Loans - Credit Risk Profile of Commercial Loans (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		$ 73,875		$ 82,917		$ 77,741
Commercial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		54,216		62,453
Commercial Loans [Member] | Construction and Other Real Estate [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		10,890		10,000		10,300
Commercial Loans [Member] | Business and Corporate Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[1]	14,080		14,365		13,878
Commercial Loans [Member] | Global Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[1]	26,755	[2]	34,720	[2]	30,328
Commercial Loans [Member] | Other Commercial [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		2,491		3,368		$ 3,581
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[3]	33,114		43,854
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Construction and Other Real Estate [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[3]	7,857		8,487
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Business and Corporate Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[3]	6,348		6,862
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Global Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[3]	17,597		26,622
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Other Commercial [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[3]	1,312		1,883
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		21,102		18,599
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Construction and Other Real Estate [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		3,033		1,513
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Business and Corporate Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		7,732		7,503
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Global Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		9,158		8,098
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Other Commercial [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		$ 1,179		$ 1,485

[1] During the fourth quarter of 2016, we transferred certain customer relationships from CMB to GB&M as discussed further in Note 22, "Business Segments," in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. As a result, we reclassified $4.8 billion, $3.9 billion and $3.4 billion of loans and $27 million, $24 million and $7 million of allowance for credit losses from business and corporate banking to global banking at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, to conform with the current year presentation.

[2] Represents large multinational firms including globally focused U.S. corporate and financial institutions, U.S. dollar lending to multinational banking customers managed by HSBC on a global basis and complex large business customers supported by GB&M relationship managers. Also includes loans to HSBC affiliates which totaled $3,274 million and $4,815 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. See Note 21, "Related Party Transactions," for additional information regarding loans to HSBC affiliates.

[3] Investment grade includes commercial loans with credit ratings of at least BBB- or above or the equivalent based on our internal credit rating system.