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Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Unpaid Losses And Loss Expenses [Line Items] |  |
Net change in loss reserves | $ (256,049) | $ 1,671,734
Total net loss expense reserves | 136,790 | 86,171
Total loss expenses | 83,226 | 26,384
Reinsurance recoveries of losses included in loss and loss expenses | 6,996 | 42,508
Loss reserves ceded to reinsurers | 147,409 | 153,480
Subrogation recoveries | 2,523,225 | 2,720,266
Subrogation recoveries, net of reinsurance | 2,497,233 | 2,692,414
Assumed par outstanding amount to reinsurers | 235,471 |
Deferred ceded premiums and reinsurance recoverables on losses | 326,365 |
Ceded reinsurance payables | 94,527 |
Letters of credit | 302,692 |
Ceded Principal Oustanding of cedant's largest reinsurer as a percentage of cedant's Gross Outstanding Principal | 7.70% |
Aggregate amount of insured par ceded to reinsurers | 21,396,732 |
Amount of gross par outstanding by reinsurer | $ 18,779,685 |

X
- Definition Amount of insured par outstanding ceded to reinsurer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_AmountOfInsuredParOutstandingCededToReinsurer
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the reduction to gross claim liability for subrogation on insured RMBS financial obligations with credit deterioration. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_BalanceOfGrossRmbsSubrogationRecoveries
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the reduction to gross claim liability for subrogation on insured RMBS financial obligations with credit deterioration, net of reinsurance. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_BalanceOfRmbsSubrogationRecoveriesNetOfReinsurance
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Ceded Principal Outstanding Major Reinsurer Percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_CededPrincipalOutstandingMajorReinsurerPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the loss and loss expense reserve accounts, net of subrogation and reinsurance. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_ChangeInLossAndLossExpenseReservesNet
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Includes the unexpired portion of financial guarantee premiums ceded on policies as of the balance sheet date and reinsurance recoverables on claims or claim adjustment expense paid by the ceding insurer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_DeferredCededPremiumsAndReinsuranceRecoverables
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Financial Guarantee Gross Outstanding Principal Assumed from third parties. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_FinancialGuaranteeGrossOutstandingPrincipalAssumedFromThirdParties
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Financial Guarantee Outstanding Principal Ceded to third parties. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_FinancialGuaranteeOutstandingPrincipalCededToThirdParties
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total provision in the period for loss adjustment expenses incurred in the claim settlement process. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_LossAdjustmentExpenseIncurred
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The known and estimated amount recoverable as of the balance sheet date from reinsurers for claims paid or incurred by the ceding insurer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_LossReservesCededToReinsurers
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Loss adjustment expense reserves, net of reinsurance, represent the costs estimated to be incurred in the settlement of unpaid claims. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_ReserveForLossAdjustmentExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | abk_UnpaidLossesAndLossExpensesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The consideration due to the assuming enterprise as of the balance sheet date under the terms of the reinsurance contract in exchange for the right to receive reimbursement from such entity for covered claims and expenses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph c -Article 7 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CededPremiumsPayable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The reduction in the amount of the provision for the period for claims and benefits incurred on contract risks ceded to other insurers under reinsurance arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6811-158387 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27, 113 -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. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountCeded
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration