Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013
Operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 694	[1]	$ 556	[1]	$ (237)	[1]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(20)		(17)		(16)
Net income (loss) applicable to shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	674				(253)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used for) provided by operating activities:
Provision for credit losses	(18)		6		(24)
Pension plan contributions	(12)				(15)
Depreciation and amortization	333				333
Deferred tax (benefit) expense	(52)	[1]			153	[1]
Net securities (gains) and venture capital (income)	(27)				(45)
Change in trading activities	229				(2,256)
Change in accruals and other, net	(2,182)	[1]			(637)	[1]
Net cash (used for) operating activities	(1,055)				(2,744)
Investing activities
Change in interest-bearing deposits with banks	(7,633)				3,260
Change in interest-bearing deposits with the Federal Reserve and other central banks	21,757				11,985
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity	(4)				(1,425)
Paydowns of securities held-to-maturity	415				327
Maturities of securities held-to-maturity	8				16
Purchases of securities available-for-sale	(12,499)				(10,486)
Sales of securities available-for-sale	8,091				3,817
Paydowns of securities available-for-sale	1,755				2,450
Maturities of securities available-for-sale	1,362				954
Net change in loans	(2,539)				(2,651)
Sales of loans and other real estate	204				24
Change in federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	(3,062)				(411)
Change in seed capital investments	(176)				(20)
Purchases of premises and equipment/capitalized software	(201)				(126)
Acquisitions, net of cash	(1)				(4)
Other, net	(76)				(449)
Net cash provided by investing activities	7,401				7,261
Financing activities
Change in deposits	(8,910)				(5,080)
Change in federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements	287				1,175
Change in payables to customers and broker-dealers	1,115				(1,109)
Change in other borrowed funds	642				(577)
Change in commercial paper	(69)				(260)
Net proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	1,445				1,497
Repayments of long-term debt	(704)				(43)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	51				111
Issuance of common stock	6				6
Treasury stock acquired	(375)				(252)
Common cash dividends paid	(173)				(153)
Preferred cash dividends paid	(13)				(13)
Other, net	(19)				(57)
Net cash (used for) financing activities	(6,717)				(4,755)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	3				(49)
Change in cash and due from banks
Change in cash and due from banks	(368)				(287)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	6,460				4,727
Cash and due from banks at end of period	6,092		6,460		4,440
Supplemental disclosures
Interest paid	97				95
Income taxes paid	74				64
Income taxes refunded	$ 5				$ 6

[1] Prior periods were restated to reflect the retrospective application of adopting new accounting guidance related to our investments in qualified affordable housing projects (ASU 2014-01). See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.