Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 11,524	$ 5,492
Net income attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	10,993	5,110
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	634	569
Stock compensation expense	78	17
Credit for loan and lease losses	(748)	(867)
Impairment charge for OREO	703	524
Net amortization of AFS investment securities	1,506	1,918
Net accretion on loans	(613)	(413)
Deferred	(5,176)
Net gains on sales of premises and equipment	(324)	(107)
Gains on sales of loans and leases		(232)
Net gains on sales of OREO	(919)	(743)
Net gains on sales of investment securities	(900)	(377)
Income from bank owned life insurance	(497)	(512)
Other-than-temporary impairment on AFS investment securities	14	41
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease in accrued interest receivable	1,121	1,679
Decrease in other assets	364	2,490
Decrease in accrued interest payable	(17)	(239)
Decrease in other liabilities	44	(269)
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,794	9,203
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from maturities, calls and paydowns of AFS investment securities	35,585	41,314
Proceeds from sales of AFS investment securities	47,018	72,301
Purchase of AFS investment securities	(59,235)	(49,441)
Redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock	77	1,582
Proceeds from sales of loans and leases		3,847
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Loans and Leases		232
Net increase in loans	(87,976)	(58,084)
Additions to OREO	(558)	(1,330)
Proceeds from the sales of premises and equipment	1,420	303
Purchase of premises and equipment	(488)	(1,491)
Proceeds from sales of OREO	6,465	4,306
Net cash provided by investing activities	(57,692)	13,075
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase in demand and NOW accounts	30,907	14,332
Increase (decrease) in money market and savings accounts	34,139	2,674
Decrease in certificates of deposit	(17,579)	(15,545)
Increase (decrease) in short term borrowings	9,000	(10,000)
Repayments of long-term borrowings	(10,456)	(5,455)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(524)	(266)
Payments of stock issuance costs		(206)
Issuance of common stock, net		20,000
Issuance of Treasury Stock	41	105
Redemption of preferred stock		(13,943)
Other financing activity		(28)
Net cash used in financing activities	45,528	(8,332)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(5,370)	13,946
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	30,790	16,844
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	25,420	30,790
Supplemental Disclosure
Proceeds from income tax refunds		654
Interest paid	6,501	6,723
Transfers to OREO	4,342	2,919
OREO Transfers to Loans	995
Transfers to LHFS		3,187
Transfers to LHFI	$ 995	$ 1,018