Acquisitions (Note)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions and dispositions	Acquisitions We sometimes structure our acquisitions with both an initial payment and later contingent payments tied to post-closing revenue or income growth. For acquisitions completed prior to Jan. 1, 2009, we record the fair value of contingent payments as an additional cost of the entity acquired in the period that the payment becomes probable. For acquisitions completed after Jan. 1, 2009, subsequent changes in the fair value of a contingent consideration liability are recorded through the income statement. Contingent payments totaled $4 million in the first quarter of 2013. At March 31, 2013, we were potentially obligated to pay additional consideration which, using reasonable assumptions for the performance of the acquired companies and joint ventures based on contractual agreements, could range from $11 million to $24 million over the next two years. Acquisitions in 2012 On Oct 1, 2012, BNY Mellon acquired the remaining 50% interest of the WestLB Mellon Asset Management joint venture for cash of $22 million. We later renamed the unit Meriten Investment Management GmbH (“Meriten”). We are obligated to pay, upon occurrence of certain events, contingent additional consideration of up to $13 million. Goodwill related to this acquisition, including the fair value of the contingent additional consideration, totaled $70 million and is included in our Investment Management business. This goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. Customer relationship intangible assets related to this acquisition are included in our Investment Management business, with a life of eight years, and totaled $23 million.

Acquisitions

We sometimes structure our acquisitions with both an initial payment and later contingent payments tied to post-closing revenue or income growth. For acquisitions completed prior to Jan. 1, 2009, we record the fair value of contingent payments as an additional cost of the entity acquired in the period that the payment becomes probable. For acquisitions completed after Jan. 1, 2009, subsequent changes in the fair value of a contingent consideration liability are recorded through the income statement. Contingent payments totaled $4 million in the first quarter of 2013.

At March 31, 2013, we were potentially obligated to pay additional consideration which, using reasonable assumptions for the performance of the acquired companies and joint ventures based on contractual agreements, could range from $11 million to $24 million over the next two years.

Acquisitions in 2012

On Oct 1, 2012, BNY Mellon acquired the remaining 50% interest of the WestLB Mellon Asset Management joint venture for cash of $22 million. We later renamed the unit Meriten Investment Management GmbH (“Meriten”). We are obligated to pay, upon occurrence of certain events, contingent additional consideration of up to $13 million. Goodwill related to this acquisition, including the fair value of the contingent additional consideration, totaled $70 million and is included in our Investment Management business. This goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. Customer relationship intangible assets related to this acquisition are included in our Investment Management business, with a life of eight years, and totaled $23 million.