Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Operating activities
Net income	$ 2,902	$ 2,871
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)	(4)
Net income applicable to shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	2,896	2,867
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Provision for credit losses	(214)	321
Pension plan contributions	(5)	(18)
Depreciation and amortization	1,406	1,175
Deferred tax (benefit)	255	(351)
Net securities (gains)	(4)	(27)
Change in trading assets and liabilities	(3,466)	1,736
Change in accruals and other, net	(1,159)	200
Net cash (used for) provided by operating activities	(291)	5,903
Investing activities
Change in interest-bearing deposits with banks	(2,005)	(3,808)
Change in interest-bearing deposits with the Federal Reserve and other central banks	11,450	(9,775)
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity	(7,587)	(23,507)
Paydowns of securities held-to-maturity	8,601	6,291
Maturities of securities held-to-maturity	1,242	5,477
Purchases of securities available-for-sale	(38,201)	(56,860)
Sales of securities available-for-sale	8,846	10,824
Paydowns of securities available-for-sale	10,132	7,300
Maturities of securities available-for-sale	13,396	21,113
Net change in loans	(7,823)	(537)
Sales of loans and other real estate	1	10
Change in federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	2,343	525
Net change in seed capital investments	(83)	20
Purchases of premises and equipment/capitalized software	(841)	(956)
Proceeds from the sale of premises and equipment	34	0
Dispositions, net of cash	8	0
Other, net	228	(417)
Net cash (used for) investing activities	(259)	(44,300)
Financing activities
Change in deposits	4,805	35,736
Change in federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements	806	4,299
Change in payables to customers and broker-dealers	954	4,627
Change in other borrowed funds	432	(183)
Change in commercial paper	0	(3,288)
Net proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	3,689	2,245
Repayments of long-term debt	(4,250)	(4,400)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	45	36
Issuance of common stock	10	9
Issuance of preferred stock	0	990
Treasury stock acquired	(3,318)	(988)
Common cash dividends paid	(846)	(838)
Preferred cash dividends paid	(166)	(146)
Other, net	4	36
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,165	38,135
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(81)	(10)
Change in cash and due from banks and restricted cash
Change in cash and due from banks and restricted cash	1,534	(272)
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period	9,419	7,267
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	10,953	6,995
Cash and due from banks at end of period (unrestricted cash)	6,752	4,104
Restricted cash at end of period	4,201	2,891
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	10,953	6,995
Supplemental disclosures
Interest paid	226	1,166
Income taxes paid	376	1,112
Income taxes refunded	$ 36	$ 23