DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011 contracts	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012 LEAF Commercial Capital Inc [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 LEAF Commercial Capital Inc [Member] Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 LEAF Commercial Capital Inc [Member] Swap [Member] contracts	Oct. 31, 2011 LEAF Commercial Capital Inc [Member] Swap [Member] contracts	Sep. 30, 2012 Commercial Finance Investment Entities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Commercial Finance Investment Entities [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net unrealized losses	$ 22,000	$ 222,000	$ 171,000	$ 13,000		$ 181,000		$ 9,000	$ 41,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net unrealized losses, tax benefit	(853,000)	1,643,000	(1,481,000)	9,000		223,000		6,000	28,000
Number of contracts		4				4	4
Gain (loss) on hedge ineffectiveness		0							0
Number of contracts terminated							3
Net liability position, net of accrued interest					404,000
Cash collateral posted as security for unfunded liability					$ 300,000