Loans (Notes)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Receivables [Abstract]
Loans	12. LOANS Loans had been extended: (i) by VIEs which are consolidated by Ambac under ASC Topic 810 as a result of Ambac’s financial guarantees of the VIEs’ note liabilities and/or assets and (ii) to certain institutions in connection with various transactions. Loans by consolidated VIEs are generally carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 3. Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities for further information about VIEs for which the assets and liabilities are carried at fair value. Other loans had an outstanding principal balance of $20,184 and $4,873 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The interest rate on these loans ranged from 0.00% to 4.58% at December 31, 2017 and were 4.53% December 31, 2016. The maturity date of these loans ranged from June 2026 to December 2046 as of December 31, 2017 and were June 2026 as of December 31, 2016. Collectability of these loans is evaluated on an ongoing basis; no loan has been considered impaired and as such no loan impairments have been recorded as of December 31, 2017 and 2016

Loans (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

12. LOANS

Loans had been extended: (i) by VIEs which are consolidated by Ambac under ASC Topic 810 as a result of Ambac’s financial guarantees of the VIEs’ note liabilities and/or assets and (ii) to certain institutions in connection with various transactions.

Loans by consolidated VIEs are generally carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 3. Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities for further information about VIEs for which the assets and liabilities are carried at fair value.

Other loans had an outstanding principal balance of $20,184 and $4,873 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The interest rate on these loans ranged from 0.00% to 4.58% at December 31, 2017 and were 4.53% December 31, 2016. The maturity date of these loans ranged from June 2026 to December 2046 as of December 31, 2017 and were June 2026 as of December 31, 2016. Collectability of these loans is evaluated on an ongoing basis; no loan has been considered impaired and as such no loan impairments have been recorded as of December 31, 2017 and 2016