Consolidated Obligations (Contractual Maturity Terms) (Details) (Consolidated Obligation Bonds [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Obligation Bonds [Member]
Schedule of Short-term and Long-term Debt [Line Items]
Due in 1 year or less	$ 13,676,555	$ 15,402,750
Due after 1 year through 2 years	5,954,470	4,692,105
Due after 2 years through 3 years	5,012,840	3,673,570
Due after 3 years through 4 years	1,730,790	4,490,540
Due after 4 years through 5 years	1,493,050	1,588,490
Thereafter	4,226,790	3,104,090
Index amortizing notes	1,154,461	2,182,420
Par value of consolidated bonds	$ 33,248,956	$ 35,133,965
Due in 1 year or less, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.26%	1.02%
Due after 1 year through 2 years, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.99%	2.58%
Due after 2 years through 3 years, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.55%	2.87%
Due after 3 years through 4 years, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.75%	2.82%
Due after 4 years through 5 years, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.66%	3.40%
Thereafter, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.90%	4.04%
Index amortizing notes, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.50%	4.65%
Par value of consolidated obligation bonds, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.05%	2.25%

Consolidated Obligation Bonds, Maturities, Repayments Index Amortizing

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Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying principal amount of borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any).

+ References

No definition available.

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Weighted average interest rate of the amount of long-term debt maturing within the next twelve months following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates.

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Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Twelve Months

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Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments Index Amortizing Weighted Average Interest Rate

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Weighted average interest rate of the amount of long-term debt maturities after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed of determinable prices and dates.

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Weighted average interest rate of the amount of long-term debt maturing in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed of determinable prices and dates.

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Weighted average interest rate of the amount of long-term debt maturing in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed of determinable prices and dates.

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Weighted average interest rate of the amount of long-term debt maturing in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed of determinable prices and dates.

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Weighted average interest rate of the amount of long-term debt maturing in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates.

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Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 47

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

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Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

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Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

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Amount of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

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Reflects the calculation as of the balance sheet date of the average interest rate weighted by the amount of long-term debt outstanding by type or by instrument at that time.

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