Commitments and Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Changes in allowance for indemnification losses [Roll Forward]
Allowance, beginning of period	$ 1,702,000	$ 1,291,000	$ 2,538,000
Provision for indemnification losses	1,205,000	807,000	3,745,000
Payments	(815,000)	(396,000)	(4,992,000)
Allowance, end of period	2,092,000	1,702,000	1,291,000
Operating leases [Abstract]
Rent expense associated with noncancelable operating leases	1,470,000	1,490,000	1,260,000
Future Minimum Lease Payments Due Under Noncancelable Operating Leases [Abstract]
2013	1,186,000
2014	812,000
2015	718,000
2016	372,000
2017	158,000
Thereafter	37,000
Future minimum lease payments due	3,283,000
The Bank [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contractual obligation	8,120,000	9,270,000
The Bank [Member] | Loan Commitments [Member]
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Amount of commitment	87,060,000	83,500,000
C&F Mortgage [Member]
Third Party Commitments [Abstract]
Commitments to sell loans to third parties	149,500,000
C&F Mortgage [Member] | Obligation to Repurchase Receivables Sold [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recourse period for early payment default, minimum	90 days
Recourse period for early payment default, maximum	1 year
C&F Mortgage [Member] | Rate Lock Commitments [Member] | Loan Originations [Member]
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Amount of commitment	76,770,000
C&F Mortgage [Member] | Rate Lock Commitments [Member] | Loans Held for Sale [Member]
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Amount of commitment	$ 72,730,000