Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015
Operating activities
Net income	$ 808	$ 696	$ 810
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	(3)	(31)
Net income applicable to shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	817	693	779
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Provision for credit losses	10	163	2
Pension plan contributions	(10)		(13)
Depreciation and amortization	364		340
Deferred tax (benefit)	(10)		(107)
Net securities (gains) and venture capital (income)	(22)		(21)
Change in trading activities	1,624		283
Originations of loans held-for-sale	(142)		0
Proceeds from the sales of loans originated for sale	199		0
Change in accruals and other, net	(1,036)		(1,334)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	1,794		(71)
Investing activities
Change in interest-bearing deposits with banks	873		440
Change in interest-bearing deposits with the Federal Reserve and other central banks	17,927		6,978
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity	(1,240)		(10,575)
Paydowns of securities held-to-maturity	979		483
Maturities of securities held-to-maturity	1,831		3
Purchases of securities available-for-sale	(7,018)		(11,759)
Sales of securities available-for-sale	1,989		8,679
Paydowns of securities available-for-sale	2,032		2,008
Maturities of securities available-for-sale	3,393		3,803
Net change in loans	1,942		(3,333)
Sales of loans and other real estate	168		98
Change in federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	(2,510)		(7,965)
Change in seed capital investments	50		13
Purchases of premises and equipment/capitalized software	(148)		(162)
Acquisitions, net of cash	0		(9)
Other, net	(188)		1,353
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	20,080		(9,945)
Financing activities
Change in deposits	(23,675)		13,456
Change in federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements	(199)		(3,550)
Change in payables to customers and broker-dealers	102		778
Change in other borrowed funds	251		6
Net proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	997		1,993
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,200)		(2,005)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	42		81
Issuance of common stock	6		6
Treasury stock acquired	(577)		(400)
Common cash dividends paid	(186)		(192)
Preferred cash dividends paid	(13)		(13)
Other, net	(35)		76
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(24,487)		10,236
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	4		(23)
Change in cash and due from banks
Change in cash and due from banks	(2,609)		197
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	6,537		6,970
Cash and due from banks at end of period	3,928	$ 6,537	7,167
Supplemental disclosures
Interest paid	170		134
Income taxes paid	83		538
Income taxes refunded	$ 25		$ 869