Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits-Changes in Level 3 Assets (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair Value Assets, Beginning Balance	$ 3,690		$ 4,157
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Income	58	[1]	(330)	[1]
Purchases	1,029		884
Settlement	(1,548)		(1,022)
Transfers Into Level 3	(45)		25
Transfers Out of Level 3	(76)		35
Fair Value Assets, Ending Balance	3,150		3,690
Hsbc North America [Member] | HSBC North America Pension Plan [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair Value Assets, Beginning Balance	66		52
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Income	0		0
Total Gains and (Losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(1)		1
Purchases	5		28
Settlement	(33)		(6)
Transfers Into Level 3	0		0
Transfers Out of Level 3	(6)		(9)
Fair Value Assets, Ending Balance	31		66
Current Period Unrealized Gains (Losses)	4		5
Hsbc North America [Member] | HSBC North America Pension Plan [Member] | Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivision [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair Value Assets, Beginning Balance			8
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Income			0
Total Gains and (Losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income			0
Purchases			0
Settlement			(1)
Transfers Into Level 3			0
Transfers Out of Level 3			(7)
Fair Value Assets, Ending Balance			0
Current Period Unrealized Gains (Losses)			0
Hsbc North America [Member] | HSBC North America Pension Plan [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair Value Assets, Beginning Balance	43		36
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Income	0		0
Total Gains and (Losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income	(1)		3
Purchases	0		9
Settlement	(21)		(5)
Transfers Into Level 3	0		0
Transfers Out of Level 3	(1)		0
Fair Value Assets, Ending Balance	20		43
Current Period Unrealized Gains (Losses)	4		4
Hsbc North America [Member] | HSBC North America Pension Plan [Member] | U.S. corporate debt securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair Value Assets, Beginning Balance	2		0
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Income	0		0
Total Gains and (Losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income	0		0
Purchases	0		2
Settlement	(2)		0
Transfers Into Level 3	0		0
Transfers Out of Level 3	0		0
Fair Value Assets, Ending Balance	0		2
Current Period Unrealized Gains (Losses)	0		0
Hsbc North America [Member] | HSBC North America Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign debt securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair Value Assets, Beginning Balance	21		8
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Income	0		0
Total Gains and (Losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income	0		(2)
Purchases	5		17
Settlement	(10)		0
Transfers Into Level 3	0		0
Transfers Out of Level 3	(5)		(2)
Fair Value Assets, Ending Balance	11		21
Current Period Unrealized Gains (Losses)	$ 0		$ 1

[1] Includes realized and unrealized gains and losses.