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Long-term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 04, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate cash payment	$ 939,179			$ 188,000
Total par value of repurchased surplus notes			789,179
Losses (gains) on extinguishment of debt	(177,745)	3,119
Third call option [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional borrowings of debt	150,000
5.1% Surplus Notes, General Account, Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate par value of surplus notes subject to call options			$ 188,446

X

- Definition

Aggregate par value of surplus notes subject to call option agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	abk_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Aggregate payment to repurchase surplus notes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	abk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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X

- Definition

Increase of additional borrowings on existing and new debt instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph f

-Article 4

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X

- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 26

-Paragraph 20, 21

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629

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