Stockholders' Equity (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Instrument Stock Repurchase Plan [Member]
     
Stock Repurchase [Line Items]      
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount $ 15,000,000    
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount 5,100,000    
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares 231 33,546 400,475
Stock Repurchased During Period, Average Cost Per Share $ 18.52 $ 17.91 $ 11.74
Instrument Equity Compensation Plan [Member]
     
Stock Repurchase [Line Items]      
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares 53,757 111,769 144,291
Stock Repurchased During Period, Average Cost Per Share $ 21.65 $ 14.21 $ 12.12
Marlin Business Services Corp. [Member]
     
Regulatory Capital Requirements Miscellaneous Information [Line Items]      
Total stockholders equity (regulatory) 163,236,000    
Total Risk Based Capital Required for Capital Adequacy to Risk Weighted Assets 8.00%    
Tier One Leverage Capital Required Of Highest Rated Bank Holding Companies For Capital Adequacy To Average Assets 25.90%    
Tier One Leverage Capital Required for Capital Adequacy to Average Assets 4.00%    
FDIC Agreement Capital Required To Be Well Capitalized To Risk Weighted Assets 3.00%    
Total Risk Based Capital to Risk Weighted Assets 27.15%    
MBB [Member]
     
Regulatory Capital Requirements Miscellaneous Information [Line Items]      
Total stockholders equity (regulatory) $ 95,454,000    
Total Risk Based Capital Required for Capital Adequacy to Risk Weighted Assets 15.00%    
Tier One Leverage Capital Required Of Highest Rated Bank Holding Companies For Capital Adequacy To Average Assets 16.38%    
Tier One Leverage Capital Required for Capital Adequacy to Average Assets 5.00%    
FDIC Agreement Capital Required To Be Well Capitalized To Risk Weighted Assets 15.00%    
Total Risk Based Capital to Risk Weighted Assets 17.63%