Condensed Financial Statements of Parent Company - Statements of Cash Flows Pertaining only to Meridian Interstate Bancorp (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net income $ 15,429 $ 12,426 $ 11,970
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating activities:      
Equity income on investment in affliate bank    (310) (1,110)
Net amortization of securities available for sale (15) 288 672
Gain on sales of securities, net (9,636) (5,568) (4,464)
Gain on sale of investment in affiliate bank    (4,819)   
Share-based compensation expense 1,170 1,170 1,080
Increase in other assets 15 1,925 3,269
Net cash provided by operating activities 27,918 3,250 33,078
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Purchases of certificates of deposit     (2,500)
Maturities of certificates of deposit   2,500  
Activity in securities available for sale:      
Proceeds from maturities, calls and principal payments 36,877 164,894 164,415
Redemption (purchase) of mutual funds, net 11,768 (4,784) 4,855
Proceeds from sales 60,780 38,743 43,417
Net cash provided by investing activities (417,667) (356,994) (156,100)
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Purchase of treasury stock (1,698) (1,160) (5,196)
Stock options exercised 35 27  
Net cash provided by financing activities 382,828 290,251 124,214
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (6,921) (63,493) 1,192
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 93,192 156,685 155,493
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 86,271 93,192 156,685
Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc/Parent Company [Member]
     
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net income 15,429 12,426 11,970
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating activities:      
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries (15,250) (9,438) (11,650)
Equity income on investment in affliate bank   (310) (1,110)
Net amortization of securities available for sale 3 3 4
Gain on sales of securities, net (940) (364)  
Gain on sale of investment in affiliate bank   (4,819)  
Share-based compensation expense 287 295 294
Increase in other assets (76) (66) (125)
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities (438) 270 226
Net cash provided by operating activities (985) (2,003) (391)
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Purchases of certificates of deposit     (2,500)
Maturities of certificates of deposit   2,500  
Activity in securities available for sale:      
Proceeds from maturities, calls and principal payments     2,000
Redemption (purchase) of mutual funds, net 11,784 (4,764) 3,509
Proceeds from sales 12,266 4,518  
Proceeds from sale of investment in affiliate bank   6,600  
Capital contribution to bank subsidiary (22,000) (5,000)  
Net cash provided by investing activities 2,050 3,854 3,009
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Purchase of treasury stock (1,698) (1,160) (5,196)
Stock options exercised 35 27  
Net cash provided by financing activities (1,663) (1,133) (5,196)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (598) 718 (2,578)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 781 63 2,641
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 183 $ 781 $ 63