Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Shareholders' Equity - Textuals (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Shareholders' Equity - Textuals (Details) (USD $)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Aug. 31, 2011
May 31, 2011
Jan. 31, 2011
May 31, 2009
Jan. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2008
Oct. 15, 2010
Apr. 28, 2010
Feb. 24, 2010
Feb. 23, 2010
Feb. 22, 2010
Dec. 31, 2011
Series T Preferred Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Preferred Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Series L Preferred Stock [Member]
Days
Dec. 31, 2009
Series L Preferred Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Common Stock [Member]
Sep. 30, 2011
Berkshire Hathaway Warrant Six Percent Perpetual Preferred Series T Stock [Member]
Sep. 02, 2011
Berkshire Hathaway Warrant Six Percent Perpetual Preferred Series T Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Options [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Retained Earnings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Retained Earnings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Retained Earnings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Preferred Stock [Member]
Jan. 31, 2012
Dividend Declared [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Exchange Agreements [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Exchange Agreements [Member]
Common Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Exchange Agreement Non-Convertible Preferred Stock for Common Stock [Member]
Non-Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Exchange Agreement Non-Convertible Preferred Stock for Common Stock [Member]
Common Stock [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Exchange Agreement Series L Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]                                                                            
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared $ 0.01   $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.01                                                       $ 0.01          
Issuance of common stock, shares           1,300,000,000                           269,000,000                     1,250,000,000       400,000,000 815,000,000    
Warrant Exercised, Number of Shares                                               50,000,000                            
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights                                               700,000,000                            
Proceeds from Warrant Exercises   $ 5,000,000,000                                                                        
Stock Issued During Period Value Preferred New Issues                                                         2,100,000,000     2,900,000,000            
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price                                             $ 7.142857                              
Common Stock, Shares Authorized               12,800,000,000 12,800,000,000       12,800,000,000   11,300,000,000 10,000,000,000                                            
Stock issued in acquisition, shares             1,400,000,000                     376,000       1,400,000,000                 1,375,476,000              
Warrants Issued To Purchase Shares Of Common Stock                   121,800,000 150,400,000                                                      
Exercise Price Of Common Stock                   $ 30.79 $ 13.30                                                      
Average Price Of Common Stock           10.77                                                                
Gross Proceeds From At Market Issuance Program           13,500,000,000                                                                
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures                                                 51,000,000                          
Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation               28,000,000                                                            
Number of Shares Authorized               2,200,000,000                                                            
Preferred stock dividends and accretion               1,361,000,000 1,357,000,000 8,480,000,000                                                        
Preferred               1,325,000,000 1,357,000,000 4,537,000,000                               1,325,000,000 1,357,000,000 4,537,000,000                    
Issuance of common stock                   13,468,000,000                                         13,468,000,000       2,200,000,000      
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt                                                                   2,300,000,000   231,000,000   129,000,000
Increase to Tier 1 Common Capital               3,900,000,000                                                            
Carrying Value               18,730,000,000                 2,918,000,000 [1],[2],[3]     3,080,000,000 [1],[2],[3]                               814,000,000    
Stock Issued During Period, Common Stock in Exchange for Preferred Stock                                                                         72,000,000 20,000,000
Stock Issued During Period, Common Stock in Exchange for Preferred Stock, Value                                                                         399,000,000 123,000,000
Per Annum Dividend Rate                                 6.00%     7.25%                                    
Non Cash Reduction to Preferred Stock Dividends                                                                       184,000,000   17,000,000
Fair Value of Consideration Transferred in Exchange of Preferred Stock for Common Stock                                                                           220,000,000
Fair Value of Securities Issuable                                                                           32,000,000
Liquidation Preference Per Share                                 $ 100,000 [4]     $ 1,000 [4]                                    
Preferred Stock Dividend Rate Percentage Option To Exercise In Cash or Noncash Warrant Transaction                                               6.00%                            
Preferred Stock, Redemption Price Per Share                                 $ 105,000                                          
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage Unpaid                                 8.00%                                          
Aggregate Number Of Common Stock Into Which Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Are Converted                       50,000,000                                                    
Issued Additional Preferred Stock             30,000,000,000                                                              
Excess Liquidity Used To Repurchase Tarp Preferred Stock                   25,700,000,000                                                        
Proceeds From Sale Of Common Equivalent Securities Related To Tarp Repayment                   19,300,000,000                                                        
Number Of Common Equivalent Stock Sold                   1,300,000,000                                                        
Value Of Common Equivalent Securities Per Unit                   15                                                        
Purchase Aggregate Of Common Stock                   60,000,000                                                        
Conversion Of Common Equivalent Stock Into Common Stock                           1,286,000,000                                                
Preferred Share Exchanged Carrying Value                   11,300,000,000               7,300,000,000 3,900,000,000                                      
Preferred Shares Exchanged                   467,000,000               323,000,000 144,000,000                                      
Common Stock Shares Issued In Preferred Share Exchanged                   745,000,000               545,000,000 200,000,000                                      
Preferred Share Exchanged Fair Value Of Stock Issued                   8,600,000,000               6,100,000,000 2,500,000,000                                      
Preferred Shares Induced Conversion                                         3,600,000                                  
Preferred Shares Induced Conversion Liquidation Preference                                         3,600,000,000                                  
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate               35.00% 35.00% 35.00%                                                        
Mandatory convertible preferred stock conversion, shares                                         255,000,000                 50,354,000                
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Convertible Securities                                         2,800,000,000                                  
Increase In Retained Earnings And Net Income Applicable To Common Shareholders                   576,000,000               576,000,000                                        
Net Benefit Due To Excess Of Carrying Value Of Non Convertible Preferred Stock                   2,620,000,000                                                        
Preferred Stock Conversions, Inducements                   $ 2,040,000,000                                                        
Preferred Stock To Be Convertible Into Common Shares                                       20                                    
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share               $ 0.01 $ 0.01                                                          
Trading Days                                       20                                    
Consecutive Trading Days                                       30                                    
Common Stock Closing Price Exceeds Then Applicable Conversion Price Of Preferred Stock                                       1.30                                    
Increase to Tier 1 Capital, Percent               0.29%                                                            
[1] Amounts shown are before third-party issuance costs and other Merrill Lynch purchase accounting related adjustments of $333 million.
[2] Ownership is held in the form of depositary shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of preferred stock, paying a quarterly cash dividend, if and when declared.
[3] The Corporation may redeem series of preferred stock on or after the redemption date, in whole or in part, at its option, at the liquidation preference plus declared and unpaid dividends.
[4] Series B Preferred Stock does not have early redemption/call rights.