CPS 2006-B [Member] Debt Security [Axis] CPS 2006-C [Member] CPS 2006-D [Member] CPS 2007-A [Member] CPS 2007-TFC [Member] CPS 2007-B [Member] CPS 2007-C [Member] CPS 2008-A [Member] Page Five Funding [Member] CPS 2011-A [Member] CPS 2011-B [Member] CPS 2011-C [Member] CPS 2012-A [Member] CPS 2012-B [Member] Residual interest financing CreditFacility [Axis] Senior Secured Debt Related Party 1 Eligible Item or Group for Fair Value Option [Axis] Senior Secured Debt Related Party 2 Senior Secured Debt Related Party 3 Senior secured debt, related party Subordinated renewable notes Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOption [Axis] AssetBackedSecuritiesSecuritizedLoansAndReceivablesMember FairValueByAssetClass [Axis] Warrant [Member] Fair Value [Member] Contractual Balance [Member] Carrying Value [Member] Fair Value Inputs Level 1 [Member] FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevel [Axis] Level 2 [Member] Level 3 [Member] NotesReceivableMember ResidualInterestSecuritizationsMember Derivative Financial Instruments Liabilities FairValueByLiabilityClass [Axis] DebtSecuredReceivablesMember PageSixFundingFacilityMember PageEightFundingFacilityMember MaximumMember Range [Axis] MinimumMember Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Class of Stock [Axis] Series B Preferred Stock [Member] CPS 2012-C [Member] Credit Facility [Axis] Equity Components [Axis] Common Stock Retained Earnings / Accumulated Deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Warehouse [Member] MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfProperty [Axis] CPS 2012-D [Member] FederalMember IncomeTaxAuthority [Axis] StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember Stock Options Under 2006 And 1997 Plans [Member] PlanName [Axis] 2006 Plan [Member] Exercise Price Equal To Market Price [Member] ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRange [Axis] Exercise Price Above To Market Price [Member] Equity Securities [Member] MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecurities [Axis] Debt Securities [Member] Company Common Stock [Member] Fundamental Value [Member] Mid Cap Growth [Member] Focus Value [Member] Small Co. Value [Member] Growth [Member] International Growth [Member] Core Bond [Member] High Yield [Member] Income [Member] Inflation Protected Bond [Member] Money Market [Member] CPS 2013-A [Member] Finance receivables Warrant derivative liability CPS 2013-B [Member] Document And Entity Information Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer? Is Entity a Voluntary Filer? Is Entity's Reporting Status Current? Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Restricted cash and equivalents Finance receivables Less: Allowance for finance credit losses Finance receivables, net Finance receivables measured at fair value Residual interest in securitizations Furniture and equipment, net Deferred financing costs Deferred tax assets, net Accrued interest receivable Other assets Total LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses Warehouse lines of credit Residual interest financing Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value Securitization trust debt Senior secured debt, related party Subordinated renewable notes Total COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Shareholders' Equity Preferred stock, $1 par value; authorized 4,998,130 shares; none issued Series A preferred stock, $1 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares; none issued Series B preferred stock, $1 par value; authorized 1,870 shares; none issued Common stock, no par value; authorized 75,000,000 shares; 21,361,239 and 19,838,913 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive loss Total Total Preferred Stock, Par Value Preferred Stock, Authorized Preferred Stock, Issued Preferred Stock, Outstanding Common Stock, Par Value Common Stock, Authorized Common Stock, Issued Common Stock, Outstanding Income Statement [Abstract] Revenues: Interest income Servicing fees Other income Gain on cancellation of debt Total Expenses: Employee costs General and administrative Interest Provision for credit losses Provision for contingent liabilities Marketing Occupancy Depreciation and amortization Total expenses Income before income tax expense Income tax expense Net income Earnings per share: Basic Diluted Number of shares used in computing income per share: Basic Diluted Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income Net income Other comprehensive income/(loss); change in funded status of pension plan Comprehensive income Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Accretion of deferred acquisition fees Accretion of purchase discount on receivables measured at fair value Amortization of discount on securitization trust debt Amortization of discount on senior secured debt, related party Accretion of premium on debt secured by receivables measured at fair value Mark to fair value on debt secured by receivables at fair value Mark to fair value of receivables at fair value Depreciation and amortization Amortization of deferred financing costs Stock-based compensation expense Interest income on residual assets Gain on cancellation of debt Changes in assets and liabilities: Accrued interest receivable Deferred tax assets, net Other assets Accounts payable and accrued expenses Net cash provided by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of finance receivables held for investment Payments received on finance receivables held for investment Payments on receivables portfolio at fair value Proceeds received on residual interest in securitizations Change in repossessions in inventory Decreases (increases) in restricted cash and equivalents, net Purchase of furniture and equipment Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of securitization trust debt Proceeds from issuance of subordinated renewable notes Payments on subordinated renewable notes Net proceeds from warehouse lines of credit Proceeds from (repayments of) residual interest financing debt Repayment of securitization trust debt Repayment of debt secured by receivables measured at fair value Repayment of senior secured debt, related party Payment of financing costs Repurchase of common stock Exercise of options and warrants Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid (received) during the period for: Interest Income taxes Non-cash financing activities: Derivative warrants reclassified from liabilities to common stock upon amendment Accounting Policies [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Finance Receivables Finance Receivables Finance Receivables Measured At Fair Value Finance Receivables Measured at Fair Value Securitization Trust Debt Securitization Trust Debt Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Interest Income And Interest Expense Interest Income and Interest Expense Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Taxes Legal Proceedings Legal Proceedings Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements Description of Business Basis of Presentation Use of Estimates Other Income Stock-based Compensation Purchases of Company Stock Reclassifications Derivative Financial Instruments Financial Covenants Finance Receivables and Related Debt Measured at Fair Value Gain on Cancellation of Debt Provision for Contingent Liabilities Other Income Stock option activity Finance Receivables Tables Financial Receivables Delinquency status of finance receivables Allowance for credit losses Allowance for losses on repossessed inventory Finance Receivables Measured At Fair Value Tables Finance Receivables measured at fair value Delinquency status of finance receivables measured at fair value Securitization Trust Debt Tables Securitization trust debt Debt Tables Debt Outstanding Interest Income And Interest Expense Tables Interest income Interest expense Earnings Per Share Tables Computation of basic and diluted earnings per share Employee Benefits Tables Net periodic cost (benefit) Fair Value Measurements Tables Reconciliation of the acquired finance receivables and related debt measured at fair value on a recurring basis Comparision of fair values of the Fireside receivables and the related secured debt Reconciliation for level 3 assets Qualitative information about level 3 fair value measurements Estimated fair values of financial assets and liabilities Primary components of Other Income Direct mail revenues Convenience fees revenue Recoveries on previously charged-off contracts Sales tax refunds Other Other income for the period Stock-Based Compensation Details Number of Shares Outstanding options, beginning balance Granted Exercised Forfeited Outstanding options, ending balance Options exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price Outstanding options, beginning balance Granted Exercised Forfeited Outstanding options, ending balance Options exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Outstanding options, ending balance Options exercisable Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Details Narrative Unrecognized stock-based compensation costs Unrecognized stock-based compensation costs amortization period Aggregate intrinsic value outstanding Aggregate intrinsic value exercisable Options exercised Shares available for future grants Common stock repurchased, shares Finance Receivables Details Finance Receivables Automobile finance receivables, net of unearned interest Less: Unearned acquisition fees and discounts Finance Receivables Finance Receivables Detail 1 Deliquency Status Current 31 - 60 days 61 - 90 days 91 + days Finance receivables Finance Receivables Detail 2 Balance at beginning of period Charge-offs Recoveries Balance at end of period Finance Receivables Detail 3 Gross balance of repossessions in inventory Allowance for losses on repossessed inventory Net repossessed inventory included in other assets Finance Receivables Details Narrative Finance receivables Finance Receivables Measured At Fair Value Details Finance Receivables Measured at Fair Value Finance receivables and accrued interest, net of unearned interest Less: Fair value adjustment Finance receivables measured at fair value Finance Receivables Measured At Fair Value Detail 1 Current 31 - 60 days 61 - 90 days 91 + days Total finance receivables measured at fair value Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Table] Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items] "Securitization trust debt," and components of debt Final Scheduled Payment Date (1) Receivables Pledged at end of period Initial Principal Outstanding Principal Weighted Average Contractual Interest Rate at March 31, 2013 Securitization Trust Debt Details Narrative Restricted Cash for securitization trust debt Fair Value, Option, Qualitative Disclosures Related to Election [Table] Fair Value, Option, Qualitative Disclosures Related to Election [Line Items] Concentration of Credit or Market Risk [Axis] Other debt outstanding 1 Other debt outstanding 2 Interest rate 1 Interest rate 2 Maturity date 1 Maturity date 2 Interest Income Details Components of interest income Interest on Finance Receivables Residual interest income Other interest income Interest Expense Details Securitization trust debt Warehouse debt Senior secured debt, related party Debt secured by receivables at fair value Residual interest debt Subordinated debt Total interest expense Earnings Per Share Details Weighted average common shares - basic Incremental common shares attibutable to exercise of outstanding options and warrants Weighted average common shares - diluted Earnings Per Share Details Narrative Antidilutive common stock equivalents Income Taxes Details Narrative Deferred tax asset U.S. federal deferred tax assets State deferred tax assets Net operating loss carryforward Deferred tax assets other deductions Notes to Financial Statements Components of net periodic cost (benefit) Service cost Interest cost Expected return on assets Amortization of transition (asset)/obligation Amortization of net (gain)/loss Net periodic cost (benefit) Fair Value Measurements Details Finance Receivables Measured at Fair Value: Balance at beginning of period Payments on finance receivables at fair value Charge-offs on finance receivables at fair value Discount accretion Mark to fair value Balance at end of period Debt Secured by Finance Receivables Measured at Fair Value: Balance at beginning of period Principal payments on debt at fair value Premium accretion Mark to fair value Balance at end of period Reduction for principal payments collected and payable Adjusted balance at end of period Fair values of the Fireside receivables and the related secured debt to their contractual balances Fireside receivables portfolio Debt secured by Fireside receivables portfolio Fair Value Measurements Details 3 Residual Interest in Securitizations: Balance at beginning of period Cash paid (received) during period Included in earnings Balance at end of period Warrant Derivative Liability: Balance at beginning of period Included in earnings Reclassification to equity Balance at end of period Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table] Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Estimated fair values of financial assets and liabilities Assets: Cash and cash equivalents Finance receivables, net Finance receivables measured at fair value Residual interest in securitizations Liabilities: Warrant derivative liability Warehouse lines of credit Accrued interest payable Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value Securitization trust debt Senior secured debt Subordinated renewable notes Accretion of deferred acquisition fees Adjusted balance at end of period Allowance For Losses On Repossessed Inventory. Allowance for losses on repossessed inventory table text block CPS2006B Member. CPS 2006 C Member. CPS 2006 D Member. CPS2007A Member. CPS2007B Member. CPS2007C Member. CPS2007TFC Member. CPS2008A Member. CPS2011A Member. CPS2011B Member. CPS2011C Member. CPS2012A Member. CPS2012B Member. CPS 2012 C member Custom Element. Cash paid (received) during the period for: abstract Change in repossessions in inventory Charge-offs on finance receivables at fair value Custom Element. Comparision of fair values of the Fireside receivables and the related secured debt table text block Contractual Balance Member. Convenience Fee Revenue. Custom Element. Debt Secured by Finance Receivables Measured at Fair Value Debt Secured By Fireside Receivables Portfolio. Debt Secured By Receivables Measured At FairValue. Debt Secured Receivables Fair Value. Debt Secured Receivables. Delinquency status of finance receivables measured at fair value table text block Derivative Warrants Reclassified From Liabilities To Common Stock Upon Amendment. Direct Mail Revenues. Discount accretion Custom Element. Custom Element. Fair values of the Fireside receivables and the related secured debt to their contractual balances Custom Element. Final scheduled payment date Finance loan and lease receivables held for investment policy text block Finance Receivables Fair Value. Finance receivables fair value adjustment Finance Receivables Measured at Fair Value: Finance Receivables Measured at Fair Value: Financial covenants disclosure Financing Receivable Investment Current. Financing receivable recorded investment 30-59 days past due Financing receivable recorded investment 60-89 days past due Financing receivable recorded investment equal to or greater than 90 days past due Fireside Receivables Portfolio. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Interest expense on debt secured by receivables at fair value Interest expense table text block Custom Element. Mark to fair value Mark to fair value Custom Element. Custom Element. Number of Shares Other income policy text block Other income table text block Page Eight Funding Facility. Page Five Funding Member. Page Six Funding Facility Member. Payments on finance receivables at fair value Payments on receivables portfolio at fair value Premium accretion Principal payments on debt at fair value Purchases of company stock disclosure Purchases of finance receivables held for investment Recoveries On Previously Charged off Contracts. Reduction for principal payments collected and payable Residual interest debt interest expense Residual Interest Financing Member. Residual Interest in Securitizations Residual Interest Income. Residual Interest Securitizations. Sales Tax Refunds. Securitization Trust Debt Fair Value Disclosure. Securitization Trust Debt Initial Principal Senior Secured Debt. Senior Secured Debt Related Party. Senior Secured Debt Related Party. Senior Secured Debt Related Party. Senior Secured Debt Related Party. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Subordinated Renewable Notes. Unrecognized stock-based compensation costs Unrecognized stock-based compensation costs amortization period Warrant Derivative Liability Warrant derivative liability included in earnings Warrant derivative liability reclassification to equity Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Gain on Cancellation of Debt Provision for contingent liabilities Repayment of debt secured by receivables measured at fair value Provision for Contingent Liabilities Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses Loans and Leases Receivable, Net Amount, Consumer Assets Other Secured Financings Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure Notes Payable, Related Parties Subordinated Debt Liabilities [Default Label] Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Liabilities and Equity Revenues Direct Operating Costs Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Interest Receivable, Net Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities PurchasesOfFinanceReceivablesHeldForInvestment Payments for (Proceeds from) Loans Receivable ChangeInRepossessionsInInventory Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash for Operating Activities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Repayments of Long-term Debt, Long-term Capital Lease Obligations, and Capital Securities Repayments of Secured Debt RepaymentOfDebtSecuredByReceivablesMeasuredAtFairValue Payment of Financing and Stock Issuance Costs Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Interest Paid, Net Finance, Loan and Lease Receivables, Held-for-investment, Policy [Policy Text Block] Long-term Debt [Text Block] Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block] OtherIncomeTableTextBlock Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block] Interest and Other Income [Table Text Block] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Expirations in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Exercisable Options, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Proceeds from Sale and Collection of Finance Receivables [Abstract] AllowanceForLossesOnRepossessedInventory1 Repossessed Assets Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status FinanceReceivablesFairValueAdjustment Cash Surrender Value, Fair Value Disclosure FinancingReceivableInvestmentCurrent FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment30To59DaysPastDue1 FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment60To89DaysPastDue1 FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue1 Interest Expense, Debt Interest Expense, Related Party Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost MarkToFairValueLiability Derivative Liability WarrantDerivativeLiabilityIncludedInEarnings Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure Receivables, Fair Value Disclosure Retained Interest, Fair Value Disclosure Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Lines of Credit, Fair Value Disclosure DebtSecuredReceivablesFairValue SecuritizationTrustDebtFairValueDisclosure Subordinated Debt Obligations, Fair Value Disclosure