Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Total		Preferred stock	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive (loss), net of tax	Treasury stock	Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests of consolidated investment management funds	Redeemable non- controlling interests/ temporary equity	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment Retained earnings	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment Accumulated other comprehensive (loss), net of tax	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Preferred stock	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Common stock	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Additional paid-in capital	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Retained earnings	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Accumulated other comprehensive (loss), net of tax	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Treasury stock	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests of consolidated investment management funds	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance Redeemable non- controlling interests/ temporary equity
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 41,585	[1]	$ 3,542	$ 14	$ 27,515	$ 31,894	$ (2,638)	$ (18,844)	$ 102	$ 143	$ 40	$ 45	$ (5)	$ 41,625	$ 3,542	$ 14	$ 27,515	$ 31,939	$ (2,643)	$ (18,844)	$ 102	$ 143
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares issued to shareholders of noncontrolling interests											55
Redemption of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests											(17)
Other net changes in noncontrolling interests		140				(5)				145	(2)
Net income (loss)		2,871					2,867			4
Other comprehensive income (loss)		1,284						1,284
Other comprehensive income (loss)		0									0
Dividends:
Common stock		(839)					(839)
Preferred stock		(146)					(146)
Repurchase of common stock		(988)							(988)
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans		21				21
Preferred stock issued		990		990
Stock awards and options exercised		210				210
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020		45,168	[1],[2]	4,532	14	27,741	33,821	(1,359)	(19,832)	251	179
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2020		43,809	[2]	4,532	14	27,702	33,224	(1,943)	(19,832)	112	157
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares issued to shareholders of noncontrolling interests											21
Redemption of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests											(1)
Other net changes in noncontrolling interests		132				0				132	0
Net income (loss)		944					937			7
Other comprehensive income (loss)		584						584
Other comprehensive income (loss)		2									2
Dividends:
Common stock		(279)					(279)
Preferred stock		(61)					(61)
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans		6				6
Stock awards and options exercised		33				33
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020		45,168	[1],[2]	4,532	14	27,741	33,821	(1,359)	(19,832)	251	179
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020		45,944	[3]	4,541	14	27,823	34,241	(985)	(19,833)	143	176
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares issued to shareholders of noncontrolling interests											37
Redemption of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests											(52)
Other net changes in noncontrolling interests		100				(24)				124	17
Net income (loss)		2,902					2,896			6
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,018)						(1,018)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		0									0
Dividends:
Common stock	[4]	(846)					(846)
Preferred stock		(166)					(166)
Repurchase of common stock		(3,318)							(3,318)
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans		14				14
Stock awards and options exercised		262				262
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021		43,874	[3],[5]	4,541	14	28,075	36,125	(2,003)	(23,151)	273	178
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2021		45,216	[6]	4,541	14	27,928	34,822	(1,819)	(20,532)	262	187
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares issued to shareholders of noncontrolling interests											6
Redemption of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests											(22)
Other net changes in noncontrolling interests		86				9				77	(2)
Net income (loss)		1,027					1,022			5
Other comprehensive income (loss)		149						149
Other comprehensive income (loss)		0									0
Dividends:
Common stock	[7]	(273)					(273)
Preferred stock		(31)					(31)
Repurchase of common stock		(618)							(618)
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans		5				5
Stock awards and options exercised		64				64
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2021		45,625	[5],[6]	4,541	14	28,006	35,540	(1,670)	(21,150)	344	169
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares issued to shareholders of noncontrolling interests											8
Other net changes in noncontrolling interests		(67)				0				(67)	1
Net income (loss)		943					947			(4)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(333)						(333)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		0									0
Dividends:
Common stock	[8]	(296)					(296)
Preferred stock		(66)					(66)
Repurchase of common stock		(2,001)							(2,001)
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans		4				4
Stock awards and options exercised		65				65
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021		$ 43,874	[3],[5]	$ 4,541	$ 14	$ 28,075	$ 36,125	$ (2,003)	$ (23,151)	$ 273	$ 178

[1] Includes total The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation common shareholders’ equity of $37,941 million at Dec. 31, 2019 and $40,385 million at Sept. 30, 2020.

[2] Includes total The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation common shareholders’ equity of $39,165 million at June 30, 2020 and $40,385 million at Sept. 30, 2020.

[3] Includes total The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation common shareholders’ equity of $41,260 million at Dec. 31, 2020 and $39,060 million at Sept. 30, 2021.

[4] Includes dividend-equivalents on share-based awards.

[5] Includes total The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation common shareholders’ equity of $40,740 million at June 30, 2021 and $39,060 million at Sept. 30, 2021.

[6] Includes total The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation common shareholders’ equity of $40,413 million at March 31, 2021 and $40,740 million at June 30, 2021.

[7] Includes dividend-equivalents on share-based awards.

[8] Includes dividend-equivalents on share-based awards.