Off-Balance Sheet Lending Related Financial Instruments, Guarantees and Other Commitments (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Lending-Related Commitments [Member]

Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]

Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposure, Policy [Policy Text Block]

To provide for the risk of loss inherent in consumer (excluding credit card) and wholesale contracts, an allowance for credit losses on lending-related commitments is maintained.

Guarantees [Member]

Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]

Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposure, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Guarantees

U.S. GAAP requires that a guarantor recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability in an amount equal to the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. U.S. GAAP defines a guarantee as a contract that contingently requires the guarantor to pay a guaranteed party based upon: (a) changes in an underlying asset, liability or equity security of the guaranteed party; or (b) a third party’s failure to perform under a specified agreement. The Firm considers the following off–balance sheet lending-related arrangements to be guarantees under U.S. GAAP: standby letters of credit and financial guarantees, securities lending indemnifications, certain indemnification agreements included within third-party contractual arrangements and certain derivative contracts.

As required by U.S. GAAP, the Firm initially records guarantees at the inception date fair value of the obligation assumed (e.g., the amount of consideration received or the net present value of the premium receivable). For certain types of guarantees, the Firm records this fair value amount in other liabilities with an offsetting entry recorded in cash (for premiums received), or other assets (for premiums receivable). Any premium receivable recorded in other assets is reduced as cash is received under the contract, and the fair value of the liability recorded at inception is amortized into income as lending and deposit-related fees over the life of the guarantee contract. For indemnifications provided in sales agreements, a portion of the sale proceeds is allocated to the guarantee, which adjusts the gain or loss that would otherwise result from the transaction. For these indemnifications, the initial liability is amortized to income as the Firm’s risk is reduced (i.e., over time or when the indemnification expires). Any contingent liability that exists as a result of issuing the guarantee or indemnification is recognized when it becomes probable and reasonably estimable. The contingent portion of the liability is not recognized if the estimated amount is less than the carrying amount of the liability recognized at inception (adjusted for any amortization).

Derivatives Qualifying As Guarantees [Member]

Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]

Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposure, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Derivative guarantees are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value in trading assets and trading liabilities.