Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Shareholders' Equity (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 3,689,084 3,943,660
Carrying Value $ 18,730  
Preferred Stock, Discount on Shares 333  
Preferred Stock, Voting Rights All outstanding series of preferred stock of the Corporation have preference over the Corporation’s common stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of the Corporation’s assets in the event of a liquidation or dissolution. With the exception of the Series T Preferred Stock, if any dividend payable on these series is in arrears for three or more semi-annual or six or more quarterly dividend periods, as applicable (whether consecutive or not), the holders of these series and any other class or series of preferred stock ranking equally as to payment of dividends and upon which equivalent voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable (voting as a single class), will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors. These voting rights terminate when the Corporation has paid in full dividends on these series for at least two semi-annual or four quarterly dividend periods, as applicable, following the dividend arrearage.  
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 7,571 [1]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 100 [1]  
Carrying Value 1 [1],[2]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 7.00% [1]  
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 26,174 [3],[4]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 25,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 654 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 6.204% [3],[4]  
Series E Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 13,576 [3],[4]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 25,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 340 [2],[3],[4]  
Series H Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 114,483 [3],[4]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 25,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 2,862 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 8.20% [3],[4]  
Series I Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 14,584 [3],[4]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 25,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 365 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 6.625% [3],[4]  
Series J Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 38,053 [3],[4]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 25,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 951 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 7.25% [3],[4]  
Series K Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 61,773 [3],[5]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 25,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 1,544 [2],[3],[4]  
Dividend Payment Rate, Variable three-month Libor  
Dividend Payment Basis Spread 3.63%  
Series L Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 3,080,182  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 1,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 3,080 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 7.25%  
Series M Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 52,399 [3],[5]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 25,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 1,310 [2],[3],[4]  
Dividend Payment Rate, Variable three-month Libor  
Dividend Payment Basis Spread 3.64%  
Series T Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 50,000  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 100,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 2,918 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 6.00%  
Series 1 Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 3,646 [3],[6]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 30,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 109 [2],[3],[4]  
Dividend Payment Basis Spread 0.75%  
Minimum Interest Rate Per Annum 3.00%  
Series 2 Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 12,111 [3],[6]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 30,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 363 [2],[3],[4]  
Dividend Payment Basis Spread 0.65%  
Series 3 Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 21,773 [3],[6]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 30,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 653 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 6.375% [3],[6]  
Series 4 Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 10,773 [3],[6]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 30,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 323 [2],[3],[4]  
Dividend Payment Basis Spread 0.75%  
Minimum Interest Rate Per Annum 4.00%  
Series 5 Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 16,902 [3],[6]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 30,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 507 [2],[3],[4]  
Dividend Payment Basis Spread 0.50%  
Series 6 Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 59,388 [3],[7]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 1,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 60 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 6.70% [3],[7]  
Series 7 Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 16,596 [3],[7]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 1,000 [1]  
Carrying Value 17 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 6.25% [3],[7]  
Series 8 Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Total Shares Outstanding 89,100 [3],[6]  
Liquidation Preference Per Share (in dollars) $ 30,000 [1]  
Carrying Value $ 2,673 [2],[3],[4]  
Per Annum Dividend Rate 8.625% [3],[6]  
Option One [Member] | Series E Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Dividend Payment Basis Spread 0.35%  
Option Two [Member] | Series E Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Per Annum Dividend Rate 4.00%  
Through January 29, 2018 [Member] | Series K Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Per Annum Dividend Rate 8.00%  
Through May 14, 2018 [Member] | Series M Preferred Stock [Member]
    
Class of Stock [Line Items]    
Per Annum Dividend Rate 8.125%  
[1] Series B Preferred Stock does not have early redemption/call rights.
[2] Amounts shown are before third-party issuance costs and other Merrill Lynch purchase accounting related adjustments of $333 million.
[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] 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.
[5] Ownership is held in the form of depositary shares, each representing a 1/25th interest in a share of preferred stock, paying a semi-annual cash dividend, if and when declared, until the redemption date adjusts to a quarterly cash dividend, if and when declared, thereafter.
[6] Ownership is held in the form of depositary shares, each representing a 1/1200th interest in a share of preferred stock, paying a quarterly cash dividend, if and when declared.
[7] Ownership is held in the form of depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of preferred stock, paying a quarterly cash dividend, if and when declared.