Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Allowance for Credit Losses - Allowance and Carrying Value by Portfolio Segment (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Allowance for Credit Losses - Allowance and Carrying Value by Portfolio Segment (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Impaired loans and troubled debt restructurings        
Allowance for loan and lease losses $ 1,225us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1 $ 2,087us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1    
Carrying value 28,967us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment 36,585us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment    
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 4.23%bac_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedforImpairmentAllowanceasaPercentofCarryingValue 5.70%bac_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedforImpairmentAllowanceasaPercentofCarryingValue    
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 11,542us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment 12,848us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment    
Carrying value 822,974us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment 856,341us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment    
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 1.40%bac_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairmentAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue 1.50%bac_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairmentAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue    
Purchased credit-impaired loans        
Carrying value gross of valuation allowance 20,769us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAcquiredWithDeterioratedCreditQuality 25,265us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAcquiredWithDeterioratedCreditQuality    
Valuation allowance as a percentage of carrying value 7.95%bac_FinancingReceivableAcquiredwithDeterioratedCreditQualityAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue 9.87%bac_FinancingReceivableAcquiredwithDeterioratedCreditQualityAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue    
Total        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 14,419us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance 17,428us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance 24,179us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance 33,783us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
Carrying value 872,710bac_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmountExcludingLoansMeasuredAtFairValue 918,191bac_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmountExcludingLoansMeasuredAtFairValue    
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 1.65%bac_LoansandLeasesReceivableAllowanceAsPercentageOfCarryingValue 1.90%bac_LoansandLeasesReceivableAllowanceAsPercentageOfCarryingValue    
Loans and leases, measured at fair value 8,681us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure 10,042us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure    
Home Loans        
Impaired loans and troubled debt restructurings        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 727us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
1,231us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Carrying value 25,628us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
31,458us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 2.84%bac_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedforImpairmentAllowanceasaPercentofCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
3.91%bac_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedforImpairmentAllowanceasaPercentofCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 3,556us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
4,794us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Carrying value 255,525us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
285,015us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 1.39%bac_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairmentAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
1.68%bac_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairmentAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Purchased credit-impaired loans        
Valuation allowance 1,652us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesAcquiredWithDeterioratedCreditQuality
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
2,493us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesAcquiredWithDeterioratedCreditQuality
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Carrying value gross of valuation allowance 20,769us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAcquiredWithDeterioratedCreditQuality
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
25,265us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAcquiredWithDeterioratedCreditQuality
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Valuation allowance as a percentage of carrying value 7.95%bac_FinancingReceivableAcquiredwithDeterioratedCreditQualityAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
9.87%bac_FinancingReceivableAcquiredwithDeterioratedCreditQualityAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Total        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 5,935us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
8,518us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
14,933us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
21,079us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
Carrying value 301,922bac_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmountExcludingLoansMeasuredAtFairValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
341,738bac_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmountExcludingLoansMeasuredAtFairValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 1.97%bac_LoansandLeasesReceivableAllowanceAsPercentageOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
2.49%bac_LoansandLeasesReceivableAllowanceAsPercentageOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Credit Card and Other Consumer        
Impaired loans and troubled debt restructurings        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 339us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
579us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Carrying value 1,141us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
2,079us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 29.71%bac_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedforImpairmentAllowanceasaPercentofCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
27.85%bac_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedforImpairmentAllowanceasaPercentofCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 3,708us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
4,326us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Carrying value 183,430us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
185,969us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 2.02%bac_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairmentAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
2.33%bac_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairmentAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Purchased credit-impaired loans        
Carrying value gross of valuation allowance 20,769us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAcquiredWithDeterioratedCreditQuality
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
25,265us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAcquiredWithDeterioratedCreditQuality
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Total        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 4,047us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
4,905us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
6,140us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
8,569us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
Carrying value 184,571bac_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmountExcludingLoansMeasuredAtFairValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
188,048bac_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmountExcludingLoansMeasuredAtFairValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 2.19%bac_LoansandLeasesReceivableAllowanceAsPercentageOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
2.61%bac_LoansandLeasesReceivableAllowanceAsPercentageOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Loans and leases, measured at fair value 2,077us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
2,164us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Commercial        
Impaired loans and troubled debt restructurings        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 159us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
277us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Carrying value 2,198us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
3,048us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 7.23%bac_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedforImpairmentAllowanceasaPercentofCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
9.09%bac_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedforImpairmentAllowanceasaPercentofCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 4,278us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
3,728us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Carrying value 384,019us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
385,357us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 1.11%bac_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairmentAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
0.97%bac_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairmentAllowanceAsPercentOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Total        
Allowance for loan and lease losses 4,437us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
4,005us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
3,106us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
4,135us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
Carrying value 386,217bac_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmountExcludingLoansMeasuredAtFairValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
388,405bac_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmountExcludingLoansMeasuredAtFairValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Allowance as a percentage of carrying value 1.15%bac_LoansandLeasesReceivableAllowanceAsPercentageOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
1.03%bac_LoansandLeasesReceivableAllowanceAsPercentageOfCarryingValue
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Loans and leases, measured at fair value 6,604us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
7,878us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
   
Commercial | United States        
Total        
Loans and leases, measured at fair value 1,900us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
1,500us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ bac_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
   
Small Business Commercial Loan | United States        
Total        
Allowance for loan and lease losses $ 35us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= bac_SmallBusinessCommercialLoanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
$ 36us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= bac_SmallBusinessCommercialLoanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US