Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]
Performance bonuses	$ 1,020,000		$ 844,000		$ 816,000
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net loss (gain)	(31,000)		788,000		142,000
Amortization of prior service costs	68,000		68,000		68,000
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	24,000		559,000		139,000
Amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next year [Abstract]
Obligation at transition			4,000		5,000
Nonqualified Executive Plan [Member]
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]
Amounts charged to expense under defined contribution plan	175,000		153,000		124,000
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum age for participation	21 years
Variable rate basis, monthly interest credits	30-year Treasuries
Basis spread on variable rate, monthly interest credits (in hundredths)	1.50%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Projected benefit obligation, beginning	8,768,000		7,915,000		6,816,000
Service cost	636,000		611,000		531,000
Interest cost	395,000		438,000		397,000
Actuarial loss	505,000		154,000		523,000
Benefits paid	(246,000)		(350,000)		(352,000)
Projected benefit obligation, ending	10,058,000		8,768,000		7,915,000
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, beginning	8,295,000		7,261,000		6,385,000
Actual return on plan assets	1,063,000		(116,000)		828,000
Employer contributions	500,000		1,500,000		400,000
Benefits paid	(246,000)		(350,000)		(352,000)
Fair value of plan assets, ending	9,612,000		8,295,000		7,261,000
Funded status	(446,000)		(473,000)		(654,000)
Amounts recognized as an other liability	(446,000)		(473,000)		(654,000)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net loss	2,495,000		2,525,000		1,738,000
Net obligation at transition	0		0		(4,000)
Prior service cost	(1,077,000)		(1,144,000)		(1,212,000)
Deferred taxes	(496,000)		(483,000)		(183,000)
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	922,000		898,000		339,000
Weighted-average assumptions for benefit obligation at valuation date
Discount rate (in hundredths)	4.00%		4.50%		5.50%
Expected return on plan assets (in hundredths)	8.00%		8.00%		8.00%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.00%		4.00%		4.00%
Accumulated benefit obligation	10,060,000		8,770,000
Components of net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Service cost	636,000		611,000		531,000
Interest cost	395,000		438,000		397,000
Expected return on plan assets	(633,000)		(581,000)		(495,000)
Amortization of prior service cost	(68,000)		(68,000)		(68,000)
Amortization of net obligation at transition	0		(4,000)		(5,000)
Recognized net actuarial loss	106,000		63,000		48,000
Net periodic benefit cost	436,000		459,000		408,000
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net loss (gain)	(31,000)		788,000		142,000
Amortization of net obligation at transition	0		4,000		5,000
Amortization of prior service costs	68,000		68,000		68,000
Deferred taxes	(13,000)		(301,000)		(76,000)
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	24,000		559,000		139,000
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	460,000		1,018,000		547,000
Amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next year [Abstract]
Estimated net loss	79,000
Obligation at transition	0
Prior service cost	(68,000)
Weighted-average assumptions for net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)	4.50%		5.50%		6.00%
Expected return on plan assets (in hundredths)	8.00%		8.00%		8.00%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.00%		4.00%		4.00%
Benefits expected to be paid by the plan in the next ten years (Abstract)
2013	167,000
2014	760,000
2015	234,000
2016	717,000
2017	509,000
2018 - 2022	3,656,000
Total benefits expected to be paid by the plan in the next ten years	6,043,000
Weighted average asset allocations by asset category [Abstract]
Weighted average asset allocation by asset category (in hundredths)	100.00%		100.00%
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	9,612,000		8,295,000
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	0		0
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	0		0
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Mutual Funds-Fixed Income [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	3,735,000	[1]	3,306,000	[1]
Weighted average asset allocations by asset category [Abstract]
Weighted average asset allocation by asset category (in hundredths)	39.00%		40.00%
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Mutual Funds-Fixed Income [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	3,735,000	[1]	3,306,000	[1]
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Mutual Funds-Fixed Income [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	0	[1]	0	[1]
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Mutual Funds-Fixed Income [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	0	[1]	0	[1]
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Mutual Funds-Equity [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	5,867,000	[2]	4,983,000	[2]
Weighted average asset allocations by asset category [Abstract]
Weighted average asset allocation by asset category (in hundredths)	61.00%		60.00%
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Mutual Funds-Equity [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	5,867,000	[2]	4,983,000	[2]
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Mutual Funds-Equity [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	0	[2]	0	[2]
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Mutual Funds-Equity [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	0	[2]	0	[2]
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Cash and Equivalents [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	10,000	[3]	6,000	[3]
Weighted average asset allocations by asset category [Abstract]
Weighted average asset allocation by asset category (in hundredths)		[4]		[4]
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Cash and Equivalents [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	10,000	[3]	6,000	[3]
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Cash and Equivalents [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	0	[3]	0	[3]
The Bank [Member] | Cash Balance Plan [Member] | Cash and Equivalents [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, ending	0	[3]	0	[3]
The Bank [Member] | Profit-Sharing Plan [Member]
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]
Maximum voluntary salary deferral (in hundredths)	95.00%
Requisite service period for participation	3 months
Minimum age for participation	18 years
Employer contribution vested after two years (in hundredths)	20.00%
Employer contribution vested after three years (in hundredths)	40.00%
Employer contribution vested after four years (in hundredths)	60.00%
Employer contribution vested after five years (in hundredths)	80.00%
Employer contribution vested after six years (in hundredths)	100.00%
Vesting threshold age	65 years
Amounts charged to expense under defined contribution plan	387,000		405,000		372,000
C&F Mortgage [Member]
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]
Performance bonuses	1,050,000		657,000		336,000
C&F Mortgage [Member] | 401(k) Savings Plan [Member]
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]
Minimum age for participation	18 years
Employer contribution vested after two years (in hundredths)	25.00%
Employer contribution vested after three years (in hundredths)	50.00%
Employer contribution vested after four years (in hundredths)	75.00%
Employer contribution vested after five years (in hundredths)	100.00%
Amounts charged to expense under defined contribution plan	29,000		12,000		0
C&F Mortgage [Member] | 401(k) Savings Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]
Maximum voluntary salary deferral (in hundredths)	1.00%
C&F Mortgage [Member] | 401(k) Savings Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]
Maximum voluntary salary deferral (in hundredths)	100.00%
C&F Finance [Member] | Profit-Sharing Plan [Member]
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]
Amounts charged to expense under defined contribution plan	$ 147,000		$ 139,000		$ 108,000

[1] This category includes investments in mutual funds focused on fixed income securities with both short-term and long-term investments. The funds are valued using the net asset value method in which an average of the market prices for the underlying investments is used to value the funds.

[2] This category includes investments in mutual funds focused on equity securities with a diversified portfolio and includes investments in large cap and small cap funds, growth funds, international focused funds and value funds. The funds are valued using the net asset value method in which an average of the market prices for the underlying investments is used to value the funds.

[3] This category comprises cash and short-term cash equivalent funds. The funds are valued at cost which approximates fair value.

[4] Less than one percent.