Fair value estimates (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Mortgage-backed securities: [Abstract]
Total investment securities available-for-sale	$ 155,016	$ 147,780
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Mortgage-backed securities: [Abstract]
Total investment securities available-for-sale	551	474
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Mortgage-backed securities: [Abstract]
Total investment securities available-for-sale	154,465	147,306
Recurring fair value measurements [Member]
Investment securities available-for-sale [Abstract]
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	31,316	32,931
State and municipals: [Abstract]
Taxable	17,103	18,694
Tax-exempt	47,759	47,388
Corporate debt securities	4,299	3,871
Mortgage-backed securities: [Abstract]
U.S. Government agencies	21,110	21,554
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	32,878	22,868
Common equity securities	551	474
Total investment securities available-for-sale	155,016	147,780
Total recurring fair value measurements	155,016	147,780
Recurring fair value measurements [Member] \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Mortgage-backed securities: [Abstract]
Common equity securities	551	474
Total investment securities available-for-sale	551	474
Total recurring fair value measurements	551	474
Recurring fair value measurements [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Investment securities available-for-sale [Abstract]
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	31,316	32,931
State and municipals: [Abstract]
Taxable	17,103	18,694
Tax-exempt	47,759	47,388
Corporate debt securities	4,299	3,871
Mortgage-backed securities: [Abstract]
U.S. Government agencies	21,110	21,554
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	32,878	22,868
Total investment securities available-for-sale	154,465	147,306
Total recurring fair value measurements	154,465	147,306
Nonrecurring fair value measurements [Member]
Mortgage-backed securities: [Abstract]
Impaired loans	5,463	5,484
Other real estate owned		2,003
Total nonrecurring fair value measurements	5,463	7,487
Nonrecurring fair value measurements [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Mortgage-backed securities: [Abstract]
Impaired loans	5,463	5,484
Other real estate owned		2,003
Total nonrecurring fair value measurements	$ 5,463	$ 7,487

Fair value disclosure of Common equity securities at the end of the period.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Fair value disclosure of corporate debt securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value disclosure of impaired loans at the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pfis_ImpairedLoansFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	pfis_MortgageBackedSecuritiesAbstract
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- Definition

Fair value disclosure of U. S. government-sponsored agencies securities mortgaged backed securities at the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value disclosure of other real estate owned at the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Details

Name:	pfis_StateAndMunicipalsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Fair value disclosure of taxable state and municipals securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value disclosure of tax-exempt state and municipals securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pfis_TaxExemptFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Fair value disclosure of U. S. government-sponsored agencies securities at the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pfis_USGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value on a recurring basis by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAbstract
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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7534914&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594

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- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-DEP

-Paragraph 15

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-Chapter 7

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Mortgage-Backed Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517959

+ Details

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