Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details)

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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]        
Unfunded equity investment commitments $ 520,000,000   $ 772,000,000  
Commitment to purchase residential mortgage and commercial real estate loans 3,800,000,000   2,500,000,000  
Forward Dated Resale and Securities Borrowing Agreements Commitment 89,400,000,000   67,000,000,000  
Forward Dated Repurchase And Securities Lending Agreements Commitment 64,200,000,000   42,000,000,000  
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]        
2012 2,300,000,000      
2013 2,700,000,000      
2014 2,100,000,000      
2015 1,700,000,000      
2016 1,400,000,000      
Thereafter 6,500,000,000      
Committed Minimum Fees On Market Data Communications Systems Consulting And Other Office Related Services 1,800,000,000   1,900,000,000  
Notional Amount of Derivatives 1,724,449,000,000   1,903,782,000,000  
Life Insurance Book Value Protection, Fair Value Liability 44,000,000   48,000,000  
Merchant Services Transactions Processed And Settled By Sponsored Entitites 133,200,000,000 84,900,000,000    
Losses As Result Of Cardholder Disputed Transactions 2,000,000 3,000,000    
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage       49.00%
Merchant escrow deposits held as collateral 219,000,000   238,000,000  
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted 244,000,000,000   236,000,000,000  
Loss Contingency Accrual, at Carrying Value 534,000,000   476,000,000  
Increase In Reserves For Payment Protection Insurance Claims 200,000,000      
Litigation Settlement, Expense 793,000,000 940,000,000    
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Minimum 0      
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum 4,200,000,000      
522110 Commercial Banking [Member]
        
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]        
Notional Amount of Derivatives 3,300,000,000   3,200,000,000  
S P Es [Member]
        
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]        
Notional Amount of Derivatives 1,700,000,000   1,800,000,000  
Financial Guarantee [Member] | Guarantee Life Insurance Book Value Protection Derivative [Member]
        
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]        
Notional Amount of Derivatives 15,800,000,000      
Financial Guarantee [Member] | Guarantee Life Insurance Book Value Protection Derivative [Member] | Maximum [Member]
        
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]        
Notional Amount of Derivatives 5,100,000,000      
Financial Guarantee [Member] | Guarantee Employee Retirement Protection Derivative [Member]
        
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]        
Notional Amount of Derivatives 27,500,000,000   28,800,000,000  
Guarantee Type, Other [Member]
        
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]        
Notional Amount of Derivatives 135,000,000   300,000,000  
Payment Guarantee [Member]
        
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]        
Registration Payment Arrangement, Maximum Potential Consideration $ 3,500,000,000   $ 3,700,000,000