Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
Operating activities
Net income	$ 869	$ 257	$ 694
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(90)	(24)	(20)
Net income applicable to shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	779		674
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Provision for credit losses	2	1	(18)
Pension plan contributions	(13)		(12)
Depreciation and amortization	340		333
Deferred tax (benefit)	(107)		(52)
Net securities (gains) and venture capital (income)	(21)		(27)
Change in trading activities	283		229
Change in accruals and other, net	(1,327)		(2,182)
Net cash (used for) operating activities	(64)		(1,055)
Investing activities
Change in interest-bearing deposits with banks	440		(7,633)
Change in interest-bearing deposits with the Federal Reserve and other central banks	6,978		21,757
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity	(10,575)		(4)
Paydowns of securities held-to-maturity	483		415
Maturities of securities held-to-maturity	3		8
Purchases of securities available-for-sale	(11,759)		(12,499)
Sales of securities available-for-sale	8,679		8,091
Paydowns of securities available-for-sale	2,008		1,755
Maturities of securities available-for-sale	3,803		1,362
Net change in loans	(3,333)		(2,539)
Sales of loans and other real estate	98		204
Change in federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	(7,965)		(3,062)
Change in seed capital investments	13		(176)
Purchases of premises and equipment/capitalized software	(162)		(201)
Acquisitions, net of cash	(9)		(1)
Other, net	995		(76)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(10,303)		7,401
Financing activities
Change in deposits	13,456		(8,910)
Change in federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements	(3,550)		287
Change in payables to customers and broker-dealers	778		1,115
Change in other borrowed funds	6		642
Change in commercial paper	0		(69)
Net proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	1,993		1,445
Repayments of long-term debt	(2,005)		(704)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	81		51
Issuance of common stock	6		6
Treasury stock acquired	(400)		(375)
Common cash dividends paid	(192)		(173)
Preferred cash dividends paid	(13)		(13)
Other, net	427		(19)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	10,587		(6,717)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(23)		3
Change in cash and due from banks
Change in cash and due from banks	197		(368)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	6,970		6,460
Cash and due from banks at end of period	7,167	6,970	6,092
Supplemental disclosures
Interest paid	134		97
Income taxes paid	538		74
Income taxes refunded	$ 869		$ 5