Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Employee Benefit Plans - Plan Changes (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Employee Benefit Plans - Plan Changes (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Change in fair value of plan assets      
Fair value, December 31 $ 5,064 $ 4,827  
Healthcare cost trend rates:(4)      
U.K. pension plan percentage of benefit obligation 70.00%    
U.K pension plan percentage of fair value of plan assets 83.00%    
U.S. postretirement plan percentage of postretirement benefit obligation 92.00%    
Total Defined Benefit Pension Plans
      
Change in fair value of plan assets      
Fair value, January 1 4,827 4,159  
Actual return on plan assets 220 757  
Contributions 128 90  
Benefits paid (189) (174)  
Plan transfers(3) 0 [1] 10 [1]  
Foreign currency exchange rate changes (78) 15  
Fair value, December 31 5,064 4,827 4,159
Change in projected benefit obligation      
Projected benefit obligation, January 1 3,642 3,509  
Service cost 38 [2] 40 [2] 30 [2]
Interest cost 172 180 180
Plan participant contributions 3 3  
Plan amendments 2 2  
Actuarial loss (gain) 492 75  
Benefits paid (189) (174)  
Plan transfers(3) 0 [1] 15 [1]  
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 69 (8)  
Projected benefit obligation, December 31 4,229 3,642 3,509
Amount recognized, December 31 835 1,185  
Funded status, December 31 835 1,185  
U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans
      
Change in fair value of plan assets      
Fair value, January 1 3,059 2,687  
Actual return on plan assets 126 493  
Contributions 1 1  
Benefits paid (125) (122)  
Plan transfers(3) 0 [1] 0 [1]  
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 0 0  
Fair value, December 31 3,061 3,059 2,687
Change in projected benefit obligation      
Projected benefit obligation, January 1 1,970 1,885  
Service cost 0 [2] 0 [2] 0 [2]
Interest cost 90 96 101
Plan participant contributions 0 0  
Plan amendments 0 0  
Actuarial loss (gain) 225 111  
Benefits paid (125) (122)  
Plan transfers(3) 0 [1] 0 [1]  
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 0 0  
Projected benefit obligation, December 31 2,160 1,970 1,885
Amount recognized, December 31 901 1,089  
Funded status, December 31 901 1,089  
Discount rate 3.80% 4.70%  
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans
      
Change in fair value of plan assets      
Fair value, January 1 1,768 [3] 1,472 [3]  
Actual return on plan assets 94 [3] 264 [3]  
Contributions 127 [3] 89 [3]  
Benefits paid (64) [3] (52) [3]  
Plan transfers(3) 0 [1],[3] 10 [1],[3]  
Foreign currency exchange rate changes (78) [3] 15 [3]  
Fair value, December 31 2,003 [3] 1,768 [3] 1,472 [3]
Change in projected benefit obligation      
Projected benefit obligation, January 1 1,672 [3] 1,624 [3]  
Service cost 38 [2],[3] 40 [2],[3] 30 [2]
Interest cost 82 [3] 84 [3] 79
Plan participant contributions 3 [3] 3 [3]  
Plan amendments 2 [3] 2 [3]  
Actuarial loss (gain) 267 [3] (36) [3]  
Benefits paid (64) [3] (52) [3]  
Plan transfers(3) 0 [1],[3] 15 [1],[3]  
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 69 [3] (8) [3]  
Projected benefit obligation, December 31 2,069 [3] 1,672 [3] 1,624 [3]
Amount recognized, December 31 (66) [3] 96 [3]  
Funded status, December 31 (66) [3] 96 [3]  
Discount rate 4.20% 4.80%  
Rate of compensation increase 4.40% 0.00%  
Postretirement Plans
      
Change in fair value of plan assets      
Fair value, January 1 0 [4] 0 [4]  
Actual return on plan assets 0 [4] 0 [4]  
Contributions 17 [4] 11 [4]  
Benefits paid (17) [4] (11) [4]  
Plan transfers(3) 0 [1],[4] 0 [1],[4]  
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 0 [4] 0 [4]  
Fair value, December 31 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Change in projected benefit obligation      
Projected benefit obligation, January 1 312 [4] 315 [4]  
Service cost 4 [4] 4 [4] 3
Interest cost 14 [4] 15 [4] 17
Plan participant contributions 0 [4] 0 [4]  
Plan amendments 0 [4] (21) [4]  
Actuarial loss (gain) (24) [4] 10 [4]  
Benefits paid (17) [4] (11) [4]  
Plan transfers(3) 0 [1],[4] 0 [1],[4]  
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 1 [4] 0 [4]  
Projected benefit obligation, December 31 290 [4] 312 [4] 315 [4]
Amount recognized, December 31 (290) [4] (312) [4]  
Funded status, December 31 $ (290) [4] $ (312) [4]  
Discount rate 3.70% 4.70%  
Healthcare cost trend rates:(4)      
Initial 7.50% [5] 8.00% [5]  
Long-term 5.00% [5] 5.00% [5]  
[1] Plan transfers resulted from employee transfers to and from Merrill Lynch and non-Merrill Lynch subsidiaries of Bank of America.
[2] The U.S. plan was terminated in 1988 and thus does not incur service costs.
[3] Primarily represents the U.K. pension plan, which accounts for 83% of the fair value of plan assets and 70% of the benefit obligation at December 31, 2012.
[4] Approximately 92% of the postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2012 relates to the U.S. postretirement plan.
[5] The healthcare cost trend rate is assumed to decrease gradually through 2019 and remain constant thereafter.