Debt	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Debt [Abstract]
Debt	11. Debt At December 31, 2011 and 2010, AllianceBernstein had $444.9 million and $225.0 million, respectively, in commercial paper outstanding with weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. The commercial paper and amounts outstanding under the 2010 Credit Facility described below are short term in nature, and as such, recorded value is estimated to approximate fair value. Average daily borrowings of commercial paper during 2011 and 2010 were $273.6 million and $104.2 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.2% for both periods. On December 9, 2010, AllianceBernstein entered into a committed, unsecured three-year senior revolving credit facility (the “2010Credit Facility”) with a group of commercial banks and other lenders in an original principal amount of $1.0 billion with SCB LLC as an additional borrower. The 2010 Credit Facility replaced AllianceBernstein's existing $1.95 billion of committed credit lines (comprised of two separate lines – a $1.0 billion committed, unsecured revolving credit facility in the name of AllianceBernstein, which had a scheduled expiration date of February 17, 2011, and SCB LLC's $950 million committed, unsecured revolving credit facility, which had a scheduled expiration date of January 25, 2011), both of which were terminated upon the effectiveness of the 2010 Credit Facility. AllianceBernstein has agreed to guarantee the obligations of SCB LLC under the 2010 Credit Facility. The 2010 Credit Facility is available for AllianceBernstein's and SCB LLC's business purposes, including the support of AllianceBernstein's $1.0 billion commercial paper program. Both AllianceBernstein and SCB LLC can draw directly under the 2010 Credit Facility and management expects to draw on the 2010 Credit Facility from time to time. The 2010 Credit Facility contains affirmative, negative and financial covenants, which are customary for facilities of this type, including, among other things, restrictions on dispositions of assets, restrictions on liens, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. We are in compliance with these covenants. The 2010 Credit Facility also includes customary events of default (with customary grace periods, as applicable), including provisions under which, upon the occurrence of an event of default, all outstanding loans may be accelerated and/or lender's commitments may be terminated. Also, under such provisions, upon the occurrence of certain insolvency or bankruptcy related events of default, all amounts payable under the 2010 Credit Facility would automatically become immediately due and payable, and the lender's commitments would automatically terminate. The 2010 Credit Facility provides for possible increases in principal amount by up to an aggregate incremental amount of $250 million (“accordion feature”), any such increase being subject to the consent of the affected lenders. Amounts under the 2010 Credit Facility may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed by us from time to time until the maturity of the facility. Voluntary prepayments and commitment reductions requested by us are permitted at any time without fee (other than customary breakage costs relating to the prepayment of any drawn loans) upon proper notice and subject to a minimum dollar requirement. Borrowings under the 2010 Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum, which will be, at our option, a rate equal to an applicable margin, which is subject to adjustment based on the credit ratings of AllianceBernstein, plus one of the following indexes: London Interbank Offered Rate; a floating base rate; or the Federal Funds rate. On January 17, 2012, the 2010 Credit Facility was amended and restated. The principal amount was amended to $900 million from the original principal amount of $1.0 billion. Also, the amendment increased the accordion feature from $250 million to $350 million. In addition, the maturity date of the 2010 Credit Facility was extended from December 9, 2013 to January 17, 2017. There were no other significant changes in terms and conditions included in this amendment. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had no amounts outstanding under the 2010 Credit Facility. Average daily borrowings outstanding under the 2010 Credit Facility outstanding during 2011 and 2010 were $0.1 million and $65.6 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 1.3% and 0.3%, respectively. In addition, SCB LLC has five uncommitted lines of credit with four financial institutions. Two of these lines of credit permit us to borrow up to an aggregate of approximately $200.0 million while three lines have no stated limit. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had no uncommitted bank loans outstanding. Average daily borrowings of uncommitted bank loans during 2011 and 2010 were $6.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 1.3% and 1.5%, respectively.

11. Debt

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, AllianceBernstein had $444.9 million and $225.0 million, respectively, in commercial paper outstanding with weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. The commercial paper and amounts outstanding under the 2010 Credit Facility described below are short term in nature, and as such, recorded value is estimated to approximate fair value. Average daily borrowings of commercial paper during 2011 and 2010 were $273.6 million and $104.2 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.2% for both periods.

On December 9, 2010, AllianceBernstein entered into a committed, unsecured three-year senior revolving credit facility (the “2010Credit Facility”) with a group of commercial banks and other lenders in an original principal amount of $1.0 billion with SCB LLC as an additional borrower.

The 2010 Credit Facility replaced AllianceBernstein's existing $1.95 billion of committed credit lines (comprised of two separate lines – a $1.0 billion committed, unsecured revolving credit facility in the name of AllianceBernstein, which had a scheduled expiration date of February 17, 2011, and SCB LLC's $950 million committed, unsecured revolving credit facility, which had a scheduled expiration date of January 25, 2011), both of which were terminated upon the effectiveness of the 2010 Credit Facility. AllianceBernstein has agreed to guarantee the obligations of SCB LLC under the 2010 Credit Facility.

The 2010 Credit Facility is available for AllianceBernstein's and SCB LLC's business purposes, including the support of AllianceBernstein's $1.0 billion commercial paper program. Both AllianceBernstein and SCB LLC can draw directly under the 2010 Credit Facility and management expects to draw on the 2010 Credit Facility from time to time.

The 2010 Credit Facility contains affirmative, negative and financial covenants, which are customary for facilities of this type, including, among other things, restrictions on dispositions of assets, restrictions on liens, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. We are in compliance with these covenants. The 2010 Credit Facility also includes customary events of default (with customary grace periods, as applicable), including provisions under which, upon the occurrence of an event of default, all outstanding loans may be accelerated and/or lender's commitments may be terminated. Also, under such provisions, upon the occurrence of certain insolvency or bankruptcy related events of default, all amounts payable under the 2010 Credit Facility would automatically become immediately due and payable, and the lender's commitments would automatically terminate.

The 2010 Credit Facility provides for possible increases in principal amount by up to an aggregate incremental amount of $250 million (“accordion feature”), any such increase being subject to the consent of the affected lenders. Amounts under the 2010 Credit Facility may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed by us from time to time until the maturity of the facility. Voluntary prepayments and commitment reductions requested by us are permitted at any time without fee (other than customary breakage costs relating to the prepayment of any drawn loans) upon proper notice and subject to a minimum dollar requirement. Borrowings under the 2010 Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum, which will be, at our option, a rate equal to an applicable margin, which is subject to adjustment based on the credit ratings of AllianceBernstein, plus one of the following indexes: London Interbank Offered Rate; a floating base rate; or the Federal Funds rate.

On January 17, 2012, the 2010 Credit Facility was amended and restated. The principal amount was amended to $900 million from the original principal amount of $1.0 billion. Also, the amendment increased the accordion feature from $250 million to $350 million. In addition, the maturity date of the 2010 Credit Facility was extended from December 9, 2013 to January 17, 2017. There were no other significant changes in terms and conditions included in this amendment.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had no amounts outstanding under the 2010 Credit Facility. Average daily borrowings outstanding under the 2010 Credit Facility outstanding during 2011 and 2010 were $0.1 million and $65.6 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 1.3% and 0.3%, respectively.

In addition, SCB LLC has five uncommitted lines of credit with four financial institutions. Two of these lines of credit permit us to borrow up to an aggregate of approximately $200.0 million while three lines have no stated limit.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had no uncommitted bank loans outstanding. Average daily borrowings of uncommitted bank loans during 2011 and 2010 were $6.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 1.3% and 1.5%, respectively.