Loans - Credit Risk Profile of Commercial Loans (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		$ 69,588		$ 73,875		$ 81,732
Commercial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		49,996		54,216
Commercial Loans [Member] | Real Estate, Including Construction [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		10,802		10,890		10,170
Commercial Loans [Member] | Business and Corporate Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		13,152		14,080		14,670	[1]
Commercial Loans [Member] | Global Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		22,527	[2],[3]	23,481	[2],[3]	28,601	[1]
Commercial Loans [Member] | Other Commercial [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		3,515	[3]	5,765	[3]	$ 8,171
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[4]	29,809		32,883
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Real Estate, Including Construction [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[4]	7,787		7,857
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Business and Corporate Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[4]	5,701		6,348
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Global Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[4]	14,006		14,205
Internal Investment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Other Commercial [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans	[4]	2,315		4,473
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		20,187		21,333
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Real Estate, Including Construction [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		3,015		3,033
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Business and Corporate Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		7,451		7,732
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Global Banking [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		8,521		9,276
Internal Noninvestment Grade [Member] | Commercial Loans [Member] | Other Commercial [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Total loans		$ 1,200		$ 1,292

[1] During the fourth quarter of 2016, we transferred certain client relationships from CMB to GB&M as discussed further in Note 13, "Business Segments." As a result, we reclassified $4.7 billion of loans and $28 million of allowance for credit losses from business and corporate banking to global banking at March 31, 2016 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 clients managed by HSBC on a global basis and complex large business clients supported by GB&M relationship managers.

[3] Represents large multinational firms including globally focused U.S. corporate and financial institutions, U.S. dollar lending to multinational banking clients managed by HSBC on a global basis and complex large business clients supported by GB&M relationship managers. (2)During the first quarter of 2017, in conjunction with the creation of the new Corporate Center segment as discussed further in Note 13, "Business Segments," we reclassified loans to HSBC affiliates from global banking to other commercial and revised the prior period to conform with the current year presentation. As a result, other commercial includes loans to HSBC affiliates which totaled $939 million and $3,274 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. All tables below have been restated to reflect this reclassification, as applicable. See Note 12, "Related Party Transactions," for additional information regarding loans to HSBC affiliates.

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