Discontinued Operations - Operating Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income tax	$ (19)	$ (29)	$ (51)	$ (78)	$ (99)	$ 55	$ 1,254	$ 350	$ (249)		$ 2,521		$ 1,380
Insurance business [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues									70	[1]	167	[1],[2]	362	[1]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income tax									(10)		(162)	[2]	17
Lower of amortized cost or fair value less cost to sell adjustment, before tax											119
Commercial Business [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues									22	[1]	23	[1]	10	[1]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income tax									14		20		6
Card and Retail Services [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues									1	[1]	3,342	[1],[3]	3,729	[1]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income tax									(253)		2,649	[3]	1,364
Incremental increase in industry review enhancement expense									87
Provision for legal expenses and other									40
Card and Retail Services [Member] | HSBC USA, Inc. [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain on sale of intangible assets											79
Taxpayer Finanacial Services [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues									0	[4]	0	[4]	2	[4]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income tax									0		0		(4)
Auto Finance [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues									0	[4]	14	[4],[5]	0	[4]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income tax									$ 0		$ 14	[5]	$ (3)

[1] Interest expense, which is included as a component of net interest income, was allocated to discontinued operations in accordance with our existing internal transfer pricing policy. This policy uses match funding based on the expected lives of the assets and liabilities of the business at the time of origination, subject to periodic review, as demonstrated by the expected cash flows and re-pricing characteristics of the underlying assets.

[2] For the year ended December 31, 2012 amounts include the lower of amortized cost or fair value adjustment of $119 million as discussed above which was reported as a component of other revenues.

[3] For 2012, amounts also includes a gain of $79 million resulting from the sale of account relationships to HSBC Bank USA which we had previously purchased from HSBC Bank USA in July 2004.

[4] Interest expense, which is included as a component of net interest income, has been allocated to discontinued operations in accordance with our existing internal transfer pricing policy. This policy uses match funding based on the expected lives of the assets and liabilities of the business at the time of origination, subject to periodic review, as demonstrated by the expected cash flows and re-pricing characteristics of the underlying assets.

[5] For the year ended December 31, 2012, amounts reflect the receipt of a state sales tax refund from the state of California related to accounts that were charged-off prior to the sale of the Auto Finance business.