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Employee Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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| Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items] |
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| Accumulated benefit obligation |
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$ 9,610,000 |
$ 10,800,000 |
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| Amounts recognized in AOCI for net actuarial losses |
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2,800,000 |
4,800,000 |
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| Estimated net actuarial loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost |
127,000 |
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| Merchants Bancshares, Inc. stock shares held by pension plan |
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7,650 |
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| Cost Basis of Merchants Bancshares, Inc. stock shares held by pension plan |
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64,000 |
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| Market Value of Merchants Bancshares, Inc. stock shares held by pension plan |
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$ 256,000 |
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| 401K, maximum employee contribution, percentage of compensation |
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75.00% |
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| 401K, employer contribution, approximate percentage match |
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46.00% |
47.00% |
49.00% |
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Equity Securities [Member]
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| Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items] |
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| Baseline allocation |
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60.00% |
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| Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Minimum |
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35.00% |
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| Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Maximum |
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75.00% |
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Fixed Income Securities [Member]
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| Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items] |
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| Baseline allocation |
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40.00% |
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| Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Minimum |
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25.00% |
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| Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Maximum |
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60.00% |
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Minimum [Member]
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| Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items] |
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| Portfolio investment time horizon |
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5 years |
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Maximum [Member]
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| Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items] |
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| Portfolio investment time horizon |
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15 years |
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