Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Fair Value Disclosures - Fair Value Option (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Fair Value Disclosures - Fair Value Option (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Loans Held as Assets, 90 Days or More Past Due $ 14   $ 14   $ 28
Fair Value, Option, Loans Held as Assets, Aggregate Amount in Nonaccrual Status 24   24   117
Fair Value, Option, Loans Held as Assets, Aggregate Amount in Nonaccrual Status, Aggregated Difference 147   147   172
Difference Between Fair Values and Aggregate Contractual Principal Amounts [Abstract]          
Receivables under securities borrowed transactions 1,258   1,258   259
Loans 2,680   2,680   2,322
Long-term borrowings 31,499   31,499   30,325
Receivables under resale agreements
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) (44) 169 (73) 197  
Difference Between Fair Values and Aggregate Contractual Principal Amounts [Abstract]          
Receivables under resale agreements 99,587   99,587   85,652
Principal Amount Due Upon Maturity Assets 99,200   99,200   85,197
Difference, Assets 387   387   455
Investment securities
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) (2) (26) 0 4  
Loans
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 101 (137) 207 2  
Difference Between Fair Values and Aggregate Contractual Principal Amounts [Abstract]          
Loans 3,193 [1]   3,193 [1]   2,742 [2]
Principal Amount Due Upon Maturity Assets 3,848 [1]   3,848 [1]   4,023 [2]
Difference, Assets (655) [1]   (655) [1]   (1,281) [2]
Loans | Trading Loans [Member]
          
Difference Between Fair Values and Aggregate Contractual Principal Amounts [Abstract]          
Loans 513 [1]   513 [1]    
Loans | Loans Held for Sale [Member]
          
Difference Between Fair Values and Aggregate Contractual Principal Amounts [Abstract]          
Loans         420 [2]
Payables under repurchase agreements
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 40 (16) 15 (13)  
Short-term borrowings
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) (1) 214 18 307  
Other payables - interest and other
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 44 (65) 75 (49)  
Long-term borrowings
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) (1,482) 4,702 (3,344) 4,196  
Difference Between Fair Values and Aggregate Contractual Principal Amounts [Abstract]          
Long-term borrowings 31,499 [3]   31,499 [3]   30,325 [4]
Principal Amount Due Upon Maturity Liabilities 33,770 [3]   33,770 [3]   36,537 [4]
Difference, Liabilities (2,271) [3]   (2,271) [3]   (6,212) [4]
Structured notes
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) (800) 2,900 (3,000) 2,700  
Receivables under securities borrowed transactions
          
Difference Between Fair Values and Aggregate Contractual Principal Amounts [Abstract]          
Receivables under securities borrowed transactions 1,258   1,258   259
Principal Amount Due Upon Maturity Assets 1,281   1,281   287
Difference, Assets (23)   (23)   (28)
Principal Transactions | Receivables under resale agreements
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) (44) 169 (73) 197  
Principal Transactions | Investment securities
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 0 0 0 0  
Principal Transactions | Loans
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 27 (23) 56 (23)  
Principal Transactions | Payables under repurchase agreements
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 40 (16) 15 (13)  
Principal Transactions | Short-term borrowings
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) (1) 214 18 307  
Principal Transactions | Other payables - interest and other
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 0 0 0 0  
Principal Transactions | Long-term borrowings
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) (1,476) 4,568 (3,317) 4,062  
Other Revenues | Receivables under resale agreements
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 0 0 0 0  
Other Revenues | Investment securities
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) (2) (26) 0 4  
Other Revenues | Loans
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 74 (114) 151 25  
Other Revenues | Payables under repurchase agreements
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 0 0 0 0  
Other Revenues | Short-term borrowings
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 0 0 0 0  
Other Revenues | Other payables - interest and other
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 44 (65) 75 (49)  
Other Revenues | Long-term borrowings
          
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]          
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) $ (6) $ 134 $ (27) $ 134  
[1] Includes trading loans with a fair value of $513 million.
[2] Includes loans held for sale with a fair value of $420 million, accounted for under the fair value option, which were reclassified to trading assets because they are risk managed on that basis.
[3] The difference between the fair value and principal amount due upon maturity at September 30, 2012 relates to the impact of changes in Merrill Lynch's credit spreads, as well as the fair value of the embedded derivative, where applicable.
[4] The difference between the fair value and principal amount due upon maturity at December 31, 2011 relates to the impact of changes in Merrill Lynch's credit spreads, as well as the fair value of the embedded derivative, where applicable.