Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Operating activities
Net income	$ 1,127	$ 1,427
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(42)	(67)
Net income applicable to common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	1,085	1,360
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Provision for credit losses	(14)
Depreciation and amortization	598	366
Deferred tax (benefit) expense	(285)	251
Net securities (gains) and venture capital (income)	(95)	(74)
Change in trading activities	(179)	36
Change in accruals and other, net	(736)	(942)
Net cash provided by operating activities	374	997
Investing activities
Change in interest-bearing deposits with banks	(3,502)	(8,684)
Change in interest-bearing deposits with Federal Reserve and other central banks	14,000	(37,729)
Change in loans	(1,424)	(4,702)
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity	(3,123)	(833)
Paydowns of securities held-to-maturity	189	99
Maturities of securities held-to-maturity	403	505
Purchases of securities available-for-sale	(24,126)	(12,885)
Sales of securities available-for-sale	5,577	5,315
Paydowns of securities available-for-sale	4,784	4,451
Maturities of securities available-for-sale	5,447	2,774
Sales of loans and other real estate	160	362
Change in federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	(4,034)	120
Change in seed capital investments	(2)	228
Purchases of premises and equipment/capitalized software	(276)	(367)
Acquisitions, net cash	(4)	(20)
Proceeds from the sale of premises and equipment	5	5
Other, net	133	(663)
Net cash (used for) investing activities	(5,793)	(52,024)
Financing activities
Change in deposits	2,373	50,576
Change in federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements	2,895	1,970
Change in payables to customers and broker-dealers	634	1,550
Change in other borrowed funds	(773)	(1,084)
Change in commercial paper	1,554	26
Net proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	1,264	1,199
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,714)	(748)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	6	16
Issuance of common stock	13	12
Issuance of preferred stock	500
Treasury stock acquired	(687)	(333)
Common cash dividends paid	(314)	(274)
Other, net	30	(10)
Net cash provided by financing activities	5,781	52,900
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(15)	12
Change in cash and due from banks
Change in cash and due from banks	347	1,885
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	4,175	3,675
Cash and due from banks at end of period	4,522	5,560
Supplemental disclosures
Interest paid	292	347
Income taxes paid	460	249
Income taxes refunded	$ 7	$ 168