Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating activities
Net income	$ 631	$ 478	$ 670
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12)	27	(45)
Net income applicable to common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	619	505	625
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Provision for credit losses	5	23
Pension plan contribution	(11)		(6)
Depreciation and amortization	299		183
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	31		39
Net securities (gains) and venture capital (income)	(44)		(15)
Change in trading activities	176		(692)
Change in accruals and other, net	(961)		292
Net cash provided by operating activities	114		426
Investing activities
Change in interest-bearing deposits with banks	1,845		(7,770)
Change in interest-bearing deposits with Federal Reserve and other central banks	28,213		(6,052)
Change in loans	1,055		(3,030)
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity	(1,441)		(5)
Paydowns of securities held-to-maturity	61		56
Maturities of securities held-to-maturity	131		198
Purchases of securities available-for-sale	(13,227)		(5,260)
Sales of securities available-for-sale	4,582		1,839
Paydowns of securities available-for-sale	2,182		2,673
Maturities of securities available-for-sale	2,273		1,873
Sales of loans and other real estate	111		356
Change in federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	(927)		(1,123)
Change in seed capital investments	(11)
Purchases of premises and equipment/capitalized software	(129)		(164)
Acquisitions, net cash			(12)
Proceeds from the sale of premises and equipment	5		5
Other, net	(356)		(64)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	24,367		(16,480)
Financing activities
Change in deposits	(27,549)		15,706
Change in federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements	2,018		1,367
Change in payables to customers and broker-dealers	288		588
Change in other borrowed funds	(126)		(1,861)
Change in commercial paper	1,060		3
Net proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	1,264		1,199
Repayments of long-term debt	(773)		(404)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	3		11
Issuance of common stock	6		5
Treasury stock acquired	(398)		(60)
Common cash dividends paid	(158)		(112)
Other, net	13		(12)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(24,352)		16,430
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	29		7
Change in cash and due from banks
Change in cash and due from banks	158		383
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	4,175		3,675
Cash and due from banks at end of period	4,333	4,175	4,058
Supplemental disclosures
Interest paid	106		102
Income taxes paid	208		135
Income taxes refunded	$ 2		$ 3