Note 10 - Regulatory and Operational Matters (Details) - Company’s and Bank’s Actual Capital Amounts and Ratios (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Parent Company [Member]
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) Actual Amount	$ 57,129	$ 58,218
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) Actual Ratio	9.23%	9.62%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	24,753	24,210
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	30,941	30,262
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	5.00%	5.00%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Amount	49,129
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Ratio	10.03%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	22,044
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.50%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	31,842
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	6.50%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Amount	57,129	58,218
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Ratio	11.66%	12.98%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	29,393	17,942
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	6.00%	4.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	39,190	26,913
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	8.00%	6.00%
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Amount	62,322	63,142
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Ratio	12.72%	14.08%
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	39,190	35,884
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	8.00%	8.00%
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	48,988	44,855
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	10.00%	10.00%
Bank [Member]
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) Actual Amount	57,221	58,227
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) Actual Ratio	9.25%	9.63%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	24,746	24,198
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	30,932	30,247
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	5.00%	5.00%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Amount	57,221
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Ratio	11.69%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	22,033
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	4.50%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	31,826
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	6.50%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Amount	57,221	58,227
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Ratio	11.69%	12.98%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	29,378	17,946
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	6.00%	4.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	39,170	26,918
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	8.00%	6.00%
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Amount	62,414	63,151
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) Actual Ratio	12.75%	14.08%
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	39,170	35,891
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	8.00%	8.00%
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	$ 48,963	$ 44,864
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	10.00%	10.00%

Common Equity Tier 1 Capital as defined in the regulations.

No definition available.

Name:	pnbk_CommonEquityTier1Capital
Namespace Prefix:	pnbk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum amount of Tier 1 Common Equity Capital required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pnbk_CommonEquityTier1CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacy
Namespace Prefix:	pnbk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum Common Equity Tier One Capital Ratio (common equity Tier one capital divided by risk-weighted assets) required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pnbk_CommonEquityTier1CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	pnbk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of Common Equity Tier I Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pnbk_CommonEquityTier1CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	pnbk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio (common equity Tier 1 capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pnbk_CommonEquityTier1CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	pnbk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of excess Common equity Tier 1 Risk Based Capital divided by risk-weighted assets which are assets that are weighted for credit risk according to a formula used by the Reserve Bank.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pnbk_CommonEquityTier1CapitalToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	pnbk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of total capital as defined in the regulations.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47304-110998

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 505

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1H

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=d3e65071-112826

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 505

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1H

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=d3e65071-112826

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47080-110998

+ Details

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

- Definition

The minimum amount of Total Capital required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The minimum Total risk based capital ratio (total capital divided by risk weighted assets) required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 505

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1H

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=d3e65071-112826

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 505

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=SL5958568-112826

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 505

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=SL5958570-112826

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of Total Capital required to be categorized as well as capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 505

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=SL5958568-112826

+ Details

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

- Definition

The Total risk based capital ratio (total capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized", in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 505

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=SL5958568-112826

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total Capital divided by risk weighted assets as defined in the regulations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ComplianceWithRegulatoryCapitalRequirementsUnderBankingRegulationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tier 1 Leverage Capital as defined in the regulations. Also called Core Capital.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The minimum amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The minimum amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital for capital adequacy purposes divided by average assets as defined in the regulations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToAverageAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized divided by average assets as defined in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToAverageAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Tier 1 Leverage Capital divided by average assets as defined in the regulations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalToAverageAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Tier 1 Risk Based Capital as defined in the regulations.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The minimum amount of Tier 1 Risk Based Capital required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The minimum Tier One Capital Ratio (Tier one capital divided by risk-weighted assets) required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of Tier 1 Risk Based Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The Tier 1 capital ratio (Tier 1 capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Tier 1 capital divided by risk weighted assets as defined by regulations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=pnbk_BankMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: