Note 3 - Allowance for Loan Losses, Nonperforming Assets and Impaired Loans - Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses by Evaluation Method (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Individually evaluated for impairment	$ 25	$ 26
Collectively evaluated for impairment	8,236	8,274
Total	8,261	8,300	$ 8,107	$ 8,297
Individually evaluated for impairment	9,066	9,173
Collectively evaluated for impairment	644,005	639,373
Total	653,071	648,546
Real Estate Construction Portfolio Segment[Member]
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	377	438
Total	377	438	454	576
Individually evaluated for impairment	266	270
Collectively evaluated for impairment	33,234	36,075
Total	33,500	36,345
Consumer Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Individually evaluated for impairment	24	25
Collectively evaluated for impairment	1,722	1,805
Total	1,746	1,830	1,730	1,866
Individually evaluated for impairment	867	877
Collectively evaluated for impairment	158,657	156,841
Total	159,524	157,718
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Individually evaluated for impairment	1	1
Collectively evaluated for impairment	3,616	3,737
Total	3,617	3,738	3,949	4,109
Individually evaluated for impairment	7,726	7,782
Collectively evaluated for impairment	327,395	328,675
Total	335,121	336,457
Commercial Non Real Estate Segment [Member]
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	1,142	1,063
Total	1,142	1,063	752	655
Individually evaluated for impairment	205	241
Collectively evaluated for impairment	41,100	38,783
Total	41,305	39,024
Public Sector and IDA Portfolio Segment[Member]
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	417	330
Total	417	330	411	436
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	50,575	45,474
Total	50,575	45,474
Consumer Non Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	616	644
Total	616	644	584	627
Individually evaluated for impairment	2	3
Collectively evaluated for impairment	33,044	33,525
Total	33,046	33,528
Unallocated Financing Receivables [Member]
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	346	257
Total	346	257	$ 227	$ 28
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	0	0
Total		$ 0

The valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were collectively evaluated for impairment.

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were individually evaluated for impairment.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The balance of financing receivables that were collectively evaluated for impairment.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The balance of financing receivables that were individually evaluated for impairment.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of allowance to cover probable credit losses on loans and leases. Includes carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations. Excludes allowance for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 6.L.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27010918&loc=d3e74567-122707

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82894903&loc=d3e15032-111544

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allowance of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82891408&loc=d3e4428-111522

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=nksh_RealEstateConstructionPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=nksh_ConsumerRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=nksh_CommercialNonRealEstateSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=nksh_PublicSectorAndIdaPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=nksh_ConsumerNonRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_UnallocatedFinancingReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: