Parent company financial information (Condensed Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)		$ 5,567	$ 5,099	$ 4,795	$ 5,118	$ 5,040	$ 2,432	$ (4,678)	$ 943	$ 20,579	$ 3,737	$ 50,845
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense										2,482	1,214	889
Increase in other assets										(8,364)	(3,050)	(828)
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities										5,422	(2,830)	2,026
Net cash provided by operating activities										37,682	5,544	9,745
Cash flows from financing activities:
Tax effect of nonvested restricted stock										(556)	(339)	(104)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	$ 177,000
Proceeds from stock options exercised										0	0	30
Net cash provided by financing activities										102,382	26,315	32,527
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents										(5,284)	1,240	(31,179)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period					83,089				81,849	83,089	81,849	113,028
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		77,805				83,089				77,805	83,089	81,849
Cascade Bancorp
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)										20,579	3,737	50,845
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary										(22,417)	(6,238)	(50,276)
Stock-based compensation expense										2,482	1,214	889
Increase in deferred tax asset										(1,010)	(1,794)	(1,820)
Increase in other assets										17	(936)	(6)
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities										0	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities										(349)	(4,017)	(368)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Tax effect of nonvested restricted stock										(556)	(339)	(104)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock										0	119,285	0
Increase due to business combination										0	(111,879)	0
Proceeds from stock options exercised										0	0	30
Dividend from Bank										0	0	450
Net cash provided by financing activities										(556)	7,067	376
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents										(905)	3,050	8
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period					$ 3,177				$ 127	3,177	127	119
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$ 2,272				$ 3,177				$ 2,272	$ 3,177	$ 127