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 6 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Jun. 30, 2012
522110 Commercial Banking [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
522110 Commercial Banking [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
S P Es [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
S P Es [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Financial Guarantee [Member]
Guarantee Life Insurance Book Value Protection Derivative [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Financial Guarantee [Member]
Guarantee Life Insurance Book Value Protection Derivative [Member]
Maximum [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Financial Guarantee [Member]
Guarantee Employee Retirement Protection Derivative [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Guarantee [Member]
Guarantee Employee Retirement Protection Derivative [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Payment Guarantee [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Payment Guarantee [Member]
Jul. 13, 2012
Definitive Settlement Agreement [Member]
Settlement of the Interchange and Related Litigation Class Action and Individual Claims [Member]
Jul. 13, 2012
Definitive Settlement Agreement, Class Plaintiffs [Member]
Settlement of the Interchange and Related Litigation Class Action and Individual Claims [Member]
Jul. 13, 2012
Definitive Settlement Agreement, Individual Actions [Member]
Settlement of the Interchange and Related Litigation Class Action and Individual Claims [Member]
Jul. 13, 2012
Distribution, Proceeds from Escrow Fund [Member]
Definitive Settlement Agreement [Member]
Settlement of the Interchange and Related Litigation Class Action and Individual Claims [Member]
Jul. 13, 2012
Distribution, Cash [Member]
Definitive Settlement Agreement [Member]
Settlement of the Interchange and Related Litigation Class Action and Individual Claims [Member]
Jul. 13, 2012
MasterCard and Visa [Member]
Definitive Settlement Agreement, Class Plaintiffs [Member]
Settlement of the Interchange and Related Litigation Class Action and Individual Claims [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]                                            
Unfunded equity investment commitments $ 369,000,000   $ 369,000,000   $ 772,000,000                                  
Commitment to purchase residential mortgage and commercial real estate loans 2,200,000,000   2,200,000,000   2,500,000,000                                  
Forward Dated Resale and Securities Borrowing Agreements Commitment 95,700,000,000   95,700,000,000   67,000,000,000                                  
Forward Dated Repurchase And Securities Lending Agreements Commitment 39,900,000,000   39,900,000,000   42,000,000,000                                  
Commitment to Enter Contingent Forward Dated Resale Agreement 2,100,000,000   2,100,000,000                                      
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]                                            
2012 1,500,000,000   1,500,000,000                                      
2013 2,800,000,000   2,800,000,000                                      
2014 2,300,000,000   2,300,000,000                                      
2015 1,800,000,000   1,800,000,000                                      
2016 1,500,000,000   1,500,000,000                                      
Thereafter 7,300,000,000   7,300,000,000                                      
Committed Minimum Fees On Market Data Communications Systems Consulting And Other Office Related Services 1,700,000,000   1,700,000,000   1,900,000,000                                  
Notional Amount of Derivatives 1,646,434,000,000   1,646,434,000,000   1,903,782,000,000   3,200,000,000 3,200,000,000 1,600,000,000 1,800,000,000 15,800,000,000 5,100,000,000 22,900,000,000 28,800,000,000                
Life Insurance Book Value Protection, Fair Value Liability 39,000,000   39,000,000   48,000,000                                  
Merchant Services Transactions Processed And Settled By Sponsored Entitites 155,600,000,000 109,900,000,000 288,800,000,000 194,800,000,000                                    
Losses As Result Of Cardholder Disputed Transactions 2,000,000 3,000,000 4,000,000 5,000,000                                    
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage           49.00%                                
Merchant escrow deposits held as collateral 265,000,000   265,000,000   238,000,000                                  
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted 249,400,000,000   249,400,000,000   236,000,000,000                                  
Registration Payment Arrangement, Maximum Potential Consideration                             3,200,000,000 3,700,000,000            
Loss Contingency Accrual, at Carrying Value 312,000,000   312,000,000   476,000,000                                  
Litigation Settlement, Expense 963,000,000 2,300,000,000 1,800,000,000 3,200,000,000                                    
Litigation Settlement Distribution of Amount Equal to Interchange Rate Basis Points                                           10.00%
Litigation Settlement Distribution of Amount Equal to Interchange Rate Basis Points, Period of Distribution                                           8 months
Litigation Settlement Distribution of Amount Equal to Interchange Basis Points, Opt-out Period                                           60 days
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Minimum 0   0                                      
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum 4,100,000,000   4,100,000,000                                      
Litigation Settlement, Aggregate Amount                                   6,050,000,000        
Litigation Settlement, Gross                                 $ 738,000,000   $ 525,000,000 $ 539,000,000 $ 199,000,000