Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$ (1,408)		$ (1,916)		$ (7,450)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	902		628		(1,533)
Loss from continuing operations	(2,310)		(2,544)		(5,917)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Provision for credit losses	4,418		5,346		7,904
Gain on receivable sales to HSBC affiliates					(2)
Loss on sale of real estate owned, including lower of amortized cost or market adjustments	103		128		101
Goodwill and other intangible impairment charges					274
Insurance policy and claim reserves	(5)		(53)		(18)
Depreciation and amortization	19		26		48
Mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives	(560)		48		2,880
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision	(635)		279		(729)
Net change in other assets	(27)		2,435		(172)
Net change in other liabilities	409		27		(618)
Originations of loans held for sale					(48)
Sales and collections on loans held for sale			4		143
Foreign exchange and derivative movements on long-term debt and net change in non-FVO related derivative assets and liabilities	(765)		(630)		(594)
Change in accrued finance income related to December 2009 charge-off policy changes and nonaccrual policy change for re-aged loans					541
Other-than-temporary impairment on securities					25	[1]
Lower of amortized cost or fair value on receivables held for sale			(2)		9
Other, net	273		409		128
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities - continuing operations	920		5,473		3,955
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities - discontinued operations	1,725		2,350		3,416
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	2,645		7,823		7,371
Securities:
Purchased	(1,052)		(1,051)		(536)
Matured	371		452		360
Sold	1,821		216		171
Net change in short-term securities available-for-sale	268		274		52
Net change in securities purchased under agreements to resell	3,391		(1,461)		(1,825)
Net change in interest bearing deposits with banks	(127)		(999)		8
Proceeds from sale of affiliate preferred shares to HSBC Holdings Plc					242
Proceeds from sale of Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investment Funds to HSBC Bank USA					106
Receivables:
Net collections	3,600		4,520		5,639
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned	1,465		1,338		1,467
Properties and equipment:
Purchases	(4)		(10)		(43)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	9,733		3,279		5,641
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	(477)		3,667		11,752
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	9,256		6,946		17,393
Debt:
Net change in short-term debt	869		(1,135)		(5,347)
Net change in due to affiliates	(3)		(1,553)		(4,225)
Long-term debt issued	245		1,519		3,778
Long-term debt retired	(13,386)		(14,734)		(17,502)
Issuance of preferred stocks			1,000
Insurance:
Policyholders' benefits paid	(110)		(80)		(95)
Cash received from policyholders	63		66		58
Capital contribution from parent	690		200		2,410
Return of capital to parent					(1,043)
Shareholders' dividends	(126)		(37)		(37)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	(11,758)		(14,754)		(22,003)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities - discontinued operations			(151)		(2,705)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(11,758)		(14,905)		(24,708)
Net change in cash	143		(136)		56
Cash at beginning of period(1)	175	[2],[3]	311	[2],[3]	255	[2]
Cash at end of period(2)	318	[3]	175	[2],[3]	311	[2],[3]
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Interest paid	2,414		3,111		3,966
Income taxes paid during period	16		26		98
Income taxes refunded during period	516		4,135		1,030
Supplemental Noncash Investing and Capital Activities:
Fair value of properties added to real estate owned	906		1,834		1,275
Transfer of receivables to held for sale	8,620		2,910		609
Transfer of receivables to held for investment	5				1,294
Extinguishment of indebtedness related to bulk receivable sale					(6,077)
Issuance of subordinated debt exchanged for senior debt			1,939
Extinguishment of senior debt exchanged for subordinated debt			(1,797)
Redemption of junior subordinated notes underlying the mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of the Household Capital Trust VIII for common stock					$ (275)

[1] During 2011 and 2010, other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") on available-for-sale securities recognized in other revenues and in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") were nominal. During 2009, $36 million of gross other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities available-for-sale were recognized, of which $11 million was recognized in AOCI.

[2] Cash at beginning of period includes $9 million, $142 million and $65 million for discontinued operations as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

[3] Cash at end of period includes $96 million, $9 million and $142 million for discontinued operations as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.