interest income from loans receivable - other	606	807
Other income	8,309	6,511
Total finance and servicing	67,328	70,378
Manufacturing and Railroad:
Operating revenues - manufacturing		10,466
Operating revenues - railroad	6,989	4,720
Total manufacturing and railroad	6,989	15,186
Total revenues	74,317	85,564
Finance and Servicing:
Interest and fees on notes payable to banks and other	13,032	14,594
Interest and fees on notes payable to affiliates	1,502	1,572
Salaries and benefits	22,794	21,284
Provision for loan and impairment losses	4,165	9,294
Asset-level expenses	6,094	7,852
Other costs and expenses	16,429	12,427
Total finance and servicing	64,016	67,023
Manufacturing and Railroad:
Cost of revenues and operating costs - manufacturing		10,788
Cost of revenues and operating costs - railroad	4,583	2,739
Total manufacturing and railroad	4,583	13,527
Total costs and expenses	68,599	80,550
Earnings before other revenue and income taxes	5,718	5,014
Equity income from unconsolidated subsidiaries	2,231	14,609
Gain on business combinations	433	4,595
Gain on debt extinguishment	26,543
Gain on sale of subsidiaries	1,818
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	36,743	24,218
Income tax expense	3,702	2,252
Earnings from continuing operations, net of tax	33,041	21,966
Income from discontinued operations		3,962
Net earnings	33,041	25,928
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	8,824	13,425
Net earnings attributable to FirstCity	$ 24,217	$ 12,503
Basic earnings per share of common stock:
Earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 2.34	$ 0.85
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.39
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 2.34	$ 1.24
Diluted earnings per share of common stock:
Earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 2.33	$ 0.84
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.39
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 2.33	$ 1.23