Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION The consolidated financial statements include First Foundation Inc. (“FFI”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries: First Foundation Advisors (“FFA”) and First Foundation Bank (“FFB” or the “Bank”) and the wholly owned subsidiaries of FFB, First Foundation Insurance Services (“FFIS”) and Blue Moon Management, LLC (collectively referred to as the “Company”). All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of operations reflect any interim adjustments, all of which are of a normal recurring nature and which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim period presented. The results for the 2017 interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and prevailing practices within the banking industry. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all information and footnotes required for interim financial statement presentation. These financial statements assume that readers have read the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K which contains the latest available audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016. On January 18, 2017, the Company completed a two-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend. Each stockholder of record at the close of business of January 4, 2017 received one additional share of common stock for every share held. All share and per share amounts included in the financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the effect of this stock split. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2017 presentation. In February 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-05 “Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets” which clarifies that the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 610-20 on accounting for derecognition of a nonfinancial asset and in-substance nonfinancial asset applies only when the asset (or asset group) does not meet the definition of a business and provides guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-05 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” which provides updated guidance on how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment. This update is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-04 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01 “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business” which provides guidance in clarifying the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” which provides guidance for eight specific cash flow issues. FASB issued the standard to clarify areas where GAAP has been either unclear or lacking in specific guidance. This update is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” which introduces new guidance for the accounting for credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. It also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. The new model, referred to as the current expected credit losses (CECL) model, will apply to financial assets subject to credit losses and measured at amortized cost, and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. Upon initial recognition of the exposure, the CECL model requires an entity to estimate the credit losses expected over the life of an exposure. This update is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company has begun analyzing the data requirements needed to implement the adoption of ASU 2016-13 and we expect that the adoption of ASU 2016-13 may have a significant impact on the Company’s recording of its allowance for loan losses. Management is continuing to evaluate the effects of 2016-13 and the impact of its implementation is undeterminable at this time. On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The most significant change for lessees is the requirement under the new guidance to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases not considered short-term leases, which is generally defined as a lease term of less than 12 months. This change will result in lessees recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for most leases accounted for as operating leases under current lease accounting guidance. The amendments in this update are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We expect the adoption of ASU 2016-02 to impact the Company’s accounting for its building leases at each of its locations and the Company is evaluating the effects of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its financial statements and disclosures. On January 5, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments–Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Subtopic 825-10). Changes made to the current measurement model primarily affect the accounting for equity securities with readily determinable fair values, where changes in fair value will impact earnings instead of other comprehensive income. The accounting for other financial instruments, such as loans, investments in debt securities, and financial liabilities is largely unchanged. This update also changes the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments including a requirement that public business entities use exit price when measuring the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost for disclosure purposes. This update is generally effective for public business entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 660): Summary and Amendments that Create Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Other Assets and Deferred Costs-Contracts with Customers (Subtopic 340-40)”. The guidance in this update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the industry topics of the codification. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein and requires expanded disclosures. Management is continuing to evaluate the effects of 2014-09 and the impact of its implementation is undeterminable at this time.

NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements include First Foundation Inc. (“FFI”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries: First Foundation Advisors (“FFA”) and First Foundation Bank (“FFB” or the “Bank”) and the wholly owned subsidiaries of FFB, First Foundation Insurance Services (“FFIS”) and Blue Moon Management, LLC (collectively referred to as the “Company”). All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of operations reflect any interim adjustments, all of which are of a normal recurring nature and which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim period presented. The results for the 2017 interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and prevailing practices within the banking industry. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all information and footnotes required for interim financial statement presentation. These financial statements assume that readers have read the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K which contains the latest available audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016.

On January 18, 2017, the Company completed a two-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend. Each stockholder of record at the close of business of January 4, 2017 received one additional share of common stock for every share held. All share and per share amounts included in the financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the effect of this stock split.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2017 presentation.

In February 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-05 “Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets” which clarifies that the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 610-20 on accounting for derecognition of a nonfinancial asset and in-substance nonfinancial asset applies only when the asset (or asset group) does not meet the definition of a business and provides guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-05 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” which provides updated guidance on how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment. This update is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-04 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01 “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business” which provides guidance in clarifying the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” which provides guidance for eight specific cash flow issues. FASB issued the standard to clarify areas where GAAP has been either unclear or lacking in specific guidance. This update is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” which introduces new guidance for the accounting for credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. It also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. The new model, referred to as the current expected credit losses (CECL) model, will apply to financial assets subject to credit losses and measured at amortized cost, and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. Upon initial recognition of the exposure, the CECL model requires an entity to estimate the credit losses expected over the life of an exposure. This update is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company has begun analyzing the data requirements needed to implement the adoption of ASU 2016-13 and we expect that the adoption of ASU 2016-13 may have a significant impact on the Company’s recording of its allowance for loan losses. Management is continuing to evaluate the effects of 2016-13 and the impact of its implementation is undeterminable at this time.

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The most significant change for lessees is the requirement under the new guidance to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases not considered short-term leases, which is generally defined as a lease term of less than 12 months. This change will result in lessees recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for most leases accounted for as operating leases under current lease accounting guidance. The amendments in this update are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We expect the adoption of ASU 2016-02 to impact the Company’s accounting for its building leases at each of its locations and the Company is evaluating the effects of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its financial statements and disclosures.

On January 5, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments–Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Subtopic 825-10). Changes made to the current measurement model primarily affect the accounting for equity securities with readily determinable fair values, where changes in fair value will impact earnings instead of other comprehensive income. The accounting for other financial instruments, such as loans, investments in debt securities, and financial liabilities is largely unchanged. This update also changes the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments including a requirement that public business entities use exit price when measuring the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost for disclosure purposes. This update is generally effective for public business entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 660): Summary and Amendments that Create Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Other Assets and Deferred Costs-Contracts with Customers (Subtopic 340-40)”. The guidance in this update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the industry topics of the codification. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein and requires expanded disclosures. Management is continuing to evaluate the effects of 2014-09 and the impact of its implementation is undeterminable at this time.