Other assets - Components of Other Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other real estate owned	$ 324us-gaap_OtherRealEstate	$ 561us-gaap_OtherRealEstate
Investment in residential housing program	4,178us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsOther	4,329us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsOther
Mortgage servicing rights	623pfis_MortgageServicingRights	676pfis_MortgageServicingRights
Bank owned life insurance	30,177us-gaap_BankOwnedLifeInsurance	29,983us-gaap_BankOwnedLifeInsurance
Restricted equity securities	2,132	3,687
Other assets	13,352us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent	13,830us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
Total	$ 50,786us-gaap_OtherAssets	$ 53,066us-gaap_OtherAssets

Mortgage Servicing Rights

No definition available.

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- Definition

Investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized neither as trading securities nor held-to-maturity securities, which are intended be sold or mature greater than one year from the balance sheet date or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer, and that are pledged to one or more secured parties who have the right to buy, sell, or re-pledge the collateral.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: 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=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 6

-Article 9

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying amount of a life insurance policy on an officer, executive or employee for which the reporting entity (a bank) is entitled to proceeds from the policy upon death of the insured or surrender of the insurance policy.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 9

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

The aggregate carrying amounts, as of the balance sheet date, of assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 17

-Article 5

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 7

+ Details

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- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent assets are expected to be realized or consumed after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount of other real estate not separately disclosed, including, but not limited to, real estate investments, real estate loans that qualify as investments in real estate, and premises that are no longer used in operations may also be included in real estate owned. This does not include real estate assets taken in settlement of troubled loans through surrender or foreclosure.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of real estate owned for income production and capital accretion potential, not otherwise specified in the existing taxonomy. Such real estate excludes that which is occupied or used in the business, for entertainment purposes, or held in inventory for specific purposes.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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