Financial Statements of HSBC USA Inc. (Parent) Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Securities held-to-maturity, fair value	$ 1,800	$ 2,300
2013	3,355
2014	3,227
2015	3,625
2016	1,275
2017	983
Thereafter	9,280
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Securities held-to-maturity, fair value	0	0
2013	3,200
2014	2,100
2015	3,500
2016	1,300
2017	300
Thereafter	$ 4,000

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This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt securities as of the balance sheet date and which are categorized as held-to-maturity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 19

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 137

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (a)

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- Definition

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

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-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 next 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 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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