Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	BASIS OF PRESENTATION : The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ohio Valley Banc Corp. (“Ohio Valley”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, The Ohio Valley Bank Company (the “Bank”), Loan Central, Inc. (“Loan Central”), a consumer finance company, Ohio Valley Financial Services Agency, LLC, an insurance agency, and OVBC Captive, Inc. (the “Captive”), a limited purpose property and casualty insurance company. The Bank has one wholly-owned subsidiary, Ohio Valley REO, LLC (“Ohio Valley REO”), an Ohio limited liability company, to which the Bank transfers certain real estate acquired by the Bank through foreclosure for sale by Ohio Valley REO. Ohio Valley and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Company”. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These interim financial statements are prepared by the Company without audit and reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company at September 30, 2019, and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be anticipated for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not purport to contain all the necessary financial disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”) that might otherwise be necessary in the circumstances. The Annual Report of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2018 contains consolidated financial statements and related notes which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements for 2018 have been reclassified to conform to the presentation for 2019. These reclassifications had no effect on the net income or shareholders’ equity.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	USE OF ESTIMATES IN THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: The accounting and reporting policies followed by the Company conform to US GAAP established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided, and actual results could differ.
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION: Internal financial information is primarily reported and aggregated in two lines of business, banking and consumer finance.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	EARNINGS PER SHARE : Earnings per share are computed based on net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The weighted average common shares outstanding were 4,773,258 and 4,730,624 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The weighted average common shares outstanding were 4,761,954 and 4,722,189 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Ohio Valley had no dilutive effect and no potential common shares issuable under stock options or other agreements for any period presented.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD UPDATES (“ASU”): On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016 - 02, “Leases”, which requires the recognition of the right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and related operating and finance lease liabilities on the balance sheet. As permitted by ASU 2016 - 02, the Company applied the optional transition method and elected the adoption date of January 1, 2019. As a result, the consolidated balance sheet prior to January 1, 2019 was not restated and continues to be reported under the old guidance, which did not require the recognition of operating leases on the balance sheet. Therefore, the consolidated balance sheet for 2019 is not comparative to 2018. As permitted by ASU 2016 - 02, the Company elected the package of practical expedients that permits the Company to not reassess ( 1 ) whether a contract is or contains a lease, ( 2 ) the classification of existing leases, and ( 3 ) initial direct costs for any existing leases. As a result, leases entered into prior to January 1, 2019 were accounted for under the old guidance and were not reassessed. For lease contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2019, the Company will assess whether the contract is or contains a lease based on ( 1 ) whether the contract involves the use of a distinct, identified asset, ( 2 ) whether the Company obtains the right to substantially all the economic benefit from the use of asset, and ( 3 ) whether the Company has the right to direct the use of asset. The adoption of ASU 2016 - 02 had a substantial impact to our consolidated balance sheet, primarily from the recognition of the operating lease ROU assets and the liability for operating leases. Operating leases consist primarily of branch buildings and office space for both the Bank and Loan Central. The Company has no finance leases. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities were both recognized based on the present value of future lease payments, discounted with an incremental borrowing rate for the same term as the underlying lease. The present value of future minimum lease payments also includes any options noted within the lease terms to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain the Company will exercise that option. The Company elected to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off of the consolidated balance sheet and recognize those lease payments in the consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases that contain variable lease payments, including payments based on an index or rate, are initially measured using the index or rate in effect at the commencement date. Additional payments based on the change in an index or rate are recorded as a period expense when incurred. Upon adoption, the Company recorded an adjustment of $1,280 to operating ROU assets and the related lease liability. For additional information on leases, see Note 8. Beginning January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU No. 2017 - 08, “Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities Receivables”, which requires the amortization of the premium on callable debt securities to the earliest call date. The amortization period for callable debt securities purchased at a discount was not be impacted by the ASU. This ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE TO BE ADOPTED IN FUTURE PERIODS: In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016 - 13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses”. ASU 2016 - 13 requires entities to replace the current “incurred loss” model with an “expected loss” model, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. These expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date are to be based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This ASU will also require enhanced disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an entity’s portfolio. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative requirements that provide additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements. A CECL steering committee has developed a CECL model and is evaluating the source data, various credit loss methodologies and model results in relation to the new ASU guidance. Management expects to recognize a one -time cumulative effect adjustment to the allowance for loan losses as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the new standard is effective. Management expects the adoption will result in a material increase to the allowance for loan losses balance. At this time, the impact is being evaluated. On October 16, 2019, the FASB confirmed it would delay the effective date of this ASU for smaller reporting companies, such as the Company, until fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022.