Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits-Target Allocations (Details) (Hsbc North America [Member], HSBC North America Pension Plan [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Plan Asset Allocations	100.00%
Domestic Large/Mid-Cap Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Plan Asset Allocations	11.50%
Domestic Small Cap Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Plan Asset Allocations	3.00%
International Large Cap Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Plan Asset Allocations	3.00%
International Small Cap Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Plan Asset Allocations	11.50%
Global Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Plan Asset Allocations	5.50%
Emerging Market Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Plan Asset Allocations	5.50%
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Plan Asset Allocations	59.00%
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target Plan Asset Allocations	1.00%