Elah (ELLH) 10-Q 13 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 01, 2013
Document - Document and Entity Information [Line Items]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Trading Symbol	'SGGH	'
Entity Registrant Name	'SIGNATURE GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000038984	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Smaller Reporting Company	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	12,213,219

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$71,367	$50,894
Restricted cash	2,805	2,805
Investment securities, available for sale	'	3,060
Trade accounts receivable, net	4,133	3,607
Inventory	10,502	10,247
Loans receivable, net due within one year	2,358	620
Other current assets	2,115	1,266
Current assets of discontinued operations	687	3,614
Total current assets	93,967	76,113
Loans receivable, net	1,967	23,752
Intangible assets, net	3,113	4,329
Goodwill	17,780	17,780
Other noncurrent assets	1,287	3,087
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations	581	650
TOTAL ASSETS	118,695	125,711
Current liabilities:	'	'
Trade payables	3,586	2,222
Lines of credit	500	1,000
Contingent consideration	'	4,000
Long-term debt due within one year	2,373	3,490
Other current liabilities	1,326	1,009
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	2,065	2,292
Total current liabilities	9,850	14,013
Long-term debt	42,046	43,562
Common stock warrant liability	10,800	2,350
Other noncurrent liabilities	211	60
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations	6,750	7,500
TOTAL LIABILITIES	69,657	67,485
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)	'	'
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding	'	'
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 66,500,000 shares authorized; 12,213,219 and 12,074,314 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	119	117
Additional paid-in capital	451,250	449,668
Accumulated deficit	-402,331	-391,783
Accumulated other comprehensive income	'	224
Total stockholders' equity - Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	49,038	58,226
Noncontrolling interest	'	'
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	49,038	58,226
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$118,695	$125,711

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, issued	'	'
Preferred stock, outstanding	'	'
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	66,500,000	66,500,000
Common stock, shares issued	12,213,219	12,074,314
Common stock, shares outstanding	12,213,219	12,074,314

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating revenues:	'	'	'	'
Total operating revenues	$9,777	$11,324	$34,219	$32,738
Operating costs:	'	'	'	'
Cost of goods sold	6,481	6,416	17,669	16,870
Selling, general and administrative	4,307	4,626	13,652	14,382
Interest expense	985	1,012	2,992	3,165
Amortization of intangibles	397	586	1,191	1,759
Total operating costs	12,170	12,640	35,504	36,176
Operating loss	-2,393	-1,316	-1,285	-3,438
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability	-3,300	-850	-8,450	-1,447
Gain on extinguishment of long-term debt	'	'	'	396
Other, net	-1	-60	100	-172
Total other income (expense)	-3,301	-910	-8,350	-1,223
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	-5,694	-2,226	-9,635	-4,661
Income tax expense (benefit)	-7	-60	86	22
Loss from continuing operations	-5,687	-2,166	-9,721	-4,683
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	-172	-462	-827	-3,082
Net loss	-5,859	-2,628	-10,548	-7,765
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'
Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	-5,859	-2,628	-10,548	-7,765
Basic and diluted:	'	'	'	'
Loss from continuing operations	($0.48)	($0.19)	($0.82)	($0.40)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	($0.01)	($0.04)	($0.07)	($0.27)
Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	($0.49)	($0.23)	($0.89)	($0.67)
Industrial Supply	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues:	'	'	'	'
Total operating revenues	10,230	10,203	28,054	27,107
Signature Special Situations	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues:	'	'	'	'
Total operating revenues	-453	1,121	6,165	5,631
Corporate and Other	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues:	'	'	'	'
Total operating revenues	'	'	'	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	($5,859)	($2,628)	($10,548)	($7,765)
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) during period:	'	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale	'	277	156	-332
Reclassification of realized amounts included in net loss	'	'	-380	620
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	277	-224	288
Total comprehensive loss	($5,859)	($2,351)	($10,772)	($7,477)

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Treasury Stock
In Thousands, except Share data
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$58,226	$117	$449,668	($391,783)	$224	'
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012	'	12,074,314	'	'	'	'
Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	-10,548	'	'	-10,548	'	'
Common stock acquired	-41	'	'	'	'	-41
Common stock acquired, Shares	'	-9,897	'	'	'	'
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	'	'	-41	'	'	41
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, Shares	'	123,172	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock vested	'	2	-2	'	'	'
Amortization of share-based compensation	1,503	'	1,503	'	'	'
Common stock options exercised	62	'	62	'	'	'
Common stock options exercised, Shares	20,668	20,668	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant consideration	60	'	60	'	'	'
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	-224	'	'	'	-224	'
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$49,038	$119	$451,250	($402,331)	'	'
Ending Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2013	'	12,213,219	'	'	'	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended		40 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'
Net loss	($10,548)	($7,765)	'
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	827	3,082	'
Depreciation and amortization	1,337	1,889	'
Discount recognized on payoff of loans receivable, net	-80	-290	'
Change in market valuation allowance on loans held for sale, net	'	-2,776	'
Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability	8,450	1,447	'
Loss (gain) on investment securities, available for sale	-380	620	'
Impairment of nonmarketable equity securities	581	'	'
Amortization of share-based compensation	1,503	1,210	'
Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale, net	27,073	'	'
Gain on sale of loans held for sale, net	-5,026	'	'
Gain on extinguishment of long-term debt	'	-396	'
Accretion of discounts	-192	-488	'
Other	60	326	'
Changes in assets and liabilities:	'	'	'
Restricted cash	'	1,500	'
Trade accounts receivable, net	-537	-608	'
Inventory	-255	-486	'
Other current assets	510	-1,557	'
Other noncurrent assets	38	1,977	'
Trade payables	1,364	-1,650	'
Other current liabilities	317	-26	'
Other noncurrent liabilities	151	351	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations	-1,536	9,196	'
Net cash provided by operating activities	23,657	5,556	'
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from sale of investment securities, available for sale	3,228	'	'
Purchases of investment securities, available for sale	'	-2,560	'
Advances, net under revolving credit facilities in loans receivable, net	-2,272	-315	'
Principal collections on loans receivable, net	483	1,158	'
Purchases of property and equipment	-252	-74	'
Net cash provided by investing activities of discontinued operations	2,633	4,272	'
Net cash provided by investing activities	3,820	2,481	'
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'	'
Repayments, net on lines of credit	-500	-5,116	'
Principal payments on long-term debt	-2,633	-2,031	'
Payment of contingent consideration	-4,000	'	'
Common stock acquired	-41	'	'
Extinguishment of long-term debt	'	-1,358	'
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options	62	'	'
Common stock warrant consideration	60	60	200
Net cash used in financing activities	-7,052	-8,445	'
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	20,425	-408	'
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	51,056	48,124	'
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	71,481	47,716	71,481
Cash and cash equivalents, end of periodbcontinuing operations	71,367	47,569	71,367
Cash and cash equivalents, end of periodbdiscontinued operations	114	147	114
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	71,481	47,716	71,481
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:	'	'	'
Cash paid for income taxes	598	138	'
Cash paid for interest	2,939	3,275	'
Transfer of loans held for sale, net in continuing operations to (from) loans receivable, net	-21,846	23,000	'
Transfer of nonmarketable equity securities from other noncurrent assets to other current assets	1,940	'	'
Net transfers of loans held for sale, net in discontinued operations from real estate owned, net	'	-385	'
Commercial loans received from sale of business assets	'	3,643	'
Preferred stock received from sale of business assets	'	800	'
Common stock received in exchange for investment securities, available for sale	'	$1,940	'

Business_and_Operations

Business and Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business and Operations	'
	NOTE 1 — BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
	Signature Group Holdings, Inc. (“Signature”) is a business enterprise with current principal holdings in cash, an industrial supply business operating through its wholly owned subsidiary, North American Breaker Co., LLC (“NABCO” or “Industrial Supply”), and certain financial assets. Signature has significant capital resources and is actively seeking to make acquisitions as well as grow its existing operations.
	On July 16, 2013, at the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders approved an initiative recommended by the board of directors (“Board”) to increase the Company’s authorized common stock share count to 665,000,000 to give the Company adequate resources to support management’s acquisition and capital raising efforts, and other corporate uses.
	In furtherance of management’s growth strategy, the Company registered $300 million of securities in a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Shelf Registration”), which the SEC declared effective on September 26, 2013. The securities that the Company may sell under the Shelf Registration include common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, and subscription rights, and may be sold through one or more means of distribution and in one or more offerings. No shares have been issued under the Shelf Registration at the September 30, 2013.
	On October 7, 2013, upon the approval of the Board in accordance with Nevada law, the Company filed Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to effect a one-for-ten reverse stock split (the “Reverse Split”), which became effective on October 15, 2013. The Reverse Split reduced the number of authorized shares of common stock from 665,000,000 to 66,500,000 shares. The number of authorized shares of the Company’s preferred stock was not reduced in connection with the Reverse Split and remains 10,000,000, with no such shares outstanding at this time. For more information on the Reverse Split, see Note 2—Financial Statement Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies and Note 17—Subsequent Events.
	On October 11, 2013, the Company announced its intention to reincorporate in Delaware from Nevada through a merger into a newly formed Delaware limited liability company subsidiary of SGH Holdco, Inc. (“Holdings”), a newly formed Delaware corporation (the “Reincorporation”). Also on October 11, 2013, Holdings filed a Registration Statement/Prospectus on Form S-4 with the SEC in connection with the proposed Reincorporation, and on November 12, 2013, Holdings filed Amendment No.1 to the Registration Statement/Prospectus on Form S-4. In connection with the Reincorporation, the outstanding shares of Signature’s common stock will automatically be exchanged for the same number of shares of common stock of Holdings. The Reincorporation is subject to stockholder approval at a special meeting of stockholders, and, following the SEC’s review and approval of the Registration Statement/Prospectus, the Company will set the date of the special meeting and mail proxy materials to stockholders.
	At September 30, 2013, Signature’s ‘continuing operations’ includes two operating segments, Industrial Supply and Signature Special Situations:
	Industrial Supply. Headquartered in Burbank, California, Industrial Supply is one of the largest independent suppliers of circuit breakers in the country. Industrial Supply’s niche is focused on the replacement market, particularly for commercial and industrial circuit breakers where replacement time is extremely important, and it also supplies residential circuit breakers in order to provide its customers with a single source solution for their circuit breaker needs. Industrial Supply operates from eight warehouse locations across the United States, which facilitates next day ground shipping service to a broad section of its customer base.
	Signature Special Situations. Signature Special Situations selectively acquires sub-performing and nonperforming commercial and industrial loans, leases, and mortgages typically at a discount to unpaid principal balance. Signature Special Situations may also originate secured debt financings to middle market companies for a variety of situations, including supporting another transaction such as an acquisition, recapitalization or restructuring, and may take positions in corporate bonds and other structured debt instruments, which may be performing, sub-performing or nonperforming, as well as other specialized financial assets.
	Additionally, Signature’s operations include a discontinued operations segment, where it holds and manages certain assets and liabilities related to its former businesses, then known as Fremont General Corporation (“Fremont”) and its primary operating subsidiary, Fremont Investment & Loan (“FIL”), as well as Cosmed, Inc. (“Cosmed”), which owns the product formulations of a line of anti-aging skin care products and was designated a discontinued operation in the fourth quarter of 2012. The assets and liabilities of discontinued operations are being managed to maximize cash recoveries and limit costs and exposures.

Financial_Statement_Presentati

Financial Statement Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Financial Statement Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	'
	NOTE 2 — FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Signature, its wholly owned subsidiaries and its majority owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). The Company accounts for investments in companies over which it has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not hold a controlling interest, under the equity method of accounting, and records its proportionate share of income or losses in other income (expense) in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company accounts for investments in companies over which it does not have the ability to exercise significant influence under the cost method of accounting. These investments are carried at cost within other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included. The Company evaluates subsequent events through the date of filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or the “Commission”). Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013. These interim period unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on April 1, 2013, and amended on April 30, 2013 (the “Annual Report”). Certain amounts in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
	Reverse Stock Split
	On October 7, 2013, the Company filed Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Split of its authorized, issued and outstanding shares of common stock (the “Old Common Stock”). Effective October 15, 2013, every ten shares of the Company’s Old Common Stock were exchanged for one share of the Company’s new common stock (the “New Common Stock”). Following the Reverse Split, the Company has 66,500,000 shares of New Common Stock authorized, of which 12,213,219 shares of New Common Stock are issued and outstanding. In the Reverse Split, fractional share interests of New Common Stock were rounded up to the nearest whole number. After a twenty trading day period following the effective date of the Reverse Split, during which time the New Common Stock will be traded on the OTCQX under the trading symbol ‘SGGHD,’ the New Common Stock will trade on the OTCQX under the trading symbol ‘SGGH.’ All common stock share and per share information in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted to reflect retrospective application of the Reverse Split, unless otherwise indicated. See Note 17—Subsequent Events for additional information about the Reverse Split.
	The Company’s significant accounting policies are disclosed in the Annual Report and, other than as described below, there have been no material changes to these accounting policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
	Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash on deposit at financial institutions and other short-term liquid investments. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. All highly liquid investment instruments with maturities of three months or less at the acquisition date are classified as cash equivalents. Cash that is subject to legal restrictions or is unavailable for general operating purposes is classified as restricted cash.
	Recent accounting standards
	In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-02, Comprehensive Income: Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”). ASU 2013-02 requires disclosure of information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“accumulated OCI”) by component. In addition, ASU 2013-02 requires presentation, either on the face of the statements of operations or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated OCI by the respective line items of net income, but only if the amounts reclassified are required to be reclassified to net income in their entirety in the same reporting period under GAAP. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income under GAAP, a cross-reference must be provided to other required disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. ASU 2013-02, which will increase disclosures for the Company as outlined above, is effective January 1, 2013. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”) to eliminate diversity in practice of presenting unrecognized tax benefits as a liability or presenting unrecognized tax benefits as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss or tax credit carryforward in certain circumstances, by requiring that an unrecognized tax benefit be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to deferred tax assets, excluding certain exceptions. ASU 2013-11 is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2013 and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	'
	NOTE 3 — CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
	The following table presents cash and cash equivalents, within continuing operations, as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,				December 31,
		2013				2012
	Noninterest-bearing deposits	$	32,981		$		17,332
	Short-term money market funds		38,386				33,373
	Loan servicing trust accounts		—				189
	Total cash and cash equivalents	$	71,367		$		50,894
	The following table presents restricted cash as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Noninterest-bearing deposits - securing a letter of credit	$	784	$	784
	Noninterest-bearing deposits - legal settlement reserve funds		2,021		2,021
	Total restricted cash	$	2,805	$	2,805

Securities

Securities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Securities	'
	NOTE 4 — SECURITIES
	Investment securities, available for sale
	The following table presents investment securities, available for sale as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Corporate bonds	$	—	$	3,060
	Investment securities, available for sale	$	—	$	3,060
	The amortized cost and gross unrealized holding gains for investment securities, available for sale, consisted of the following as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Amortized cost	$	—	$	2,836
	Gross unrealized holding gains		—		224
	Estimated fair value	$	—	$	3,060
	In March 2013, the Company sold its remaining corporate bond position for $3.2 million and recognized a $0.4 million gain on sale of investment securities, available for sale. There were no individual investment securities with unrealized holding losses at December 31, 2012. No credit-related other-than-temporary impairment was recognized on investment securities, available for sale in the three or nine months ended September 30, 2013, and zero and $0.6 million was recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
	Nonmarketable equity securities
	The Company classifies nonmarketable equity securities in other noncurrent assets, or other current assets when the securities are held for sale, and are carried at the lower of cost or market. As of September 30, 2013, the Company held convertible preferred stock in a private company with which the Company has a commercial lending relationship, and common stock the Company received in exchange for its position in a private company’s defaulted corporate bonds pursuant to the issuer’s plan of reorganization in bankruptcy.
	The following table presents the carrying value of nonmarketable equity securities as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Common stock (other current assets)	$	1,359	$	1,940
	Convertible preferred stock (other noncurrent assets)		800		800
		$	2,159	$	2,740
	During the quarter ended September 30, 2013, the Company classified the common stock as held for sale and recorded other-than-temporary impairment of $0.6 million.

Trade_Accounts_Receivable_Net

Trade Accounts Receivable, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Trade Accounts Receivable, Net	'
	NOTE 5 — TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET
	Trade accounts receivable, net consisted of the following as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Trade accounts receivable	$	4,340		$	3,803
	Sales returns and allowances		(172	)		(161	)
			4,168			3,642
	Allowance for uncollectible accounts		(35	)		(35	)
	Trade accounts receivable, net	$	4,133		$	3,607
	At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, all of the trade receivables of Industrial Supply, totaling $4.3 million and $3.8 million, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure outstanding balances on its line of credit and term loan.

Inventory

Inventory	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory	'
	NOTE 6 — INVENTORY
	Inventory consists of electrical components, primarily new electrical circuit breakers for use in commercial, industrial and residential applications.
	The following table presents the composition of the Company’s inventory as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Finished goods	$	10,527		$	10,272
	Valuation adjustment for damaged inventory		(25	)		(25	)
		$	10,502		$	10,247
	At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Industrial Supply’s inventory, totaling $10.5 million and $10.3 million, respectively, was pledged as collateral to secure outstanding balances on its line of credit and term loan.

Loans_Receivables_Net

Loans Receivables, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Loans Receivables, Net	'
	NOTE 7 — LOANS RECEIVABLE, NET
	The following table presents the Company’s loans receivable, net as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Residential real estate loans:
	Unpaid principal balance	$	—		$	44,904
	Discount		—			(22,695	)
	Recorded investment		—			22,209
	Allowance for loan losses		—			—
	Total residential real estate loans		—			22,209
	Commercial real estate loans:
	Unpaid principal balance		1,560			1,734
	Discount		(11	)		(12	)
	Recorded investment		1,549			1,722
	Allowance for loan losses		(50	)		(50	)
	Total commercial real estate loans		1,499			1,672
	Commercial loans:
	Revolving lines of credit		2,272			—
	Term note unpaid principal balance		1,000			1,000
	Term note discount		(446	)		(509	)
	Recorded investment		2,826			491
	Allowance for loan losses		—			—
	Total commercial loans		2,826			491
	Loans receivable, net	$	4,325		$	24,372
	Loans receivable, net due within one year consists of the following as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Contractual principal payments due within one year(1):
	Residential real estate loans	$	—		$	527
	Commercial real estate loans		86			93
			86			620
	Revolving lines of credit		2,272			—
	Loans receivable, net due within one year	$	2,358		$	620
	(1)              Excludes loans ninety or more days past due.
	In the second quarter of 2013, the Company reclassified to held for sale and sold its remaining residential real estate loans (the “Residential Loans”). The aggregate carrying value of the Residential Loans, including accrued interest and servicing advances was $22.1 million. Proceeds of $27.1 million were received for the Residential Loans, resulting in a $5.0 million gain, classified as operating revenues of Signature Special Situations in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
	Pro forma financial information
	Had the Residential Loans been sold as of December 31, 2011, operating revenues of Signature Special Situations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 would have been reduced by $0.7 million and $4.9 million, respectively, related to interest income and change in market valuation allowance recognized on the loans sold. Operating costs for loan servicing-related expenses would have been reduced by $18 thousand and $53 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. Loss from continuing operations and net loss would have increased by $0.7 million, or $0.06 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and would have increased by $4.9 million, or $0.42 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
	Had the Residential Loans been sold as of December 31, 2012, operating revenues of Signature Special Situations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 would have been reduced by zero and $5.8 million, respectively, related to interest income and the gain on sale of the loans. Operating costs for loan servicing-related expenses would have been reduced by zero and $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. Loss from continuing operations and net loss would have increased by $5.7 million, or $0.48 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	This pro forma financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the financial position or results of operations for future periods or the results that would have been achieved if the sales of the Residential Loans had been consummated on the dates indicated. The unaudited pro forma financial information does not reflect any adjustments for nonrecurring items. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to present fairly the unaudited pro forma financial information have been made. The unaudited pro forma financial information should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report.
	Generally, the residential real estate loans had original maturities of up to thirty years and were typically secured by first deeds of trust on single-family residences. Many of the loans had principal amortization terms in excess of thirty years or no principal amortization (interest-only loans). The loans were generally made to borrowers who did not satisfy all of the credit, documentation and other underwriting standards prescribed by conventional mortgage lenders and loan buyers, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and are commonly referred to as “subprime” or “non-prime” borrowers. Before the reclassification and sale, the discount on residential real estate loans was accreted to interest income using the interest method over the contractual life, using the contractual terms of each loan.
	Commercial real estate loans consist primarily of a participation interest in a pool of adjustable rate multi-family loans.
	Commercial loans are comprised of senior debt of a manufacturing company that specializes in retail store fixtures and merchandise displays and includes a revolving line of credit and term note that are secured by the assets of the borrower. The line of credit provides for maximum borrowings of $7.0 million, has an interest rate of the prime rate plus 2.75%, with a floor of 5.75%, and matures on March 31, 2017. The $1.0 million term note has an interest rate of the prime rate plus 2.75%, with a floor of 5.75%, and matures on March 31, 2017, with interest due monthly. Draws on the revolving line of credit are subject to a borrowing base, with any outstanding balance due at maturity. Principal on the term note is due monthly beginning on April 1, 2015, with a final balloon payment due on March 31, 2017. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the commercial loans were current and the borrower was in compliance with all loan covenants.
	Nonaccrual, impaired and modified loans
	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, zero and $2.2 million of residential real estate loans were in nonaccrual status, respectively. No other loans receivable, net were in nonaccrual status as of September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012, and there were no loans ninety days or more past due and accruing interest at September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2013. The nonaccrual residential real estate loans represented 10.1% of the $22.2 million recorded investment of all residential real estate loans and 9.1% of the $24.4 million recorded investment of all loans receivable, net as of December 31, 2012.
	The average recorded investment of impaired loans receivable was $6.5 million and $11.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012, respectively. Interest income recognized on impaired loans receivable was $0.3 million and $1.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012, respectively.
	At September 30, 2013, no loans classified as loans receivable, net were modified under troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) in the twelve months ended September 30, 2013, and three loans aggregating $0.2 million, classified as loans receivable, net at December 31, 2012, were modified under TDRs in 2012. There were no losses on TDRs in the three or nine months ended September 30, 2013 or in the year ended December 31, 2012. None of the loans modified under TDRs during the twelve months ended September 30, 2013 reached ninety or more days past due.
	Credit quality indicator
	A credit quality indicator is a statistic used by management to monitor and assess the credit quality of loans receivable.
	Management monitors delinquencies as its primary credit quality indicator and the following table presents delinquency information for loans receivable as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, based on recorded investment:
	(Dollars in thousands)	30‑59 Days			60‑89 Days			90 Days or More		Total		Current		Total
		Past Due			Past Due			Past Due		Past Due
	30-Sep-13
	Commercial real estate loans	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	1,549	$	1,549
	Commercial loans:
	Revolving lines of credit		—			—			—		—		2,272		2,272
	Term note		—			—			—		—		554		554
	Total commercial loans		—			—			—		—		2,826		2,826
	Total	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	4,375	$	4,375
	31-Dec-12
	Residential real estate loans	$	2,457		$	569		$	2,816	$	5,842	$	16,367	$	22,209
	Commercial real estate loans		—			—			—		—		1,722	$	1,722
	Commercial loans:
	Revolving lines of credit		—			—			—		—		—		—
Term note		—			—			—		—		491		491
Total commercial loans		—			—			—		—		491		491
Total	$	2,457		$	569		$	2,816	$	5,842	$	18,580	$	24,422

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt	'
	NOTE 8 — DEBT
	The following table presents the Company’s debt as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Lines of credit	$	500	$	1,000
	Long-term debt:
	Notes Payable	$	37,246	$	37,246
	Term loan		6,000		6,900
	Seller notes		1,173		2,906
	Total long-term debt, including amounts due within one year	$	44,419	$	47,052
	The following table represents the Company’s long-term debt due within one year as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Contractual principal payments due within one year:
	Term loan	$	1,200	$	1,200
	Seller notes		1,173		2,290
	Long-term debt due within one year	$	2,373	$	3,490
	Lines of credit
	Lines of credit consists of Industrial Supply’s $8.0 million asset-based revolving line of credit, which matures in September 2014 and is subject to a borrowing base. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, outstanding borrowings on the revolving line of credit were $0.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2013, available borrowing capacity under the revolving line of credit was $7.5 million. The line of credit has a variable interest rate based upon the lender’s base rate, which was 4.0% on September 30, 2013, and is secured by all of the assets of Industrial Supply. Interest expense on lines of credit was $23 thousand and $8 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $72 thousand and $70 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Notes Payable
	On July 16, 2010, as partial settlement of the Company’s then outstanding 9.0% Trust Originated Preferred Securities (the “TOPrS”), the former holders of the TOPrS received $39.0 million in notes payable, due December 2016, bearing interest at 9.0% per annum (the “Notes Payable”). In 2012, the Company acquired and retired $1.8 million of the Notes Payable. Interest expense on the Notes Payable was $0.8 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $2.5 million and $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	The Notes Payable indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and certain subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions and qualifications, to (i) pay dividends or make distributions, repurchase equity securities, or make guarantee payments on the foregoing; (ii) make payments on debt securities that rank pari passu or junior to the Notes Payable; (iii) effect a change in control of the Company; or (iv) enter into transactions with affiliated parties that are not at arms-length.
	Term loan
	The term loan consists of Industrial Supply’s $8.0 million loan originally funded in September 2011 and maturing in September 2016, which had an outstanding balance of $6.0 million and $6.9 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The term loan is subject to annual principal payments of $0.8 million in year one, $1.2 million in each of years two and three, $1.6 million in each of years four and five, with a balloon payment of any remaining principal balance due at maturity. The term loan has a variable interest rate based upon the lender’s base rate plus 1.00% per annum; as of September 30, 2013, the interest rate was 5.00%. The term loan is secured by all of the assets of Industrial Supply. Interest expense on the term loan was $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Seller notes
	Seller notes are comprised of $5.0 million in obligations owed to the former owners of NABCO, issued in connection with the 2011 NABCO business combination. The seller notes had aggregate outstanding balances of $1.2 million and $2.9 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The seller notes mature on January 29, 2016 and are subject to scheduled quarterly principal payments and, subject to certain conditions, accelerated principal payments. Based on NABCO’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for the year ended December 31, 2012, $1.7 million of accelerated principal payments are due and payable in the year ending December 31, 2013. The seller notes bear interest at 6.00% per annum and interest is paid quarterly. Interest expense on the seller notes was $27 thousand and $59 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all of the covenants under its debt agreements, which includes restrictions on dividends from Industrial Supply to Signature.

Common_Stock_Warrant_Liability

Common Stock Warrant Liability	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Common Stock Warrant Liability	'
	NOTE 9 — COMMON STOCK WARRANT LIABILITY
	In connection with the Company’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy (the “Bankruptcy Proceedings”) on June 11, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), Signature issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrants”). The aggregate purchase price for the Warrants was $0.3 million, due in equal installments as the Warrants vest. The Warrants vested 20% upon issuance and, thereafter, vest 20% annually on the anniversary of the issuance date. As of September 30, 2013, the Warrants are 80% vested and the Company has received $0.2 million of the aggregate purchase price. The Warrants expire in June 2020 and had an original exercise price of $10.30 per share, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split. The Warrants were issued without registration in reliance on the exemption set forth in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
	The Warrants include customary terms that provide for certain adjustments of the exercise price and the number of shares of common stock to be issued upon the exercise of the Warrants in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, pro rata distributions and certain other fundamental transactions. Additionally, the Warrants are subject to pricing protection provisions and are eligible to receive rights to subscribe for the purchase of common stock under rights offering transactions. During the term of the Warrants, the pricing protection provisions provide that certain issuances of new shares of common stock at prices below the current exercise price of the Warrants automatically reduce the exercise price of the Warrants to the lowest per share purchase price of common stock issued.
	In October 2010, January 2011, and April 2011, restricted common stock was issued to nonexecutive members of the board of directors (the “Board”) under the Company’s director compensation program (the “Director Compensation Program”) that each triggered the pricing protection provisions of the Warrants. The restricted common stock issued to nonexecutive members of the Board in April 2011 reduced the exercise price of the Warrants to $6.90 per share, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split. In July 2011, the Company issued approximately 0.3 million shares of common stock, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split, as purchase consideration in the NABCO business combination. The NABCO business combination common stock was issued at $6.64 per share, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split, thereby reducing the exercise price of the Warrants to $6.64 per share, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split; however, the holders of approximately 79.3% of the Warrants waived the pricing protection provisions related to shares issued in the NABCO business combination and the exercise price related to those Warrants remains at $6.90 per share, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split. See Note 17—Subsequent Events for additional information related to the Reverse Split.
	The Company utilizes a trinomial lattice option pricing model to estimate the fair value of the common stock warrant liability. A decrease in the common stock warrant liability results in other income, while an increase in the common stock warrant liability results in other expense.
	The following table presents changes in the fair value of the common stock warrant liability during the periods indicated:
		Three Months Ended September 30,									Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Dollars in thousands)	2013			2012						2013					2012
	Beginning balance	$	7,500		$		2,000			$		2,350			$			1,403
	Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability		3,300				850					8,450						1,447
	Ending balance	$	10,800		$		2,850			$		10,800			$			2,850
	The following table summarizes the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the common stock warrant liability during the periods indicated, as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Three Months Ended September 30,										Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Weighted averages)	2013				2012						2013							2012
	Expected term (years)		4.1					7.2					5.3							7.6
	Volatility		55.0	%				51.0	%				53.0	%						49.5	%
	Risk-free rate		0.99	%				1.07	%				1.12	%						1.36	%
	Exercise multiple		2.8					2.8					2.8							2.8
	Market price of Signature common stock	$	12.00			$		4.60			$		8.90				$			3.60
	Exercise price	$	6.85			$		6.85			$		6.85				$			6.85

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Taxes	'
	NOTE 10 — INCOME TAXES
	For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, income tax benefit was $7 thousand and $60 thousand, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, income tax expense was $86 thousand and $22 thousand, respectively. Income tax expense is primarily comprised of estimated income taxes due in jurisdictions where the Company does not have or cannot utilize its net operating loss tax carryforwards (“NOLs”). As of December 31, 2012, the Company had federal and California state NOLs of approximately $887.3 million and $976.9 million, respectively. The Company’s federal NOLs have a 20-year life and begin to expire in 2027. The Company’s California state NOLs have either a 10-year or 20-year life and begin to expire in 2017.
	In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends on the ability to generate future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences become deductible. As a result of generating losses since 2006, among other factors, the Company has determined that sufficient uncertainty exists as to the realizability of its deferred tax asset and as such, has placed a full valuation allowance of $374.3 million and $373.7 million on its deferred tax assets at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	In December 2012, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS” or the “Service”), in preparation of its report to the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation (the “Joint Committee”) related to the Company’s $24.8 million refund request for the 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 tax years, notified the Company of a proposed adjustment to the reported 2005 alternative minimum taxable income and associated tax (“AMT”). The Service identified a $2.6 million liability as a result of certain disallowed bad debt deductions identified in the 2006 tax year audit. In connection with this proposed adjustment, in February 2013, the Service notified the Company that it was examining the 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 tax years. The IRS has requested, and the Company has provided, documentation that the Company believes reduces the 2005 AMT liability to approximately $0.4 million, including $30 thousand of accrued interest through December 31, 2012. The Company remitted a $0.4 million payment to the IRS on January 31, 2013. The Company believes its proposed adjustments will, more likely than not, be allowed under the examination. Although the Company does not have any reason to believe that the Joint Committee will not approve the remainder of the tax refund, received in 2010, there is no assurance that such approval will be given by the Joint Committee or that additional issues will not be raised by the IRS or the Joint Committee during the examination. In July 2013, the IRS submitted its report to the Joint Committee.

ShareBased_Payments_and_Employ

Share-Based Payments and Employee Benefits	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Share-Based Payments and Employee Benefits	'
	NOTE 11 — SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
	Incentive Plan
	The Company’s Amended and Restated Signature Group Holdings, Inc. 2006 Performance Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) provides for the grant of restricted common stock, common stock options, stock appreciation rights, and restricted stock units to employees, nonexecutive directors and consultants. Under the Incentive Plan, the Board is authorized to issue up to 2.5 million shares of common stock, or its equivalent. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there were no stock appreciation rights or restricted stock units outstanding and there were 0.6 million and 0.9 million shares, respectively, available for grant under the Incentive Plan. The authorized and available share counts for the Incentive Plan have been adjusted for the Reverse Split. See Note 17—Subsequent Events for additional information related to the Reverse Split.
	Director Compensation Program
	The Director Compensation Program provides for annual grants of restricted shares of the Company’s common stock on the first business day of each calendar year to each nonexecutive Board member. These grants have a grant date fair value of $75 thousand per nonexecutive director, and vest on January 1 of the following year. Compensation to nonexecutive directors joining the Company after January 1 is prorated for the time of service and those awards also vest on January 1 of the following year. Beginning in January 2012, the director compensation awards have been granted under the Incentive Plan.
	Restricted common stock
	Restricted common stock awards are granted with various vesting schedules ranging from immediately up to five years. Grants that vest immediately have restrictions on transfer of the common stock for approximately one year.
	The following table presents activity of nonvested restricted common stock for the periods indicated as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013									Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Shares				Weighted Average					Shares				Weighted Average
						Grant Date Fair									Grant Date Fair
						Value Per Share									Value Per Share
	Beginning nonvested restricted shares		357,522			$		4.32				231,506			$		5.96
	Shares vested		(159,394	)				3.53				(195,017	)				4.18
	Shares granted		128,134					5.27				321,033					3.05
	Ending nonvested restricted shares		326,262			$		5.08				357,522			$		4.32
	On August 6, 2012, upon the certification of the results of the vote of stockholders at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the seating of new Board members and the resignation of four independent directors that were not renominated, 111,112 shares of restricted common stock, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split, vested pursuant to the restricted common stock awards.
	On May 3, 2013, in connection with his assumption of the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, the Board granted G. Christopher Colville 25,000 shares of restricted common stock, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split. The grant date fair value of the award was $138,750, based on the closing price of Signature’s common stock on the grant date. On June 4, 2013, Mr. Colville resigned as Chairman of the Board and interim Chief Executive Officer and, pursuant to his restricted common stock awards, 18,293 shares of restricted common stock granted in January 2013, and the 25,000 shares of restricted common stock granted on May 3, 2013, vested in full, both as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split.
	On June 5, 2013, in connection with his appointment as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Craig Bouchard, was granted 25,000 shares of restricted common stock, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split. The shares vest on January 1, 2014 and had a grant date fair value of $167,500.
	On August 8, 2013, in connection with their election to the Board, the two new Board members were each granted 2,481 shares of restricted common stock, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split. The shares vest on January 1, 2014 and had an aggregate grant date fair value of $69,454.
	Share-based compensation related to restricted common stock awards was $0.3 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $0.9 million and $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the aggregate unamortized share-based compensation related to outstanding restricted common stock awards was $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively, and will be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.9 years and 1.6 years, respectively. See Note 17—Subsequent Events for additional information related to the Reverse Split.
	Common stock options
	The Company may issue common stock options to employees under the Incentive Plan, with various vesting schedules ranging from immediately up to four years. The fair value of each common stock option award is estimated on the grant date using either a Black-Scholes option pricing model for service-based awards or a trinomial lattice option pricing model for performance-based awards using assumptions in the following table. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock since emerging from Bankruptcy Proceedings, and volatilities of similar entities. The common stock option awards expire eight to ten years following the grant date and the expected lives are based on the simplified method as the Company does not have sufficient common stock option exercise experience to support a reasonable estimate of expected term. The risk-free rate is the yield available on United States Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining terms approximating the expected term at the grant date.
	The following table presents weighted average assumptions used in determining the $2.75 and $1.67 weighted average per share grant date fair value of common stock options granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012, respectively, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split:
	(Weighted averages)	Nine Months Ended					Year Ended
		September 30,					December 31,
		2013					2012
	Expected volatility		55.0		%			52.6		%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.15		%			0.80		%
	Expected term (in years)		5.6					5.1
	Dividend yield		0.0		%			0.0		%
	The following table presents activity of nonvested common stock options during the periods indicated as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013											Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Shares				Weighted								Shares				Weighted
						Average Exercise Price Per Share												Average Exercise Price Per Share
	Beginning nonvested common stock options		872,373			$		5.41							881,600			$	5.72
	Common stock options granted		205,000					9.52							184,600				3.57
	Common stock options vested		(333,208	)				5.47							(189,861	)			5.11
	Common stock options forfeited		(20,332	)				3.62							(3,966	)			3.00
	Ending nonvested common stock options		723,833			$		6.59							872,373			$	5.41
	On June 5, 2013, in connection with his appointment as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bouchard, was granted options to purchase 200,000 shares common stock, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split. The common stock options vest 25% every six months following the grant date, have exercises prices of $8.50 for the first 50,000 common stock options and $10.00 for the remaining 150,000 common stock options, and had a grant date fair value of $549,714.
	The following table presents activity of vested common stock options during the periods indicated as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013											Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Shares				Weighted								Shares				Weighted
						Average Exercise Price Per Share												Average Exercise Price Per Share
	Beginning vested common stock options		181,327			$		5.21							—			$	—
	Common stock options exercised		(20,668	)				3.00							(8,534	)			3.00
	Common stock options vested		333,208					5.47							189,861				5.11
	Ending vested common stock options		493,867			$		5.48							181,327			$	5.21
	The weighted average remaining contractual life for common stock options outstanding at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was 8.2 and 8.6 years, respectively, and the weighted average remaining contractual life for common stock options exercisable at September 30, 2013 was 7.8 years.
	The following table provides information pertaining to the intrinsic value of common stock options outstanding and exercisable as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,					December 31,
		2013					2012
	Intrinsic value of common stock options outstanding	$		7,133			$		106
	Intrinsic value of common stock options exercisable			3,221					37
	The following table presents the intrinsic value of common stock options exercised and the fair value of common stock options that vested during the periods indicated:
	(Dollars in thousands)	Nine Months Ended					Year Ended
		September  30,					December 31,
		2013					2012
	Intrinsic value of common stock options exercised(1)	$		137			$		10
	Fair value of common stock options vested(2)			615					327
	(1)              The intrinsic value of common stock options exercised is the difference between the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the exercise date and the exercise price.
	(2)              The fair value of common stock options vested is based on the grant date fair value.
Share-based compensation related to common stock option awards was $0.3 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $0.6 million and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. At September 30, 2013, the aggregate unamortized share-based compensation related to outstanding common stock option awards was $0.9 million and will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.2 years.
401(k) saving plan
In 2012, the Company implemented a 401(k) savings plan (the “Savings Plan”) under which all full-time employees are eligible to participate. Employee contributions are limited to the maximum amount allowed by the IRS. The Company matches 100% of each employee contribution to the Savings Plan, up to a maximum match of 4% of each employee’s cash compensation. Matching contributions under the Savings Plan during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were $41 thousand and $30 thousand, respectively, and $0.1 million and $45 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Loss_Per_Share

Loss Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Loss Per Share	'
	NOTE 12 — LOSS PER SHARE
	Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc. by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. The calculation of diluted earnings per share is determined using the treasury stock method, whereby the basic weighted average number of shares is increased by the dilutive effect of unvested restricted common stock awards, common stock options and the Warrants.
	Unvested restricted common stock, common stock options and the Warrants are anti-dilutive and excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share if the assumed proceeds upon exercise of common stock options or Warrants, or the unamortized share-based compensation of unvested restricted common stock are greater than the cost to reacquire the same number of shares at the average market price of Signature common stock during the period. The dilutive impact of these securities could be included in future computations of diluted earnings per share if the average market price of the Company’s common stock for the periods presented increases sufficiently. As a result of the net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the impact of all outstanding unvested restricted common stock, common stock options and the Warrants are excluded from diluted loss per share as their impact would be anti-dilutive.
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per share for the periods indicated as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	2013			2012				2013				2012
	Loss from continuing operations	$	(5,687	)	$	(2,166	)	$		(9,721	)	$		(4,683	)
	Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(172	)		(462	)			(827	)			(3,082	)
	Net loss		(5,859	)		(2,628	)			(10,548	)			(7,765	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—				—				—
	Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	(5,859	)	$	(2,628	)	$		(10,548	)	$		(7,765	)
	Weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding		11,883,605			11,632,828				11,843,526				11,545,766
	Basic and diluted loss per share:
	Continuing operations	$	(0.48	)	$	(0.19	)	$		(0.82	)	$		(0.40	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.01	)		(0.04	)			(0.07	)			(0.27	)
	Basic and diluted loss per share	$	(0.49	)	$	(0.23	)	$		(0.89	)	$		(0.67	)
	The following table provides details on the average market price of Signature common stock and the incremental shares that would have been included in the diluted shares outstanding computation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011, had they not been anti-dilutive:
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012				2013				2012
	Average market price of Signature common stock	$	11.89		$	3.56		$		7.76		$		3.18
	Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents:
	Unvested restricted stock		275,151			99,421				233,483				67,640
	Common stock options		514,924			2,718				215,406				400
	Warrants		636,628			—				175,925				—
	Total anti-dilutive common stock equivalents		1,426,703			102,139				624,814				68,040

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Measurements	'
	NOTE 13 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 825, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure of the estimated fair value of certain financial instruments and the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate such fair values. FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”) defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
	●            Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	●            Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
	●            Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.
	Fair Value Estimates of Financial Instruments
	The following tables present the carrying values and fair value estimates of financial instruments as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
						30-Sep-13
	(Dollars in thousands)	Fair Value				Carrying					Estimated
		Hierarchy				Amount					Fair Value
	ASSETS
	Continuing operations:
	Cash and cash equivalents		Level 1			$		71,367			$		71,367
	Restricted cash		Level 1					2,805					2,805
	Loans receivable, net		Level 3					4,325					4,771
	Preferred stock (other noncurrent assets)		Level 3					800					3,000
	Common stock (other current assets)		Level 2					1,359					1,359
	Discontinued operations:
	Cash and cash equivalents		Level 1					114					114
	Commercial real estate investments, net (other current assets)		Level 1					32					1,000
	LIABILITIES
	Continuing operations:
	Lines of credit		Level 3			$		500			$		500
	Long-term debt:
	Notes Payable		Level 1					37,246					35,477
	Term loan		Level 3					6,000					6,000
	Seller notes		Level 3					1,173					1,173
	Common stock warrant liability		Level 3					10,800					10,800
						31-Dec-12
	(Dollars in thousands)	Fair Value				Carrying					Estimated
		Hierarchy				Amount					Fair Value
	ASSETS
	Continuing operations:
	Cash and cash equivalents		Level 1			$		50,894			$		50,894
	Restricted cash		Level 1					2,805					2,805
	Investment securities, available for sale		Level 1					3,060					3,060
	Loans receivable, net		Level 3					24,372					24,850
	Preferred stock (other noncurrent assets)		Level 3					800					2,000
	Common stock (other noncurrent assets)		Level 3					1,940					1,940
	Discontinued operations:
	Cash and cash equivalents		Level 1					162					162
	FHLB stock		Level 1					2,051					2,051
	Commercial real estate investments, net (other assets)		Level 3					51					51
	LIABILITIES
	Continuing operations:
	Lines of credit		Level 3			$		1,000			$		1,000
	Long-term debt:
	Notes Payable		Level 1					37,246					34,732
	Term loan		Level 3					6,900					6,900
	Seller notes		Level 3					2,906					2,906
	Common stock warrant liability		Level 3					2,350					2,350
	The Company used the following methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
	Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
	Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are recorded at historical cost. The carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value as these instruments have short-term maturities and market interest rates.
	Investment securities, available for sale
	Investment securities, available for sale were comprised of corporate bonds until the bonds were liquidated in March 2013. Estimated fair values for investment securities, available for sale are based on quoted market prices, where available.
	Loans receivable, net
	Loans receivable, net, consists of residential real estate loans, which were sold in the second quarter of 2013, commercial real estate loans, commercial lines of credit and commercial term notes.
	The estimated fair values of commercial real estate loans and commercial lines of credit consider the collateral coverage of assets securing the loans and estimated credit losses, as well as variable interest rates, which approximate market interest rates.
	The estimated fair value of the residential real estate loans was based on several factors, including current bids and market indications for similar assets, recent sales, discounted cash flow analyses, estimated values of underlying collateral and actual loss severity experience in portfolios backed by similar assets.
	The estimated fair value of the commercial term note is based on a discounted cash flow analysis, which includes assumptions about the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, discounted at rates that reflect the inherent credit, liquidity and uncertainty risks associated with the underlying borrower.
	Preferred stock
	Preferred stock consists of 4.00% cumulative convertible preferred stock of a privately held commercial loan borrower of Signature Special Situations and is classified in other noncurrent assets. The preferred stock has a stated value of $2.0 million and is convertible to 45.0% of the common stock of the company, on a fully diluted basis. The estimated fair value of preferred stock is based on estimates of EBITDA, a sales multiple and a control discount.
Common stock
Common stock consists of securities the Company received in exchange for its position in a privately held company’s defaulted corporate bonds pursuant to the issuer’s plan of reorganization in bankruptcy and is classified in other current assets. As of September 30, 2013, although the securities are held for sale, there was no readily determinable fair value for the common stock. The estimated fair value of common stock is based on recent sales reported in the grey market reported by OTC Markets.
FHLB stock
Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock was classified in assets of discontinued operations and recorded at cost. FIL was previously a member of the FHLB of San Francisco and, accordingly, was required to purchase stock in order to maintain a borrowing relationship. On July 26, 2013, the Company redeemed the FHLB stock and received $2.1 million in cash.
Commercial real estate investments, net
Commercial real estate investments, net is classified in assets of discontinued operations and includes participations in community development projects and similar types of loans and investments that FIL previously maintained for compliance under the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). The fair value of commercial real estate investments is based on various factors including current bids and market indications of similar assets, recent sales and discounted cash flow analyses. At September 30, 2013, the estimated fair value is based on the public announcement of a tender offer for a company in which FIL held an investment. Prior to the announcement, there were limited divestiture options for the investment.
Lines of credit
Lines of credit are short-term borrowing facilities, used primarily to support ongoing operations. The carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value, as these instruments have short-term maturities and market interest rates.
Long-term debt
Long-term debt includes Notes Payable, term loan and seller notes. The fair value of Notes Payable is based on quoted market prices. The fair value of the term loan is based on the market characteristics of the loan terms, including a variable interest rate, scheduled principal amortization and maturity date, generally consistent with market terms. The fair value of the seller notes is based on the market characteristics of the loan terms, scheduled and accelerated principal amortization and maturity date, generally consistent with market terms.
Common stock warrant liability
Common stock warrant liability is a derivative liability related to the Warrants that provide for anti-dilution and pricing protection provisions. The fair value of the common stock warrant liability is based on a trinomial lattice option pricing model that utilizes various assumptions, including exercise multiple, volatility and expected term.
Recurring and Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with GAAP, certain assets and liabilities are required to be carried at estimated fair value and are referred to as recurring fair value measurements. From time to time, the Company is required to measure other assets and liabilities at estimated fair value, typically from the application of specific accounting guidance under GAAP and are referred to as nonrecurring fair value measurements. These adjustments to fair value generally result from the application of lower of cost or market accounting or impairment charges of individual assets.
The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value based on the fair value hierarchy on a recurring and nonrecurring basis:
(Dollars in thousands)	Quoted Prices in					Significant Other					Significant							Total Fair Value
	Active Markets					Observable Inputs					Unobservable
	(Level 1)					(Level 2)					Inputs
											(Level 3)
Recurring fair value measurements:
30-Sep-13
Liabilities:
Common stock warrant liability	$		—			$		—			$		10,800				$			10,800
31-Dec-12
Assets:
Investment securities, available for sale	$		3,060			$		—			$		—				$			3,060
Liabilities:
Common stock warrant liability	$		—			$		—			$		2,350				$			2,350
Nonrecurring fair value measurements:
30-Sep-13
Assets:
Common stock (other current assets)	$		—			$		1,359			$		—				$			1,359
Real estate owned, net (discontinued operations)			—					—					95							95
31-Dec-12
Assets:
Real estate owned, net (discontinued operations)	$		—			$		—			$		830				$			830
Commercial real estate investments, net (other current assets – discontinued operations)			—					—					51							51
The following table presents a reconciliation of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
(Dollars in thousands)	Beginning					Income					Transfers				Purchases				Issuances				Settlements			Ending
	Balance					(Expense)					In/Out of															Balance
						Realized in					Level 3
						Earnings
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
Common stock warrant liability	$		7,500			$		(3,300	)		$		—		$		—		$		—		$		—	$	10,800
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
Contingent consideration	$		3,746			$		(76	)		$		—		$		—		$		—		$		—	$	3,822
Common stock warrant liability			2,000					(850	)				—				—				—				—		2,850
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
Common stock warrant liability	$		2,350			$		(8,450	)		$		—		$		—		$		—		$		—	$	10,800
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
Contingent consideration	$		3,597			$		(225	)		$		—		$		—		$		—		$		—	$	3,822
Common stock warrant liability			1,403					(1,447	)				—				—				—				—		2,850
The following table summarizes the total gains (losses) on assets and liabilities recorded on a nonrecurring basis for the periods indicated:
	Three Months Ended September 30,													Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2013					2012								2013								2012
Loans held for sale, net(1):
Continuing operations	$		—			$		—					$			—				$			2,776
Discontinued operations			—					14								—							(1,062	)
Common stock (other current assets)			(581	)				—								(581	)						—
Real estate owned, net (discontinued operations)			—					(22	)							(283	)						(711	)
Commercial real estate investments, net (other current assets – discontinued operations)			—					—								—							(121	)
	$		(581	)		$		(8	)				$			(864	)			$			882
(1)              Loans held for sale, net were measured at fair value as of March 31, 2012, however, they do not appear in the table presenting financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured using nonrecurring fair value measurements at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 above, as there were no loans classified as held for sale as of those dates.
The Company’s Level 3 assets and liabilities are determined using valuation techniques that incorporate unobservable inputs that require significant judgment or estimation.
The following tables presents quantitative information about the valuation techniques and unobservable inputs applied to Level 2 and Level 3 recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
(Dollars in thousands)	Estimated Fair Value								Valuation Technique				Unobservable Input			Range (Weighted Average)
	30-Sep-13
Assets:
Common stock (other current assets)	$		1,359					Market approach				Broker sales data			$5.00 ‑ $5.75 per share ($5.04)
												Estimated selling costs			0.6% ‑ 2.8% (0.7%)
Real estate owned, net			95					Market approach				Marketability discounts			20.0% (20.0%)
(discontinued operations)												Estimated selling costs			8.0% (8.0%)
Liabilities:
Common stock warrant liability	$		10,800					Lattice option				Exercise multiple			2.8x (2.8x)
								pricing model				Volatility			55.0% (53.0%)
												Expected term			3.9 ‑ 4.1 years (4.1 years)
(Dollars in thousands)	Estimated Fair Value								Valuation Technique				Unobservable Input			Range (Weighted Average)
	31-Dec-12
Assets:
Real estate owned, net (discontinued operations)	$		830					Market approach				Marketability discounts			20.0% (20.0%)
												Estimated selling costs			8.0% (8.0%)
Commercial real estate investments, net			51					Market approach				Marketability discounts			60.0% ‑ 90.0% (85.0%)
(other current assets - discontinued operations)												Control discount			25.0% (25.0%)
Liabilities:
Common stock warrant liability	$		2,350					Lattice option				Exercise multiple			2.8x (2.8x)
								pricing model				Volatility			51.0% (51.0%)
												Expected term			7.1 ‑ 7.2 years (7.1 years)
Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of common stock are broker sales data and estimated selling costs. The Company utilizes third party brokers, grey market sale data reported by OTC Markets and estimated selling costs based on third party brokers. A significant increase in the share price would result in an increase in the estimated fair value of the common stock, while a decrease would result in a decrease in the estimated fair value.
Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of REO are marketability discounts and estimated selling costs. The Company utilizes third party collateral valuation services and real estate Internet websites to estimate the fair value of REO and adjusts these values to account for various factors, such as historical loss experience, anticipated liquidation timing and estimated selling costs. Significant increases in these assumptions would result in a decrease in the estimated fair value of REO, while decreases in these assumptions would result in a higher estimated fair value.
Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of commercial real estate investments are marketability discounts and estimated selling costs. Significant increases in these assumptions would result in a decrease in the estimated fair value of commercial real estate investments, while decreases in these assumptions would result in a higher estimated fair value.
Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the common stock warrant liability include an exercise multiple, volatility and expected term. The Company uses these unobservable inputs in a trinomial lattice option pricing model. Significant increases in the exercise multiple or significant decreases in volatility or the expected term would result in a decrease in the estimated fair value of the common stock warrant liability, while significant decreases in the exercise multiple or significant increases in volatility or the expected term would result in an increase in the estimated fair value of the common stock warrant liability.

Operations_by_Reportable_Segme

Operations by Reportable Segment	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Operations by Reportable Segment	'
	NOTE 14 — OPERATIONS BY REPORTABLE SEGMENT
	Within continuing operations, the Company has two operating segments: Industrial Supply and Signature Special Situations. A third segment consists of discontinued operations, which includes assets and liabilities from Fremont’s former businesses and the operations of Cosmed. Results of operations and other financial measures that are not included in the Company’s three segments are included in Corporate and Other.
	The following tables present the operating results and other key financial measures for each of the Company’s segments as of and for the periods indicated:
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature				Corporate			Eliminations			Total					Discontinued						Total
		Supply			Special				and Other											Operations
					Situations
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Operating revenues from external customers	$	10,230		$	(453	)		$	—		$	—		$		9,777			$			31			$			9,808
	Intersegment operating revenues		—			102				—			(102	)			—						—						—
	Operating costs		8,492			4				3,776			(102	)			12,170						482						12,652
	Other income (expense)		—			(14	)			(3,287	)		—				(3,301	)					279						(3,022	)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes		1,738			(369	)			(7,063	)		—				(5,694	)					(172	)					(5,866	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		828			(214	)			(621	)		—				(7	)					—						(7	)
	Net earnings (loss)		910			(155	)			(6,442	)		—				(5,687	)					(172	)					(5,859	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—				—			—				—						—						—
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	910		$	(155	)		$	(6,442	)	$	—		$		(5,687	)		$			(172	)		$			(5,859	)
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature					Corporate					Eliminations						Total						Discontinued						Total
		Supply			Special					and Other																	Operations
					Situations
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Operating revenues from external customers	$	10,203		$	1,121					$	—				$		—				$	11,324					$			(28	)		$		11,296
	Intersegment operating revenues		—			102						270						(372	)				—								—					—
	Operating costs		8,489			306						4,217						(372	)				12,640								1,221					13,861
	Other income (expense)		(76	)		—						(834	)					—					(910		)						787					(123	)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes		1,638			917						(4,781	)					—					(2,226		)						(462	)				(2,688	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		741			664						(1,465	)					—					(60		)						—					(60	)
	Net earnings (loss)		897			253						(3,316	)					—					(2,166		)						(462	)				(2,628	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—						—						—					—								—					—
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	897		$	253					$	(3,316	)			$		—				$	(2,166		)			$			(462	)		$		(2,628	)
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature					Corporate					Eliminations						Total						Discontinued								Total
		Supply			Special					and Other																	Operations
					Situations
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Operating revenues from external customers	$	28,054		$	6,165					$	—				$		—				$	34,219					$			(61	)				$		34,158
	Intersegment operating revenues		—			303						316						(619	)				—								—							—
	Operating costs		23,371			411						12,341						(619	)				35,504								1,712							37,216
	Other income (expense)		—			(14		)				(8,336	)					—					(8,350		)						946							(7,404	)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes		4,683			6,043						(20,361	)					—					(9,635		)						(827	)						(10,462	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		1,978			2,284						(4,176	)					—					86								—							86
	Net earnings (loss)		2,705			3,579						(16,185	)					—					(9,721		)						(827	)						(10,548	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—						—						—					—								—							—
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	2,705		$	3,579					$	(16,185	)			$		—				$	(9,721		)			$			(827	)				$		(10,548	)
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature					Corporate					Eliminations						Total						Discontinued								Total
		Supply			Special					and Other																	Operations
					Situations
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Operating revenues from external customers	$	27,107		$	5,631					$	—				$		—				$	32,738					$			953					$		33,691
	Intersegment operating revenues		—			304						680						(984	)				—								—							—
	Operating costs		22,924			786						13,450						(984	)				36,176								4,979							41,155
	Other income (expense)		(225	)		—						(998	)					—					(1,223		)						948							(275	)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes		3,958			5,149						(13,768	)					—					(4,661		)						(3,078	)						(7,739	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		1,668			696						(2,342	)					—					22								4							26
	Net earnings (loss)		2,290			4,453						(11,426	)					—					(4,683		)						(3,082	)						(7,765	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—						—						—					—								—							—
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	2,290		$	4,453					$	(11,426	)			$		—				$	(4,683		)			$			(3,082	)				$		(7,765	)
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature					Corporate					Eliminations						Total						Discontinued								Total
		Supply			Special					and Other																	Operations
					Situations
Segment assets:
30-Sep-13
Current assets	$	14,921		$	8,844					$	69,515				$		—				$	93,280					$			687					$		93,967
Total assets		36,227			16,424						79,858						(15,082	)				117,427								1,268							118,695
31-Dec-12
Current assets	$	15,253		$	12,229					$	45,017				$		—				$	72,499					$			3,614					$		76,113
Total assets		37,667			43,230						72,758						(32,208	)				121,447								4,264							125,711
Segment liabilities:
30-Sep-13
Current liabilities	$	5,596		$	15					$	2,174				$		—				$	7,785					$			2,065					$		9,850
Total liabilities		21,865			3,662						50,397						(15,082	)				60,842								8,815							69,657
31-Dec-12
Current liabilities	$	10,864		$	103					$	754				$		—				$	11,721					$			2,292					$		14,013
Total liabilities		26,012			23,539						40,350						(32,208	)				57,693								9,792							67,485

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations	'
	NOTE 15 — DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
	The following tables present the assets and liabilities and financial results of the components of the Company designated as discontinued operations as of and for the periods indicated:
	Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	114		$	162
	Inventory		433			516
	FHLB stock		—			2,051
	Real estate owned, net		95			830
	Other current assets		45			55
	Total current assets of discontinued operations		687			3,614
	Intangible assets, net		149			196
	Goodwill		400			400
	Other noncurrent assets		32			54
	Assets of discontinued operations	$	1,268		$	4,264
	Current liabilities:
	Litigation reserve	$	1,852		$	1,775
	Trade payables		189			361
	Unclaimed property		19			153
	Other current liabilities		5			3
	Total current liabilities of discontinued operations		2,065			2,292
	Repurchase reserve		6,750			7,500
	Liabilities of discontinued operations	$	8,815		$	9,792
	Statements of Operations of Discontinued Operations
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Dollars in thousands)	2013			2012				2013				2012
	Operating revenues and other income (expense)	$	310		$	759		$		885		$		1,901
	Operating costs		482			1,221				1,712				4,979
	Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes		(172	)		(462	)			(827	)			(3,078	)
	Income tax expense		—			—				—				4
	Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	(172	)	$	(462	)	$		(827	)	$		(3,082	)
	Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations include:
	Inventory
	Inventory consists of a line of skin care products and related materials held at Cosmed.
	FHLB stock
	FIL was previously a member of the FHLB of San Francisco and, accordingly, was required to purchase stock in order to maintain a borrowing relationship. On July 26, 2013, the Company redeemed the FHLB stock and received $2.1 million in cash.
	Real estate owned, net
	REO, net consists of single-family residential properties acquired through, or in lieu of, foreclosure of loans secured by the properties and is reported at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, net of estimated selling or disposal costs (“net realizable value”). At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, REO was comprised of one and seven properties, respectively.
	Other assets
	Other assets include $32 thousand of an investment interest in a community development project that FIL previously maintained for compliance under the CRA, and $45 thousand of prepaid expenses and deposits at September 30, 2013. At December 31, 2012, other assets include $51 thousand of investment interests in community development projects and similar types of loans and investments and $47 thousand of prepaid expenses and deposits.
	Repurchase reserve
	The Company maintains a repurchase reserve that represents estimated losses the Company may experience from repurchase claims, both known and unknown, based on breaches of certain representations and warranties provided by FIL to counterparties that purchased the residential real estate loans FIL originated, predominantly from 2002 through the first quarter of 2007, which approximated $120 billion in the aggregate. Management estimates the likely range of the loan repurchase liability based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the timing of known claims relative to the loan origination date, the quality of the documentation supporting such claims, the number and involvement of cross-defendants, if any, related to such claims, and a time and expense estimate if a claim were to result in litigation. Additionally, management estimates the likelihood of possible future claims, and considers the unknown population of future claims, based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, historic claim experience activity, settlement arrangements with counterparties, remaining principal loan balances, as well as the passage of time since FIL originated and sold loans. The estimate is based on currently available information and is subject to known and unknown uncertainties using multiple assumptions requiring significant judgment. Accordingly, actual results may vary significantly from the current estimate.
	Total outstanding repurchase claims at September 30, 2013 were $101.7 million. Of the outstanding repurchase claims, there has been no communication or other action from the claimants:
	●            for more than sixty months in the case of $63.1 million in claims, or 62.0% of total claims outstanding;
	●            for more than thirty-six months, but less than sixty months, in the case of $10.3 million in claims, or 10.2% of total claims outstanding; and
	●            for more than twenty-four months, but less than thirty-six months, in the case of $28.3 million in claims, or 27.8% of total claims outstanding.
	There were no repurchase claims received or settled during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The repurchase reserve liability was $6.8 million and $7.5 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Recoveries of provisions for repurchase reserves were $0.2 million for each of the three months ended September 31, 2013 and 2012, and $0.7 million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	NOTE 16 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Legal Proceedings
	The Company is a defendant in or a party to a number of legal actions or proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. In some of these actions and proceedings, claims for monetary damages are asserted against the Company. In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of such legal actions and proceedings, the Company generally cannot predict what the eventual outcome of the pending matters will be, what the timing of the ultimate resolution of these matters will be, or what the eventual loss related to each pending matter maybe, if any.
	In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, the Company establishes an accrued liability for litigation when those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. In such cases, there may be an exposure to loss in excess of any amounts accrued. The estimated loss is based upon currently available information and is subject to significant judgment and a variety of assumptions, and known and unknown uncertainties. The matters underlying the estimated loss may change from time to time, and actual results may vary significantly from the current estimate. Therefore, an estimate of loss represents what the Company believes to be an estimate of loss only for certain matters meeting these criteria. It does not represent the Company’s maximum loss exposure.
	Based on the Company’s current understanding of these pending legal actions and proceedings, management does not believe that judgments or settlements arising from pending or threatened legal matters, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in these matters, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, and the very large or indeterminate damages sought in some of these matters, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for any particular reporting period.
	The legal proceedings summarized below include material matters that were resolved or concluded since December 31, 2012, as well as ongoing matters that may have an adverse effect on our business and future financial results.
	Final Bankruptcy Decree. On April 15, 2013, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California (the “California Federal Bankruptcy Court”) granted the Company’s motion for a final decree, and issued a final decree in the Company’s Bankruptcy Proceedings. The California Federal Bankruptcy Court retained jurisdiction to preside over claims described below in the Colburn and Walker matters. Upon the California Federal Bankruptcy Court entering the final orders in each of the Colburn and Walker claims, the Bankruptcy Proceedings will be closed.
	Faigin Matter. On January 15, 2009, Alan Faigin, a former General Counsel of Fremont, filed a complaint against Fremont Reorganizing Corporation (“FRC”) in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles (the “California Superior Court”). On February 3, 2010, Mr. Faigin filed an amended complaint alleging wrongful termination, breach of his employment agreement, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud and misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation and violation of various California labor codes, among other allegations under a “joint employer” theory. In February 2010, a jury found for Mr. Faigin and awarded him damages in the amount of approximately $1.4 million, which Fremont recorded as an accrued liability in the first quarter of 2010. The Company appealed the California Superior Court decision to the California Court of Appeal (the “Court of Appeal”), which affirmed the lower court decision, and to the California Supreme Court. On February 21, 2013, the California Supreme Court notified counsel for the Company that it would not review the Faigin matter, affirming the Court of Appeal decision and judgment. On April 4, 2013, Mr. Faigin filed a motion for an order releasing funds deposited with the California Superior Court to enforce the judgment. In response, the Company filed a Motion to Stay Execution of Judgment while the Company’s claims against Mr. Faigin, discussed below, are litigated. On May 17, 2013, the judge granted the Company’s Motion to Stay Execution of Judgment and denied Mr. Faigin’s motion to enforce the judgment.
	On April 27, 2009, FRC filed a cross-complaint against Mr. Faigin in the California Superior Court for breach of confidence, breach of fiduciary duty, representing conflicting interests and indemnification; and the Company is seeking $4.6 million in damages. On June 9, 2009, the California Superior Court dismissed the cross-complaint pursuant to California’s anti-SLAPP statute. FRC appealed the dismissal of this cross-complaint and on August 30, 2011, the Court of Appeal reversed and remanded the dismissal of FRC’s cross-complaint causes of action against Mr. Faigin for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of confidence. The Company intends to pursue these actions to recover damages it suffered as a result of these breaches. A trial is currently scheduled for April 2014.
	Colburn Matter. On December 8, 2009, Gwyneth Colburn, the former Executive Vice President for Fremont’s Commercial Real Estate group, filed a complaint in the California Superior Court against FIL and unnamed defendants for breach of contract related to a management continuity agreement (“MCA”) executed in August 2003, and extended in August 2007, and, separately, filed a proof of claim in the Bankruptcy Proceedings. In the California Superior Court action, Ms. Colburn contends she is owed $3.2 million, while in the Bankruptcy Proceedings, Ms. Colburn filed a $2.6 million proof of claim.
	On August 9, 2011, the California Superior Court entered a judgment granting the Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment and dismissing the complaint. On September 22, 2011, Ms. Colburn filed a Notice of Appeal from this dismissal. Appellate briefs from both parties have been filed.
	On February 12, 2013, the California Federal Bankruptcy Court denied the Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment. Ms. Colburn’s proof of claim in the Bankruptcy Proceedings remains outstanding and the Company intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims. A trial is currently scheduled for January 2014.
	Walker Matter. On June 10, 2011, Kyle Walker, the former Chief Executive Officer and President of FIL, filed a complaint in the California Superior Court against the Company and unnamed defendants for breach of contract, certain California Labor Code violations and breach of fiduciary duty related to his MCA executed in August 2003, and extended in August 2006, and, separately, a proof of claim in the Bankruptcy Proceedings. In the California Superior Court action, Mr. Walker contends he is owed $4.6 million, while in the Bankruptcy Proceedings, Mr. Walker filed a $2.5 million proof of claim.
	On August 26, 2011, Mr. Walker dismissed his complaint, without prejudice, against the Company as successor in interest to Fremont, but not as a successor in interest to FIL. On September 19, 2012, the Company obtained the California Superior Court’s final ruling granting the Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment and on October 26, 2012, the judgment was entered. On November 29, 2012, Mr. Walker moved for a new trial, based on the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the Faigin matter. On January 8, 2013, the California Superior Court granted Mr. Walker’s motion for a new trial. On February 5, 2013, the Company filed an appeal of the California Superior Court’s order granting Mr. Walker a new trial.
	On February 12, 2013, the California Federal Bankruptcy Court denied the Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment. Mr. Walker’s proof of claim in the Bankruptcy Proceedings remains outstanding and the Company intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims. A trial is currently scheduled for January 2014.
	RMBS Defense, Indemnity and Contribution Matters. In connection with residential mortgage-backed securities offerings (“RMBS offerings”) involving loans originated by FIL, either or both FIL and its subsidiary entered into loan purchase agreements, underwriting agreements and indemnification and contribution agreements, which contained various representations and warranties relating to the loans. Investment banks involved in these RMBS offerings have been sued in a number of actions concerning their activities related to subprime mortgages (“RMBS actions”), where the Company or its former businesses is not a named defendant. The Company has received demands for defense, indemnity and contribution from defendants in various residential mortgage-backed securities RMBS actions. The Company has rejected each of these demands, as it is the Company’s position that the demanding parties are being sued for conduct not chargeable to the Company or its former businesses. There is no assurance that the Company or its former businesses will not be named as defendants in additional RMBS related litigation or receive additional demands for defense, indemnity and contribution. It is the Company’s intention to vigorously defend any claims seeking defense, indemnity or contribution, but the Company cannot presently predict whether such claims will be pursued or what the outcome would be.
	Subpoenas for Information and Documents. In addition to the above-described RMBS litigation, the Company has received and responded to a number of subpoenas for information from federal authorities and other third parties in civil litigation matters in which the Company is not a defendant, but which concern home mortgage transactions involving the Company’s origination and sale of whole loans, and certain RMBS offerings.
	Unpaid Claims. As of September 30, 2013, there remained two open claims filed with the California Federal Bankruptcy Court, comprised of the Colburn and Walker claims totaling $5.1 million, as described above.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Subsequent Events	'
	NOTE 17 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	Reincorporation—Form S-4
	On October 11, 2013, Holdings filed a Registration Statement/Prospectus on Form S-4 with the SEC to effectuate the proposed Reincorporation of the Company from Nevada to Delaware through a merger that would result in the Company becoming a wholly owned limited liability company subsidiary of Holdings. On November 12, 2013, Holdings filed Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement/Prospectus on Form S-4. As a result of the merger, Holdings will be the publicly held corporation through which the Company’s common stock will be traded. The Reincorporation must be approved by a vote of stockholders at a special meeting of stockholders, and, following the SEC’s review and approval of the Registration Statement/Prospectus, the Company will set the date of such special meeting and mail proxy materials to stockholders.
	Reverse Stock Split
	On October 7, 2013, the Company filed Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Split of its Old Common Stock. Effective October 15, 2013, every ten shares of Old Common Stock were exchanged for one share of New Common Stock. The aggregate fractional share interests of each holder of New Common Stock were rounded up to the nearest whole number. Following the Reverse Split, the Company has 66,500,000 shares of New Common Stock authorized and, as of October 15, 2013, 12,213,219 shares of New Common Stock issued and outstanding. The New Common Stock will continue to trade on the OTCQX under the trading symbol ‘SGGH’ following a twenty trading day period after the effective date of the Reverse Split (during which time the trading symbol will be ‘SGGHD’).  The number of authorized shares of the Company’s preferred stock was not reduced in connection with the Reverse Split and remains 10,000,000, with no such shares outstanding at this time.

Financial_Statement_Presentati1

Financial Statement Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Reverse Stock Split	'
	Reverse Stock Split
	On October 7, 2013, the Company filed Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Split of its authorized, issued and outstanding shares of common stock (the “Old Common Stock”). Effective October 15, 2013, every ten shares of the Company’s Old Common Stock were exchanged for one share of the Company’s new common stock (the “New Common Stock”). Following the Reverse Split, the Company has 66,500,000 shares of New Common Stock authorized, of which 12,213,219 shares of New Common Stock are issued and outstanding. In the Reverse Split, fractional share interests of New Common Stock were rounded up to the nearest whole number. After a twenty trading day period following the effective date of the Reverse Split, during which time the New Common Stock will be traded on the OTCQX under the trading symbol ‘SGGHD,’ the New Common Stock will trade on the OTCQX under the trading symbol ‘SGGH.’ All common stock share and per share information in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted to reflect retrospective application of the Reverse Split, unless otherwise indicated. See Note 17—Subsequent Events for additional information about the Reverse Split.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	'
	Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
	Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash on deposit at financial institutions and other short-term liquid investments. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. All highly liquid investment instruments with maturities of three months or less at the acquisition date are classified as cash equivalents. Cash that is subject to legal restrictions or is unavailable for general operating purposes is classified as restricted cash.
Recent Accounting Standards	'
	Recent accounting standards
	In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-02, Comprehensive Income: Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”). ASU 2013-02 requires disclosure of information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“accumulated OCI”) by component. In addition, ASU 2013-02 requires presentation, either on the face of the statements of operations or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated OCI by the respective line items of net income, but only if the amounts reclassified are required to be reclassified to net income in their entirety in the same reporting period under GAAP. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income under GAAP, a cross-reference must be provided to other required disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. ASU 2013-02, which will increase disclosures for the Company as outlined above, is effective January 1, 2013. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”) to eliminate diversity in practice of presenting unrecognized tax benefits as a liability or presenting unrecognized tax benefits as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss or tax credit carryforward in certain circumstances, by requiring that an unrecognized tax benefit be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to deferred tax assets, excluding certain exceptions. ASU 2013-11 is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2013 and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_1

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Continuing Operation	'
	The following table presents cash and cash equivalents, within continuing operations, as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,				December 31,
		2013				2012
	Noninterest-bearing deposits	$	32,981		$		17,332
	Short-term money market funds		38,386				33,373
	Loan servicing trust accounts		—				189
	Total cash and cash equivalents	$	71,367		$		50,894
Restricted Cash	'
	The following table presents restricted cash as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Noninterest-bearing deposits - securing a letter of credit	$	784	$	784
	Noninterest-bearing deposits - legal settlement reserve funds		2,021		2,021
	Total restricted cash	$	2,805	$	2,805

Securities_Tables

Securities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Available for Sale Investment Securities	'
	The following table presents investment securities, available for sale as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Corporate bonds	$	—	$	3,060
	Investment securities, available for sale	$	—	$	3,060
Amortized Cost and Gross Unrealized Holding Gains for Available for Sale Investment Securities	'
	The amortized cost and gross unrealized holding gains for investment securities, available for sale, consisted of the following as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Amortized cost	$	—	$	2,836
	Gross unrealized holding gains		—		224
	Estimated fair value	$	—	$	3,060
Carrying Value of Nonmarketable Securities	'
	The following table presents the carrying value of nonmarketable equity securities as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Common stock (other current assets)	$	1,359	$	1,940
	Convertible preferred stock (other noncurrent assets)		800		800
		$	2,159	$	2,740

Trade_Accounts_Receivable_Net_

Trade Accounts Receivable, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Trade Accounts Receivable, Net	'
	Trade accounts receivable, net consisted of the following as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Trade accounts receivable	$	4,340		$	3,803
	Sales returns and allowances		(172	)		(161	)
			4,168			3,642
	Allowance for uncollectible accounts		(35	)		(35	)
	Trade accounts receivable, net	$	4,133		$	3,607

Inventory_Tables

Inventory (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory	'
	The following table presents the composition of the Company’s inventory as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Finished goods	$	10,527		$	10,272
	Valuation adjustment for damaged inventory		(25	)		(25	)
		$	10,502		$	10,247

Loans_Receivable_Net_Tables

Loans Receivable, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Loans Receivables, Net	'
	The following table presents the Company’s loans receivable, net as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Residential real estate loans:
	Unpaid principal balance	$	—		$	44,904
	Discount		—			(22,695	)
	Recorded investment		—			22,209
	Allowance for loan losses		—			—
	Total residential real estate loans		—			22,209
	Commercial real estate loans:
	Unpaid principal balance		1,560			1,734
	Discount		(11	)		(12	)
	Recorded investment		1,549			1,722
	Allowance for loan losses		(50	)		(50	)
	Total commercial real estate loans		1,499			1,672
	Commercial loans:
	Revolving lines of credit		2,272			—
	Term note unpaid principal balance		1,000			1,000
	Term note discount		(446	)		(509	)
	Recorded investment		2,826			491
	Allowance for loan losses		—			—
	Total commercial loans		2,826			491
	Loans receivable, net	$	4,325		$	24,372
Loans Receivable, Net Due Within One Year	'
	Loans receivable, net due within one year consists of the following as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Contractual principal payments due within one year(1):
	Residential real estate loans	$	—		$	527
	Commercial real estate loans		86			93
			86			620
	Revolving lines of credit		2,272			—
	Loans receivable, net due within one year	$	2,358		$	620
	(1)              Excludes loans ninety or more days past due.
Delinquency Information for Loans Receivable	'
	Management monitors delinquencies as its primary credit quality indicator and the following table presents delinquency information for loans receivable as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, based on recorded investment:
	(Dollars in thousands)	30‑59 Days			60‑89 Days			90 Days or More		Total		Current		Total
		Past Due			Past Due			Past Due		Past Due
	30-Sep-13
	Commercial real estate loans	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	1,549	$	1,549
	Commercial loans:
	Revolving lines of credit		—			—			—		—		2,272		2,272
	Term note		—			—			—		—		554		554
	Total commercial loans		—			—			—		—		2,826		2,826
	Total	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	4,375	$	4,375
	31-Dec-12
	Residential real estate loans	$	2,457		$	569		$	2,816	$	5,842	$	16,367	$	22,209
	Commercial real estate loans		—			—			—		—		1,722	$	1,722
	Commercial loans:
	Revolving lines of credit		—			—			—		—		—		—
	Term note		—			—			—		—		491		491
	Total commercial loans		—			—			—		—		491		491
	Total	$	2,457		$	569		$	2,816	$	5,842	$	18,580	$	24,422

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt	'
	The following table presents the Company’s debt as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Lines of credit	$	500	$	1,000
	Long-term debt:
	Notes Payable	$	37,246	$	37,246
	Term loan		6,000		6,900
	Seller notes		1,173		2,906
	Total long-term debt, including amounts due within one year	$	44,419	$	47,052
Long-term Debt Due Within One Year	'
	The following table represents the Company’s long-term debt due within one year as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Contractual principal payments due within one year:
	Term loan	$	1,200	$	1,200
	Seller notes		1,173		2,290
	Long-term debt due within one year	$	2,373	$	3,490

Common_Stock_Warrant_Liability1

Common Stock Warrant Liability (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Changes in Fair Value of Common Stock Warrant Liability	'
	The following table presents changes in the fair value of the common stock warrant liability during the periods indicated:
		Three Months Ended September 30,									Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Dollars in thousands)	2013			2012						2013					2012
	Beginning balance	$	7,500		$		2,000			$		2,350			$			1,403
	Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability		3,300				850					8,450						1,447
	Ending balance	$	10,800		$		2,850			$		10,800			$			2,850
Summary of Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Value of Common Stock Warrant Liability	'
	The following table summarizes the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the common stock warrant liability during the periods indicated, as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Three Months Ended September 30,										Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Weighted averages)	2013				2012						2013							2012
	Expected term (years)		4.1					7.2					5.3							7.6
	Volatility		55.0	%				51.0	%				53.0	%						49.5	%
	Risk-free rate		0.99	%				1.07	%				1.12	%						1.36	%
	Exercise multiple		2.8					2.8					2.8							2.8
	Market price of Signature common stock	$	12.00			$		4.60			$		8.90				$			3.60
	Exercise price	$	6.85			$		6.85			$		6.85				$			6.85

ShareBased_Payments_and_Employ1

Share-Based Payments and Employee Benefits (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Changes in Non-Vested Shares of Restricted Common Stock	'
	The following table presents activity of nonvested restricted common stock for the periods indicated as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013									Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Shares				Weighted Average					Shares				Weighted Average
						Grant Date Fair									Grant Date Fair
						Value Per Share									Value Per Share
	Beginning nonvested restricted shares		357,522			$		4.32				231,506			$		5.96
	Shares vested		(159,394	)				3.53				(195,017	)				4.18
	Shares granted		128,134					5.27				321,033					3.05
	Ending nonvested restricted shares		326,262			$		5.08				357,522			$		4.32
Weighted Average Assumptions used in Determining Fair Value of Common Stock Options	'
	The following table presents weighted average assumptions used in determining the $2.75 and $1.67 weighted average per share grant date fair value of common stock options granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012, respectively, as adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split:
	(Weighted averages)	Nine Months Ended					Year Ended
		September 30,					December 31,
		2013					2012
	Expected volatility		55.0		%			52.6		%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.15		%			0.80		%
	Expected term (in years)		5.6					5.1
	Dividend yield		0.0		%			0.0		%
Activity of Non-Vested Stock Options	'
	The following table presents activity of nonvested common stock options during the periods indicated as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013											Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Shares				Weighted								Shares				Weighted
						Average Exercise Price Per Share												Average Exercise Price Per Share
	Beginning nonvested common stock options		872,373			$		5.41							881,600			$	5.72
	Common stock options granted		205,000					9.52							184,600				3.57
	Common stock options vested		(333,208	)				5.47							(189,861	)			5.11
	Common stock options forfeited		(20,332	)				3.62							(3,966	)			3.00
	Ending nonvested common stock options		723,833			$		6.59							872,373			$	5.41
Activity of Exercisable Common Stock Options	'
	The following table presents activity of vested common stock options during the periods indicated as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013											Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Shares				Weighted								Shares				Weighted
						Average Exercise Price Per Share												Average Exercise Price Per Share
	Beginning vested common stock options		181,327			$		5.21							—			$	—
	Common stock options exercised		(20,668	)				3.00							(8,534	)			3.00
	Common stock options vested		333,208					5.47							189,861				5.11
	Ending vested common stock options		493,867			$		5.48							181,327			$	5.21
Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding and Exercisable	'
	The following table provides information pertaining to the intrinsic value of common stock options outstanding and exercisable as of:
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,					December 31,
		2013					2012
	Intrinsic value of common stock options outstanding	$		7,133			$		106
	Intrinsic value of common stock options exercisable			3,221					37
Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised and Fair Value of Options Vested	'
	The following table presents the intrinsic value of common stock options exercised and the fair value of common stock options that vested during the periods indicated:
	(Dollars in thousands)	Nine Months Ended					Year Ended
		September  30,					December 31,
		2013					2012
	Intrinsic value of common stock options exercised(1)	$		137			$		10
	Fair value of common stock options vested(2)			615					327
	(1)              The intrinsic value of common stock options exercised is the difference between the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the exercise date and the exercise price.
	(2)              The fair value of common stock options vested is based on the grant date fair value.

Loss_Per_Share_Tables

Loss Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Computation of Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share	'
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per share for the periods indicated as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011:
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	2013			2012				2013				2012
	Loss from continuing operations	$	(5,687	)	$	(2,166	)	$		(9,721	)	$		(4,683	)
	Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(172	)		(462	)			(827	)			(3,082	)
	Net loss		(5,859	)		(2,628	)			(10,548	)			(7,765	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—				—				—
	Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	(5,859	)	$	(2,628	)	$		(10,548	)	$		(7,765	)
	Weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding		11,883,605			11,632,828				11,843,526				11,545,766
	Basic and diluted loss per share:
	Continuing operations	$	(0.48	)	$	(0.19	)	$		(0.82	)	$		(0.40	)
	Discontinued operations		(0.01	)		(0.04	)			(0.07	)			(0.27	)
	Basic and diluted loss per share	$	(0.49	)	$	(0.23	)	$		(0.89	)	$		(0.67	)
Average Market Price of Common Stock and the Incremental Shares that Included in Diluted Shares Outstanding	'
	The following table provides details on the average market price of Signature common stock and the incremental shares that would have been included in the diluted shares outstanding computation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, as if the Reverse Split occurred on December 31, 2011, had they not been anti-dilutive:
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012				2013				2012
	Average market price of Signature common stock	$	11.89		$	3.56		$		7.76		$		3.18
	Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents:
	Unvested restricted stock		275,151			99,421				233,483				67,640
	Common stock options		514,924			2,718				215,406				400
	Warrants		636,628			—				175,925				—
	Total anti-dilutive common stock equivalents		1,426,703			102,139				624,814				68,040

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Carrying Value and Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	The following tables present the carrying values and fair value estimates of financial instruments as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
						30-Sep-13
	(Dollars in thousands)	Fair Value				Carrying					Estimated
		Hierarchy				Amount					Fair Value
	ASSETS
	Continuing operations:
	Cash and cash equivalents		Level 1			$		71,367			$		71,367
	Restricted cash		Level 1					2,805					2,805
	Loans receivable, net		Level 3					4,325					4,771
	Preferred stock (other noncurrent assets)		Level 3					800					3,000
	Common stock (other current assets)		Level 2					1,359					1,359
	Discontinued operations:
	Cash and cash equivalents		Level 1					114					114
	Commercial real estate investments, net (other current assets)		Level 1					32					1,000
	LIABILITIES
	Continuing operations:
	Lines of credit		Level 3			$		500			$		500
	Long-term debt:
	Notes Payable		Level 1					37,246					35,477
	Term loan		Level 3					6,000					6,000
	Seller notes		Level 3					1,173					1,173
	Common stock warrant liability		Level 3					10,800					10,800
						31-Dec-12
	(Dollars in thousands)	Fair Value				Carrying					Estimated
		Hierarchy				Amount					Fair Value
	ASSETS
	Continuing operations:
	Cash and cash equivalents		Level 1			$		50,894			$		50,894
	Restricted cash		Level 1					2,805					2,805
	Investment securities, available for sale		Level 1					3,060					3,060
	Loans receivable, net		Level 3					24,372					24,850
	Preferred stock (other noncurrent assets)		Level 3					800					2,000
	Common stock (other noncurrent assets)		Level 3					1,940					1,940
	Discontinued operations:
	Cash and cash equivalents		Level 1					162					162
	FHLB stock		Level 1					2,051					2,051
	Commercial real estate investments, net (other assets)		Level 3					51					51
	LIABILITIES
	Continuing operations:
	Lines of credit		Level 3			$		1,000			$		1,000
	Long-term debt:
	Notes Payable		Level 1					37,246					34,732
	Term loan		Level 3					6,900					6,900
	Seller notes		Level 3					2,906					2,906
	Common stock warrant liability		Level 3					2,350					2,350
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring and Non-Recurring Basis Based on Fair Value Hierarchy	'
	The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value based on the fair value hierarchy on a recurring and nonrecurring basis:
	(Dollars in thousands)	Quoted Prices in					Significant Other					Significant							Total Fair Value
		Active Markets					Observable Inputs					Unobservable
		(Level 1)					(Level 2)					Inputs
												(Level 3)
	Recurring fair value measurements:
	30-Sep-13
	Liabilities:
	Common stock warrant liability	$		—			$		—			$		10,800				$			10,800
	31-Dec-12
	Assets:
	Investment securities, available for sale	$		3,060			$		—			$		—				$			3,060
	Liabilities:
	Common stock warrant liability	$		—			$		—			$		2,350				$			2,350
	Nonrecurring fair value measurements:
	30-Sep-13
	Assets:
	Common stock (other current assets)	$		—			$		1,359			$		—				$			1,359
	Real estate owned, net (discontinued operations)			—					—					95							95
	31-Dec-12
	Assets:
	Real estate owned, net (discontinued operations)	$		—			$		—			$		830				$			830
	Commercial real estate investments, net (other current assets – discontinued operations)			—					—					51							51
Reconciliation for Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level Three)	'
	The following table presents a reconciliation of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
	(Dollars in thousands)	Beginning					Income					Transfers				Purchases				Issuances				Settlements			Ending
		Balance					(Expense)					In/Out of															Balance
							Realized in					Level 3
							Earnings
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Common stock warrant liability	$		7,500			$		(3,300	)		$		—		$		—		$		—		$		—	$	10,800
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Contingent consideration	$		3,746			$		(76	)		$		—		$		—		$		—		$		—	$	3,822
	Common stock warrant liability			2,000					(850	)				—				—				—				—		2,850
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Common stock warrant liability	$		2,350			$		(8,450	)		$		—		$		—		$		—		$		—	$	10,800
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Contingent consideration	$		3,597			$		(225	)		$		—		$		—		$		—		$		—	$	3,822
	Common stock warrant liability			1,403					(1,447	)				—				—				—				—		2,850
Total Gains (Losses) on Assets and Liabilities Measured on Fair Values on Non-Recurring Basis	'
	The following table summarizes the total gains (losses) on assets and liabilities recorded on a nonrecurring basis for the periods indicated:
		Three Months Ended September 30,													Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Dollars in thousands)	2013					2012								2013								2012
	Loans held for sale, net(1):
	Continuing operations	$		—			$		—					$			—				$			2,776
	Discontinued operations			—					14								—							(1,062	)
	Common stock (other current assets)			(581	)				—								(581	)						—
	Real estate owned, net (discontinued operations)			—					(22	)							(283	)						(711	)
	Commercial real estate investments, net (other current assets – discontinued operations)			—					—								—							(121	)
		$		(581	)		$		(8	)				$			(864	)			$			882
	(1)              Loans held for sale, net were measured at fair value as of March 31, 2012, however, they do not appear in the table presenting financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured using nonrecurring fair value measurements at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 above, as there were no loans classified as held for sale as of those dates.
Valuation Techniques and Unobservable Inputs Applied to Level Three Fair Value Measurements	'
	The following tables presents quantitative information about the valuation techniques and unobservable inputs applied to Level 2 and Level 3 recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
	(Dollars in thousands)	Estimated Fair Value								Valuation Technique				Unobservable Input			Range (Weighted Average)
		30-Sep-13
	Assets:
	Common stock (other current assets)	$		1,359					Market approach				Broker sales data			$5.00 ‑ $5.75 per share ($5.04)
													Estimated selling costs			0.6% ‑ 2.8% (0.7%)
	Real estate owned, net			95					Market approach				Marketability discounts			20.0% (20.0%)
	(discontinued operations)												Estimated selling costs			8.0% (8.0%)
	Liabilities:
	Common stock warrant liability	$		10,800					Lattice option				Exercise multiple			2.8x (2.8x)
									pricing model				Volatility			55.0% (53.0%)
													Expected term			3.9 ‑ 4.1 years (4.1 years)
	(Dollars in thousands)	Estimated Fair Value								Valuation Technique				Unobservable Input			Range (Weighted Average)
		31-Dec-12
	Assets:
	Real estate owned, net (discontinued operations)	$		830					Market approach				Marketability discounts			20.0% (20.0%)
													Estimated selling costs			8.0% (8.0%)
	Commercial real estate investments, net			51					Market approach				Marketability discounts			60.0% ‑ 90.0% (85.0%)
	(other current assets - discontinued operations)												Control discount			25.0% (25.0%)
	Liabilities:
	Common stock warrant liability	$		2,350					Lattice option				Exercise multiple			2.8x (2.8x)
									pricing model				Volatility			51.0% (51.0%)
													Expected term			7.1 ‑ 7.2 years (7.1 years)

Operations_by_Reportable_Segme1

Operations by Reportable Segment (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating Results and Other Key Financial Measures of Operating Segments	'
	The following tables present the operating results and other key financial measures for each of the Company’s segments as of and for the periods indicated:
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature				Corporate			Eliminations			Total					Discontinued						Total
		Supply			Special				and Other											Operations
					Situations
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Operating revenues from external customers	$	10,230		$	(453	)		$	—		$	—		$		9,777			$			31			$			9,808
	Intersegment operating revenues		—			102				—			(102	)			—						—						—
	Operating costs		8,492			4				3,776			(102	)			12,170						482						12,652
	Other income (expense)		—			(14	)			(3,287	)		—				(3,301	)					279						(3,022	)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes		1,738			(369	)			(7,063	)		—				(5,694	)					(172	)					(5,866	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		828			(214	)			(621	)		—				(7	)					—						(7	)
	Net earnings (loss)		910			(155	)			(6,442	)		—				(5,687	)					(172	)					(5,859	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—				—			—				—						—						—
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	910		$	(155	)		$	(6,442	)	$	—		$		(5,687	)		$			(172	)		$			(5,859	)
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature					Corporate					Eliminations						Total						Discontinued						Total
		Supply			Special					and Other																	Operations
					Situations
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Operating revenues from external customers	$	10,203		$	1,121					$	—				$		—				$	11,324					$			(28	)		$		11,296
	Intersegment operating revenues		—			102						270						(372	)				—								—					—
	Operating costs		8,489			306						4,217						(372	)				12,640								1,221					13,861
	Other income (expense)		(76	)		—						(834	)					—					(910		)						787					(123	)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes		1,638			917						(4,781	)					—					(2,226		)						(462	)				(2,688	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		741			664						(1,465	)					—					(60		)						—					(60	)
	Net earnings (loss)		897			253						(3,316	)					—					(2,166		)						(462	)				(2,628	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—						—						—					—								—					—
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	897		$	253					$	(3,316	)			$		—				$	(2,166		)			$			(462	)		$		(2,628	)
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature					Corporate					Eliminations						Total						Discontinued								Total
		Supply			Special					and Other																	Operations
					Situations
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Operating revenues from external customers	$	28,054		$	6,165					$	—				$		—				$	34,219					$			(61	)				$		34,158
	Intersegment operating revenues		—			303						316						(619	)				—								—							—
	Operating costs		23,371			411						12,341						(619	)				35,504								1,712							37,216
	Other income (expense)		—			(14		)				(8,336	)					—					(8,350		)						946							(7,404	)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes		4,683			6,043						(20,361	)					—					(9,635		)						(827	)						(10,462	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		1,978			2,284						(4,176	)					—					86								—							86
	Net earnings (loss)		2,705			3,579						(16,185	)					—					(9,721		)						(827	)						(10,548	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—						—						—					—								—							—
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	2,705		$	3,579					$	(16,185	)			$		—				$	(9,721		)			$			(827	)				$		(10,548	)
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature					Corporate					Eliminations						Total						Discontinued								Total
		Supply			Special					and Other																	Operations
					Situations
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Operating revenues from external customers	$	27,107		$	5,631					$	—				$		—				$	32,738					$			953					$		33,691
	Intersegment operating revenues		—			304						680						(984	)				—								—							—
	Operating costs		22,924			786						13,450						(984	)				36,176								4,979							41,155
	Other income (expense)		(225	)		—						(998	)					—					(1,223		)						948							(275	)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes		3,958			5,149						(13,768	)					—					(4,661		)						(3,078	)						(7,739	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		1,668			696						(2,342	)					—					22								4							26
	Net earnings (loss)		2,290			4,453						(11,426	)					—					(4,683		)						(3,082	)						(7,765	)
	Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—						—						—					—								—							—
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$	2,290		$	4,453					$	(11,426	)			$		—				$	(4,683		)			$			(3,082	)				$		(7,765	)
		Continuing Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	Industrial			Signature					Corporate					Eliminations						Total						Discontinued								Total
		Supply			Special					and Other																	Operations
					Situations
	Segment assets:
	30-Sep-13
Current assets	$	14,921		$	8,844					$	69,515				$		—				$	93,280					$			687					$		93,967
Total assets		36,227			16,424						79,858						(15,082	)				117,427								1,268							118,695
31-Dec-12
Current assets	$	15,253		$	12,229					$	45,017				$		—				$	72,499					$			3,614					$		76,113
Total assets		37,667			43,230						72,758						(32,208	)				121,447								4,264							125,711
Segment liabilities:
30-Sep-13
Current liabilities	$	5,596		$	15					$	2,174				$		—				$	7,785					$			2,065					$		9,850
Total liabilities		21,865			3,662						50,397						(15,082	)				60,842								8,815							69,657
31-Dec-12
Current liabilities	$	10,864		$	103					$	754				$		—				$	11,721					$			2,292					$		14,013
Total liabilities		26,012			23,539						40,350						(32,208	)				57,693								9,792							67,485

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations	'
	Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations
	(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	114		$	162
	Inventory		433			516
	FHLB stock		—			2,051
	Real estate owned, net		95			830
	Other current assets		45			55
	Total current assets of discontinued operations		687			3,614
	Intangible assets, net		149			196
	Goodwill		400			400
	Other noncurrent assets		32			54
	Assets of discontinued operations	$	1,268		$	4,264
	Current liabilities:
	Litigation reserve	$	1,852		$	1,775
	Trade payables		189			361
	Unclaimed property		19			153
	Other current liabilities		5			3
	Total current liabilities of discontinued operations		2,065			2,292
	Repurchase reserve		6,750			7,500
	Liabilities of discontinued operations	$	8,815		$	9,792
Statements of Operations of Discontinued Operation	'
	Statements of Operations of Discontinued Operations
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
	(Dollars in thousands)	2013			2012				2013				2012
	Operating revenues and other income (expense)	$	310		$	759		$		885		$		1,901
	Operating costs		482			1,221				1,712				4,979
	Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes		(172	)		(462	)			(827	)			(3,078	)
	Income tax expense		—			—				—				4
	Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	(172	)	$	(462	)	$		(827	)	$		(3,082	)

Business_and_Operations_Additi

Business and Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 16, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 26, 2013
		Segment			Industrial Supply	Maximum
					Location
Organization And Business Activities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Company registered securities	'	'	'	'	'	$300
Number of operating segments	'	2	'	'	'	'
Common stock, shares authorized	66,500,000	66,500,000	665,000,000	66,500,000	'	'
Reverse stock split ratio	0.1	'	'	'	'	'
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000	'	10,000,000	'	'
Number of warehouse operating locations	'	'	'	'	8	'

Financial_Statement_Presentati2

Financial Statement Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 16, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line items]	'	'	'
Reverse stock split	'Effective October 15, 2013, every ten shares of the Companybs Old Common Stock were exchanged for one share of the Companybs new common stock (the bNew Common Stockb).	'	'
Common stock, shares authorized	66,500,000	665,000,000	66,500,000
Common stock, shares issued	12,213,219	'	12,074,314
Common stock, shares outstanding	12,213,219	'	12,074,314

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_Cont

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Continuing Operations (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Cash And Cash Equivalents [Line Items]	'	'	'
Noninterest-bearing deposits	$32,981	$17,332	'
Short-term money market funds	38,386	33,373	'
Loan servicing trust accounts	'	189	'
Total cash and cash equivalents	$71,367	$50,894	$47,569

Restricted_Cash_Detail

Restricted Cash (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]	'	'
Noninterest-bearing deposits - securing a letter of credit	$784	$784
Noninterest-bearing deposits - legal settlement reserve funds	2,021	2,021
Total restricted cash	$2,805	$2,805

Available_for_Sale_Investment_

Available for Sale Investment Securities (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investments Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale	'	$3,060
Corporate Bonds	'	'
Investments Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Corporate bonds	'	$3,060

Amortized_Cost_and_Gross_Unrea

Amortized Cost and Gross Unrealized Holding Gains for Available for Sale Investment Securities (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investments Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Amortized cost	'	$2,836
Gross unrealized holding gains	'	224
Estimated fair value	'	$3,060

Carrying_Value_of_Nonmarketabl

Carrying Value of Nonmarketable Securities (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investments Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying value of nonmarketable equity securities	$2,159	$2,740
Common Stock	'	'
Investments Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying value of nonmarketable equity securities	1,359	1,940
Preferred Stock	'	'
Investments Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying value of nonmarketable equity securities	$800	$800

Securities_Additional_Informat

Securities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013
					Corporate Bonds
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Carrying value of corporate bonds sold	'	'	'	'	$3,200,000
Gain on sale of corporate bonds sold	'	'	380,000	-620,000	400,000
Other-than-temporary impairment	0	0	0	600,000	'
Stock as held for sale other-than-temporary impairment	'	'	$600,000	'	'

Trade_Accounts_Receivable_Net_1

Trade Accounts Receivable, Net (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Trade accounts receivable	$4,340	$3,803
Sales returns and allowances	-172	-161
Trade and other accounts receivable, gross	4,168	3,642
Allowance for uncollectible accounts	-35	-35
Trade accounts receivable, net	$4,133	$3,607

Recovered_Sheet1

Trade Accounts Receivable, net - Additional Information (Detail) (Industrial Supply, Trade accounts receivable, net, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Industrial Supply | Trade accounts receivable, net	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Assets pledged as collateral	$4.30	$3.80

Inventory_Detail

Inventory (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Finished goods	$10,527	$10,272
Valuation adjustment for damaged inventory	-25	-25
Inventory	$10,502	$10,247

Inventory_Additional_Informati

Inventory - Additional Information (Detail) (Industrial Supply, Inventories, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Industrial Supply | Inventories	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Assets pledged as collateral	$10.50	$10.30

Loans_Receivable_Net_Detail

Loans Receivable, Net (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Loans receivable, net	$4,325		$24,372
Residential real estate loans	'		'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Unpaid principal balance	'		44,904
Discount	'		-22,695
Recorded investment	'		22,209
Allowance for loan losses	'		'
Loans receivable, net	'		22,209
Commercial real estate loans	'		'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Unpaid principal balance	1,560		1,734
Discount	-11		-12
Recorded investment	1,549		1,722
Allowance for loan losses	-50		-50
Loans receivable, net	1,499		1,672
Commercial loans	'		'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Recorded investment	2,826		491
Allowance for loan losses	'		'
Loans receivable, net	2,826		491
Commercial loans | Revolving lines of credit	'		'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Unpaid principal balance	2,272	[1]	'
Commercial loans | Term note	'		'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Unpaid principal balance	1,000		1,000
Discount	($446)		($509)
[1]	Excludes loans ninety or more days past due.

Loans_Receivable_Net_Due_Withi

Loans Receivable, Net Due Within One Year (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Contractual principal payments due within one year	$86	[1]	$620	[1]
Loans receivable, net due within one year	2,358	[1]	620	[1]
Residential real estate loans	'		'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Contractual principal payments due within one year	'		527	[1]
Unpaid principal balance	'		44,904
Commercial real estate loans	'		'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Contractual principal payments due within one year	86	[1]	93	[1]
Commercial loans | Revolving lines of credit	'		'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'		'
Unpaid principal balance	$2,272	[1]	'
[1]	Excludes loans ninety or more days past due.

Delinquency_Information_for_Lo

Delinquency Information for Loans Receivable (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	'	$2,457
60-89 Days Past Due	'	569
90 Days or More Past Due	'	2,816
Total Past Due	'	5,842
Current	4,375	18,580
Total	4,375	24,422
Commercial real estate loans	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	'	'
60-89 Days Past Due	'	'
90 Days or More Past Due	'	'
Total Past Due	'	'
Current	1,549	1,722
Total	1,549	1,722
Commercial loans	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	'	'
60-89 Days Past Due	'	'
90 Days or More Past Due	'	'
Total Past Due	'	'
Current	2,826	491
Total	2,826	491
Commercial loans | Revolving lines of credit	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	'	'
60-89 Days Past Due	'	'
90 Days or More Past Due	'	'
Total Past Due	'	'
Current	2,272	'
Total	2,272	'
Commercial loans | Term note	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	'	'
60-89 Days Past Due	'	'
90 Days or More Past Due	'	'
Total Past Due	'	'
Current	554	491
Total	554	491
Residential real estate loans	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
30-59 Days Past Due	'	2,457
60-89 Days Past Due	'	569
90 Days or More Past Due	'	2,816
Total Past Due	'	5,842
Current	'	16,367
Total	'	$22,209

Loans_Receivable_Net_Additiona

Loans Receivable, Net - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Loan

Loan

Maximum

Minimum

Revolving lines of credit

Term note

Residential loans

Residential loans

Residential loans

Residential loans

Residential loans

Residential real estate loans

Residential real estate loans

Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate carrying value of residential loans sold, including interest and advances

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$22,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale, net

27,073,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

27,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

Gain on loans held for sale, net

5,026,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

Pro forma operating revenue adjustment

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

700,000

5,800,000

4,900,000

'

'

Pro forma operating costs adjustment

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

18,000

100,000

53,000

'

'

Pro forma net loss adjustment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

700,000

5,700,000

4,900,000

'

'

Pro forma earnings per share adjustment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0.06

$0.48

$0.42

'

'

Loans receivable commitment to lend

'

'

'

'

7,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loans receivable, interest rate above prime

'

'

'

'

2.75%

2.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loans receivable, floor interest rate

'

'

'

'

5.75%

5.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loans receivable maturity date

'

'

'

'

31-Mar-17

31-Mar-17

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loans receivable

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loans receivable, first principal due date

'

'

'

'

'

1-Apr-15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Recorded Investment-Nonaccrual Loans

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

2,200,000

Total Recorded Investment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

22,209,000

Percentage of Nonaccrual Loans

'

9.10%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10.10%

Loans receivable, net

4,325,000

24,372,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

22,209,000

Impaired financing receivable, average recorded investment

6,500,000

11,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Impaired financing receivable, interest income recognized

300,000

1,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of loans receivable, net modified

0

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loans receivable, net modified

'

$200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Residential real estate loan, maturity period

'

'

'30 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Residential real estate loan, amortization period

'

'

'

'30 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt_Detail

Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Lines of credit	$500	$1,000
Total long-term debt, including amounts due within one year	44,419	47,052
Notes payable	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt, including amounts due within one year	37,246	37,246
Term Loan	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt, including amounts due within one year	6,000	6,900
Seller notes	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt, including amounts due within one year	$1,173	$2,906

Longterm_Debt_Due_Within_One_Y

Long-term Debt Due Within One Year (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt due within one year	$2,373	$3,490
Term Loan	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Contractual principal payments due within one year	1,200	1,200
Seller notes	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Contractual principal payments due within one year	$1,173	$2,290

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 16, 2010	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Lines of credit	'	$500,000	'	$500,000	'	$1,000,000
Long-term debt	'	44,419,000	'	44,419,000	'	47,052,000
Lines of credit	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	'	8,000,000	'	8,000,000	'	'
Line of credit maturity date	'	'2014-09	'	'2014-09	'	'
Lines of credit	'	500,000	'	500,000	'	1,000,000
Line of credit, available borrowing capacity	'	7,500,000	'	7,500,000	'	'
Debt, interest rate	'	4.00%	'	4.00%	'	'
Debt, interest expense	'	23,000	8,000	72,000	70,000	'
Notes payable	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, interest expense	'	800,000	900,000	2,500,000	2,600,000	'
Debt, interest rate	9.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Cash received by TOPrS	39,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, maturity date	'2016-12	'	'	'	'	'
Debt instrument, acquired	1,800,000	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt	'	37,246,000	'	37,246,000	'	37,246,000
Term Loan	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, interest rate	'	5.00%	'	5.00%	'	'
Debt, interest expense	'	100,000	100,000	200,000	300,000	'
Debt, maturity date	'	'2016-09	'	'2016-09	'	'
Debt, face amount	'	8,000,000	'	8,000,000	'	'
Long-term debt	'	6,000,000	'	6,000,000	'	6,900,000
Debt, principal payment, year one	'	800,000	'	800,000	'	'
Debt, principal payment, year two	'	1,200,000	'	1,200,000	'	'
Debt, principal payment, year three	'	1,200,000	'	1,200,000	'	'
Debt, principal payment, year four	'	1,600,000	'	1,600,000	'	'
Debt, principal payment, year five	'	1,600,000	'	1,600,000	'	'
Debt, variable interest rate description	'	'	'	'The term loan has a variable interest rate based upon the lenderbs base rate plus 1.00% per annum; as of September 30, 2013, the interest rate was 5.00%.	'	'
Debt, variable interest rate above lender's base rate	'	'	'	1.00%	'	'
Seller notes	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt, interest expense	'	27,000	59,000	100,000	200,000	'
Debt, interest rate	'	6.00%	'	6.00%	'	'
Debt, face amount	'	5,000,000	'	5,000,000	'	'
Long-term debt	'	1,173,000	'	1,173,000	'	2,906,000
Debt, due date	'	'	'	29-Jan-16	'	'
Debt, accelerated principal payments due ending year 2013	'	$1,700,000	'	$1,700,000	'	'
Debt, interest payment frequency	'	'	'	'Quarterly	'	'

Common_Stock_Warrant_Liability2

Common Stock Warrant Liability - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		40 Months Ended
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011
					After Reverse Split	After Reverse Split	After Reverse Split
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of warrants	'	$60,000	$60,000	$200,000	'	'	'
Warrant issued to purchase common stock	'	1.5	'	'	'	'	'
Aggregate purchase price of common stock warrant	'	$300,000	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrants expiration date	'	'2020-06	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrants exercise price	'	'	'	'	10.3	6.64	6.9
Warrant vested upon issuance	'	20.00%	'	20.00%	'	'	'
Common stock warrants annual vesting percentage on each anniversary date	'	20.00%	'	20.00%	'	'	'
Common stock warrants percentage vested	'	80.00%	'	80.00%	'	'	'
Common stock issued as purchase consideration	0.3	'	'	'	'	'	'
Price per share of common stock issued	'	'	'	'	'	$6.64	'
Percentage of common stock warrants waiving protection provisions	79.30%	'	'	'	'	'	'

Changes_in_Fair_Value_of_Commo

Changes in Fair Value of Common Stock Warrant Liability (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability, beginning balance	$7,500	$2,000	$2,350	$1,403
Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability	3,300	850	8,450	1,447
Common stock warrant liability, ending balance	$10,800	$2,850	$10,800	$2,850

Summary_of_Assumptions_Used_to

Summary of Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Value of Common Stock Warrant Liability (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expected term	'4 years 1 month 6 days	'7 years 2 months 12 days	'5 years 3 months 18 days	'7 years 7 months 6 days
Volatility	55.00%	51.00%	53.00%	49.50%
Risk-free rate	0.99%	1.07%	1.12%	1.36%
Exercise multiple	2.8	2.8	2.8	2.8
Market price of Signature common stock	$12	$4.60	$8.90	$3.60
Exercise price	$6.85	$6.85	$6.85	$6.85

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
						Income Taxes	Federal	California	California	California
									Minimum	Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	($7,000)	($60,000)	$86,000	$22,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net operating loss carry forwards	'	'	'	'	'	'	887,300,000	976,900,000	'	'
Net operating loss expiration period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'20 years	'	'10 years	'20 years
Net operating loss carry forwards expiration year	'	'	'	'	'	'	'2027	'2017	'	'
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance	374,300,000	'	374,300,000	'	373,700,000	'	'	'	'	'
Income tax refund requested	'	'	'	'	24,800,000	'	'	'	'	'
IRS determined tax liability for 2005 AMT	'	'	'	'	2,600,000	'	'	'	'	'
Company determined tax liability for 2005 AMT	'	'	'	'	400,000	'	'	'	'	'
Accrued interest on company determined tax liability for 2005 AMT	'	'	'	'	30,000	'	'	'	'	'
Payment to IRS	'	'	$598,000	$138,000	'	$400,000	'	'	'	'

Changes_in_NonVested_Shares_of

Changes in Non-Vested Shares of Restricted Common Stock (Detail) (Restricted Stock, USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Restricted Stock	'	'
Number of shares	'	'
Beginning nonvested shares	357,522	231,506
Shares vested	-159,394	-195,017
Shares granted	128,134	321,033
Ending nonvested shares	326,262	357,522
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per share	'	'
Nonvested restricted common stock, beginning balance	$4.32	$5.96
Shares vested	$3.53	$4.18
Shares granted	$5.27	$3.05
Nonvested restricted common stock, ending balance	$5.08	$4.32

Weighted_Average_Assumptions_u

Weighted Average Assumptions used in Determining Fair Value of Common Stock Options (Detail)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Expected volatility	55.00%	52.60%
Risk-free interest rate	1.15%	0.80%
Expected term	'5 years 7 months 6 days	'5 years 1 month 6 days
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%

Activity_of_NonVested_Stock_Op

Activity of Non-Vested Stock Options (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Number of Shares	'	'
Nonvested common stock options, beginning balance	872,373	881,600
Common stock options granted	205,000	184,600
Common stock options vested	-333,208	-189,861
Common stock options forfeited	-20,332	-3,966
Nonvested common stock options, ending balance	723,833	872,373
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share	'	'
Nonvested common stock options, beginning balance	$5.41	$5.72
Common stock options granted	$9.52	$3.57
Common stock options vested	$5.47	$5.11
Common stock options forfeited	$3.62	$3
Nonvested common stock options, ending balance	$6.59	$5.41

Activity_of_Exercisable_Common

Activity of Exercisable Common Stock Options (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Number of Shares	'	'
Vested common stock options, beginning balance	181,327	'
Common stock options exercised	-20,668	-8,534
Common stock options vested	333,208	189,861
Vested common stock options, ending balance	493,867	181,327
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share	'	'
Vested common stock options, beginning balance	$5.21	'
Common stock options exercised	$3	$3
Common stock options vested	$5.47	$5.11
Vested common stock options, ending balance	$5.48	$5.21

Intrinsic_Value_of_Options_Out

Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding and Exercisable (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Disclosure - Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding and Exercisable (Detail) [Line Items]	'	'
Intrinsic value of common stock options outstanding	$7,133	$106
Intrinsic value of common stock options exercisable	$3,221	$37

Intrinsic_Value_of_Options_Exe

Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised and Fair Value of Options Vested (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Disclosure - Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised and Fair Value of Options Vested (Detail) [Line Items]	'		'
Intrinsic value of common stock options exercised	$137	[1]	$10	[1]
Fair value of common stock options vested	$615	[2]	$327	[2]
[1]	The intrinsic value of common stock options exercised is the difference between the fair market value of the Companybs common stock on the exercise date and the exercise price.
[2]	The fair value of common stock options vested is based on the grant date fair value.

ShareBased_Payments_and_Employ2

Share-Based Payments and Employee Benefits - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 08, 2013

Jun. 05, 2013

3-May-13

Jan. 31, 2013

Aug. 06, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 08, 2013

Jun. 05, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 05, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Maximum

Minimum

Restricted Stock

Restricted Stock

Restricted Stock

Restricted Stock

Restricted Stock

Restricted Stock

Board Restricted Stock

Board Restricted Stock

Board Restricted Stock

Board Restricted Stock

Board Restricted Stock

Board Restricted Stock

Board Restricted Stock

Board Restricted Stock

Stock Options

Stock Options

Stock Options

Stock Options

Stock Options

Stock Options

CEO Stock Options

CEO Stock Options

CEO Stock Options

CEO Stock Options

Maximum

1-Jan-14

1-Jan-14

1-Jan-14

Maximum

First Options

Remaining Options

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate grant date fair value per nonexecutive director

$75,000

'

$75,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted common stock awards, vesting period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'4 years

'

'

'

'

Shares of restricted stock that vested early

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

111,112

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted shares granted

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

128,134

'

321,033

'

2,481

25,000

25,000

18,293

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Grant date value of restricted stock award

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

138,750

'

'

'

69,454

167,500

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Vesting date of the shares granted

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1-Jan-14

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Compensation expenses for share-based awards

'

'

1,503,000

1,210,000

'

'

'

300,000

300,000

900,000

700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000

100,000

600,000

500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unrecognized share-based compensation expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

500,000

'

500,000

'

700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

900,000

'

900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unrecognized share-based compensation expense weighted average contractual term

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'10 months 24 days

'

'1 year 7 months 6 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'1 year 2 months 12 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common stock options term

'

'

'

'

'

'10 years

'8 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Grant date fair value per share

$2.75

'

$2.75

'

$1.67

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Options granted

'

'

205,000

'

184,600

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

200,000

'

50,000

150,000

Percentage of options that vest every six months

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'0.25

'

'

Exercise price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$8.50

$10

Grant date fair value of options granted

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

549,714

'

'

Options outstanding weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'7 years 9 months 18 days

'

'8 years 7 months 6 days

'

'

'

'

'

Options exercisable weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'7 years 9 months 18 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of company match of employee contributions

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of employee cash compensation match

'

'

4.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Matching contribution

$41,000

$30,000

$100,000

$45,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares authorized under the incentive plan

2,500,000

'

2,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares available for grant under the incentive plan

600,000

'

600,000

'

900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut

Computation of Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Loss from continuing operations	($5,687)	($2,166)	($9,721)	($4,683)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	-172	-462	-827	-3,082
Net loss	-5,859	-2,628	-10,548	-7,765
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'
Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	($5,859)	($2,628)	($10,548)	($7,765)
Weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding	11,883,605	11,632,828	11,843,526	11,545,766
Basic and diluted loss per share:	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations	($0.48)	($0.19)	($0.82)	($0.40)
Discontinued operations	($0.01)	($0.04)	($0.07)	($0.27)
Basic and diluted loss per share	($0.49)	($0.23)	($0.89)	($0.67)

Average_Market_Price_of_Signat

Average Market Price of Signature Common Stock and the Incremental Shares that Included in Diluted Shares Outstanding (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Average market price of Signature common stock	$11.89	$3.56	$7.76	$3.18
Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents:	'	'	'	'
Total anti-dilutive common stock equivalents	1,426,703	102,139	624,814	68,040
Unvested restricted stock	'	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents:	'	'	'	'
Total anti-dilutive common stock equivalents	275,151	99,421	233,483	67,640
Common stock options	'	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents:	'	'	'	'
Total anti-dilutive common stock equivalents	514,924	2,718	215,406	400
Warrants	'	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents:	'	'	'	'
Total anti-dilutive common stock equivalents	636,628	'	175,925	'

Carrying_Value_and_Estimated_F

Carrying Value and Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
ASSETS	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, carrying amount	$71,367	'	$50,894	$47,569	'	'
Restricted cash	2,805	'	2,805	'	'	'
Loans receivable, net, carrying amount	4,325	'	24,372	'	'	'
Stock, carrying amount	2,159	'	2,740	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale, carrying amount	'	'	3,060	'	'	'
LIABILITIES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Lines of credit, carrying amount	500	'	1,000	'	'	'
Long-term debt, carrying amount	44,419	'	47,052	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	10,800	7,500	2,350	2,850	2,000	1,403
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale, estimated fair value	'	'	3,060	'	'	'
Liabilities, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	10,800	7,500	2,350	2,850	2,000	1,403
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)	'	'	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale, carrying amount	'	'	3,060	'	'	'
LIABILITIES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, estimated fair value	71,367	'	50,894	'	'	'
Restricted cash	2,805	'	2,805	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale, estimated fair value	'	'	3,060	'	'	'
Liabilities, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	'	'	'	'	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale, carrying amount	'	'	'	'	'	'
LIABILITIES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	10,800	'	2,350	'	'	'
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loans receivable, net, estimated fair value	4,771	'	24,850	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Liabilities, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Lines of credit, estimated fair value	500	'	1,000	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	10,800	'	2,350	'	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale, carrying amount	'	'	'	'	'	'
LIABILITIES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Liabilities, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	'	'	'	'	'	'
Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, carrying amount	114	'	162	'	'	'
FHLB stock, carrying amount	'	'	2,051	'	'	'
Discontinued Operations | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, estimated fair value	114	'	162	'	'	'
FHLB stock, estimated fair value	'	'	2,051	'	'	'
Preferred Stock	'	'	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock, carrying amount	800	'	800	'	'	'
Preferred Stock | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock, estimated fair value	3,000	'	2,000	'	'	'
Common Stock	'	'	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock, carrying amount	1,359	'	1,940	'	'	'
Common Stock | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock, estimated fair value	'	'	1,940	'	'	'
Common Stock | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock, estimated fair value	1,359	'	'	'	'	'
Commercial real estate loans | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'	'	'
Commercial real estate investments, net (other current assets), carrying amount	32	'	51	'	'	'
Commercial real estate loans | Discontinued Operations | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Commercial real estate investments, net (other assets), estimated fair value	1,000	'	'	'	'	'
Commercial real estate loans | Discontinued Operations | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Commercial real estate investments, net (other assets), estimated fair value	'	'	51	'	'	'
Notes payable	'	'	'	'	'	'
LIABILITIES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, carrying amount	37,246	'	37,246	'	'	'
Notes payable | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Liabilities, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, estimated fair value	35,477	'	34,732	'	'	'
Term Loan	'	'	'	'	'	'
LIABILITIES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, carrying amount	6,000	'	6,900	'	'	'
Term Loan | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Liabilities, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, estimated fair value	6,000	'	6,900	'	'	'
Seller notes	'	'	'	'	'	'
LIABILITIES	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, carrying amount	1,173	'	2,906	'	'	'
Seller notes | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Liabilities, estimated fair value	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, estimated fair value	$1,173	'	$2,906	'	'	'

Assets_and_Liabilities_Measure

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring and Non-Recurring Basis Based on Fair Value Hierarchy (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	$10,800	$7,500	$2,350	$2,850	$2,000	$1,403
Investment securities, available for sale	'	'	3,060	'	'	'
Common Stock	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	1,359	'	'	'	'	'
Real estate owned, net | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	95	'	830	'	'	'
Commercial Real Estate Loans Held For Investment | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	'	'	51	'	'	'
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	'	'	'	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale	'	'	3,060	'	'	'
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Common Stock	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Real estate owned, net | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Commercial Real Estate Loans Held For Investment | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	'	'	'	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale	'	'	'	'	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Common Stock	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	1,359	'	'	'	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Real estate owned, net | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Commercial Real Estate Loans Held For Investment | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock warrant liability	10,800	'	2,350	'	'	'
Investment securities, available for sale	'	'	'	'	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Common Stock	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Real estate owned, net | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	95	'	830	'	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Commercial Real Estate Loans Held For Investment | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Nonrecurring fair value measurements, Assets	'	'	$51	'	'	'

Reconciliation_for_Liabilities

Reconciliation for Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level Three) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Common stock warrant liability	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	$7,500	$2,000	$2,350	$1,403
Income (Expense) Realized in Earnings	-3,300	-850	-8,450	-1,447
Transfers In/Out of Level 3	'	'	'	'
Purchases	'	'	'	'
Issuances	'	'	'	'
Settlements	'	'	'	'
Ending Balance	10,800	2,850	10,800	2,850
Contingent consideration	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	3,746	'	3,597
Income (Expense) Realized in Earnings	'	-76	'	-225
Transfers In/Out of Level 3	'	'	'	'
Purchases	'	'	'	'
Issuances	'	'	'	'
Settlements	'	'	'	'
Ending Balance	'	$3,822	'	$3,822

Total_Gains_Losses_on_Assets_a

Total Gains (Losses) on Assets and Liabilities Measured on Fair Values on Non-Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Fair value of assets and liabilities, gains (losses)	($581)		($8)		($864)		$882
Loans Held For Sale | Continuing Operations	'		'		'		'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Fair value of assets and liabilities, gains (losses)	'	[1]	'	[1]	'	[1]	2,776	[1]
Loans Held For Sale | Discontinued Operations	'		'		'		'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Fair value of assets and liabilities, gains (losses)	'		14	[1]	'	[1]	-1,062	[1]
Common Stock	'		'		'		'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Fair value of assets and liabilities, gains (losses)	-581		'		-581		'
Real estate owned, net | Discontinued Operations	'		'		'		'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Fair value of assets and liabilities, gains (losses)	'		-22		-283		-711
Commercial And Commercial Real Estate | Discontinued Operations	'		'		'		'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Fair value of assets and liabilities, gains (losses)	'		'		'		($121)
[1]	Loans held for sale, net were measured at fair value as of MarchB 31, 2012, however, they do not appear in the table presenting financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured using nonrecurring fair value measurements at SeptemberB 30, 2013 and DecemberB 31, 2012 above, as there were no loans classified as held for sale as of those dates

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 26, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
				Minority Owned Unconsolidated
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cumulative preferred return rate	'	'	'	4.00%
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding	'	'	'	$2
Preferred stock convertible rate into common stock	'	'	'	45.00%
Proceeds from redemption of FHLB stock	$2.10	'	'	'

Valuation_Techniques_and_Unobs

Valuation Techniques and Unobservable Inputs Applied to Level Three Fair Value Measurements (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Common Stock

Common Stock

Common Stock

Real estate owned, net

Real estate owned, net

Commercial And Commercial Real Estate

Commercial And Commercial Real Estate

Commercial And Commercial Real Estate

Common stock warrant liability

Common stock warrant liability

Common stock warrant liability

Common stock warrant liability

Common stock warrant liability

Common stock warrant liability

Minimum

Maximum

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Minimum

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Fair Value Inputs Liabilities Quantitative Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated Fair Value, Assets

'

'

'

'

$1,359

'

'

$95

$830

$51

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated Fair Value, Liabilities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$10,800

$2,350

'

'

'

'

Valuation Technique

'

'

'

'

'Market approach

'

'

'Market approach

'Market approach

'Market approach

'

'

'Lattice optionpricing model

'Lattice optionpricing model

'

'

'

'

Broker sales data

'

'

'

'

'

$5

$5.75

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated selling costs

'

'

'

'

'

0.60%

2.80%

8.00%

8.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Marketability discounts

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20.00%

20.00%

'

60.00%

90.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Exercise multiple

2.8

2.8

2.8

2.8

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.8

2.8

'

'

'

'

Volatility

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

55.00%

51.00%

'

'

'

'

Expected term

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'3 years 10 months 24 days

'7 years 1 month 6 days

'4 years 1 month 6 days

'7 years 2 months 12 days

Broker sales data, weighted average

'

'

'

'

$5.04

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated selling costs, weighted average

'

'

'

'

0.70%

'

'

8.00%

8.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Marketability discounts, weighted average

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20.00%

20.00%

85.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Exercise multiple, weighted average

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.8

2.8

'

'

'

'

Volatility, weighted average

55.00%

51.00%

53.00%

49.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

53.00%

51.00%

'

'

'

'

Expected term, weighted average

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'4 years 1 month 6 days

'7 years 1 month 6 days

'

'

'

'

Control Discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Control Discount rate, weighted average

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating_Results_and_Other_Ke

Operating Results and Other Key Financial Measures of Operating Segments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	$9,777	$11,324	$34,219	$32,738	'
Operating costs	12,170	12,640	35,504	36,176	'
Other income (expense)	-3,301	-910	-8,350	-1,223	'
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	-5,694	-2,226	-9,635	-4,661	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	-7	-60	86	22	'
Loss from continuing operations	-5,687	-2,166	-9,721	-4,683	'
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	-172	-462	-827	-3,082	'
Net loss	-5,859	-2,628	-10,548	-7,765	'
Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	-5,859	-2,628	-10,548	-7,765	'
Current assets	93,967	'	93,967	'	76,113
Total assets	118,695	'	118,695	'	125,711
Current liabilities	9,850	'	9,850	'	14,013
Total liabilities	69,657	'	69,657	'	67,485
Continuing Operations	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating costs	12,170	12,640	35,504	36,176	'
Other income (expense)	-3,301	-910	-8,350	-1,223	'
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	-5,694	-2,226	-9,635	-4,661	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	-7	-60	86	22	'
Loss from continuing operations	-5,687	-2,166	-9,721	-4,683	'
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	-5,687	-2,166	-9,721	-4,683	'
Current assets	93,280	'	93,280	'	72,499
Total assets	117,427	'	117,427	'	121,447
Current liabilities	7,785	'	7,785	'	11,721
Total liabilities	60,842	'	60,842	'	57,693
Continuing Operations | Operating Segments | Wholesale Electrical Distribution	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating costs	8,492	8,489	23,371	22,924	'
Other income (expense)	'	-76	'	-225	'
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	1,738	1,638	4,683	3,958	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	828	741	1,978	1,668	'
Loss from continuing operations	910	897	2,705	2,290	'
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	910	897	2,705	2,290	'
Current assets	14,921	'	14,921	'	15,253
Total assets	36,227	'	36,227	'	37,667
Current liabilities	5,596	'	5,596	'	10,864
Total liabilities	21,865	'	21,865	'	26,012
Continuing Operations | Operating Segments | Signature Special Situations	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating costs	4	306	411	786	'
Other income (expense)	-14	'	-14	'	'
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	-369	917	6,043	5,149	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	-214	664	2,284	696	'
Loss from continuing operations	-155	253	3,579	4,453	'
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	-155	253	3,579	4,453	'
Current assets	8,844	'	8,844	'	12,229
Total assets	16,424	'	16,424	'	43,230
Current liabilities	15	'	15	'	103
Total liabilities	3,662	'	3,662	'	23,539
Continuing Operations | Corporate and Other	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating costs	3,776	4,217	12,341	13,450	'
Other income (expense)	-3,287	-834	-8,336	-998	'
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	-7,063	-4,781	-20,361	-13,768	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	-621	-1,465	-4,176	-2,342	'
Loss from continuing operations	-6,442	-3,316	-16,185	-11,426	'
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	-6,442	-3,316	-16,185	-11,426	'
Current assets	69,515	'	69,515	'	45,017
Total assets	79,858	'	79,858	'	72,758
Current liabilities	2,174	'	2,174	'	754
Total liabilities	50,397	'	50,397	'	40,350
Continuing Operations | Eliminations	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating costs	-102	-372	-619	-984	'
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	-15,082	'	-15,082	'	-32,208
Total liabilities	-15,082	'	-15,082	'	-32,208
Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	310	759	885	1,901	'
Operating costs	482	1,221	1,712	4,979	'
Other income (expense)	279	787	946	948	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	'	'	'	4	'
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	-172	-462	-827	-3,078	'
Net earnings (loss)	-172	-462	-827	-3,082	'
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	-172	-462	-827	-3,082	'
Current assets	687	'	687	'	3,614
Total assets	1,268	'	1,268	'	4,264
Current liabilities	2,065	'	2,065	'	2,292
Total liabilities	8,815	'	8,815	'	9,792
Total	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating costs	12,652	13,861	37,216	41,155	'
Other income (expense)	-3,022	-123	-7,404	-275	'
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	-5,866	-2,688	-10,462	-7,739	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	-7	-60	86	26	'
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'
Net loss	-5,859	-2,628	-10,548	-7,765	'
Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	-5,859	-2,628	-10,548	-7,765	'
Current assets	93,967	'	93,967	'	76,113
Total assets	118,695	'	118,695	'	125,711
Current liabilities	9,850	'	9,850	'	14,013
Total liabilities	69,657	'	69,657	'	67,485
External Customer | Continuing Operations	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	9,777	11,324	34,219	32,738	'
External Customer | Continuing Operations | Operating Segments | Wholesale Electrical Distribution	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	10,230	10,203	28,054	27,107	'
External Customer | Continuing Operations | Operating Segments | Signature Special Situations	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	-453	1,121	6,165	5,631	'
External Customer | Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	31	-28	-61	953	'
External Customer | Total	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	9,808	11,296	34,158	33,691	'
Intersegment Eliminations | Continuing Operations | Operating Segments | Signature Special Situations	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	102	102	303	304	'
Intersegment Eliminations | Continuing Operations | Corporate and Other	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	270	316	680	'
Intersegment Eliminations | Continuing Operations | Eliminations	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	($102)	($372)	($619)	($984)	'

Operations_by_Reportable_Segme2

Operations by Reportable Segment - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
	Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Number of operating segments	2
Number of primary operating segments	3

Assets_and_Liabilities_of_Disc

Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$71,367	$50,894	$47,569
Inventory	10,502	10,247	'
Other current assets	2,115	1,266	'
Total current assets of discontinued operations	687	3,614	'
Intangible assets, net	3,113	4,329	'
Goodwill	17,780	17,780	'
Other noncurrent assets	1,287	3,087	'
Assets of discontinued operations	1,268	4,264	'
Trade payables	3,586	2,222	'
Other current liabilities	1,326	1,009	'
Total current liabilities of discontinued operations	2,065	2,292	'
Liabilities of discontinued operations	8,815	9,792	'
Discontinued Operations	'	'	'
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	114	162	'
Inventory	433	516	'
FHLB stock, carrying amount	'	2,051	'
Real estate owned, net	95	830	'
Other current assets	45	55	'
Total current assets of discontinued operations	687	3,614	'
Intangible assets, net	149	196	'
Goodwill	400	400	'
Other noncurrent assets	32	54	'
Litigation reserve	1,852	1,775	'
Trade payables	189	361	'
Unclaimed property	19	153	'
Other current liabilities	5	3	'
Repurchase reserve	$6,750	$7,500	'

Statements_of_Operations_of_Di

Statements of Operations of Discontinued Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	$9,777	$11,324	$34,219	$32,738
Operating costs	12,170	12,640	35,504	36,176
Income tax expense (benefit)	-7	-60	86	22
Discontinued Operations	'	'	'	'
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	310	759	885	1,901
Operating costs	482	1,221	1,712	4,979
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	-172	-462	-827	-3,078
Income tax expense (benefit)	'	'	'	4
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	($172)	($462)	($827)	($3,082)

Discontinued_Operations_Additi

Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Jul. 26, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Property

Property

Outstanding Claims For More Than Sixty Months

Outstanding Claims For More Than Thirty Six But Less Than Sixty Months

Outstanding Claims For More Than Twenty Four But Less Than Thirty Six Months

Minimum

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

Investment interest

Investment interest

Prepaid expenses and deposits

Prepaid expenses and deposits

Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash received from redemption of FHLB stock

$2,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of real estate owned properties

'

1

7

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other asset

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

32,000

51,000

45,000

47,000

Loans originated from 2002 through Q1-2007, subject to representations and warranties

'

'

'

'

'

'

120,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Mortgage loan repurchase claims outstanding

'

101,700,000

'

63,100,000

10,300,000

28,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Mortgage loan repurchase claims outstanding, percentage

'

'

'

62.00%

10.20%

27.80%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repurchase reserve

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,750,000

'

6,750,000

'

7,500,000

'

'

'

'

Recoveries of provisions for repurchases

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$200,000

$200,000

$700,000

$700,000

'

'

'

'

'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Feb. 28, 2010	Aug. 31, 2007	Jun. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified		Faigin Matter	Colburn Matter	Walker Matter	Breach Of Employment Contracts
					LegalMatter
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Court awarded amount to plaintiff	'	$1.40	'	'	'
Damages sought by Signature	4.6	'	'	'	'
Total amount claimed by plaintiff	'	'	2.6	2.5	'
Plaintiff superior court claim	'	'	3.2	4.6	'
Bankruptcy claims filed in court	'	'	'	'	$5.10
Number of Bankruptcy claims filed	'	'	'	'	2

Subsequent_Events_Additional_I

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 16, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 15, 2013
				Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Common stock, shares authorized	66,500,000	665,000,000	66,500,000	66,500,000
Common stock, shares issued	12,213,219	'	12,074,314	12,213,219
Common stock, shares outstanding	12,213,219	'	12,074,314	12,213,219
Condition for reverse stock split	'	'	'	'Effective October 15, 2013, every ten shares of Old Common Stock were exchanged for one share of New Common Stock.
Reverse stock split ratio	0.1	'	'	0.1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	'	10,000,000	10,000,000