Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Standard	Description	Date of Adoption	Effects on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”	Provides guidance for recognizing impairment of most debt instruments measured at amortized cost, including loans and HTM debt securities. Requires estimating current expected credit losses (CECL) over the remaining life of an instrument or a portfolio of instruments with similar risk characteristics based on relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable forecasts. The initial estimate of, and the subsequent changes in, CECL will be recognized as credit loss expense through current earnings and will be reflected as an allowance for credit losses offsetting the carrying value of the financial instrument(s) on the balance sheet. Amends the other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) model for AFS debt securities by requiring the use of an allowance, rather than directly reducing the carrying value of the security, and eliminating consideration of the length of time such security has been in an unrealized loss position as a factor in concluding whether a credit loss exists. Adoption requires modified retrospective transition through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the entity applies the new guidance except that a prospective transition is required for AFS debt securities for which an OTTI has been recognized prior to the effective date.	January 1, 2020	The Company adopted CECL as of January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of CECL resulted in an immaterial increase in the Company’s allowance for credit losses and an increase in the liability for expected credit losses on commitments to extend credit, both primarily related to First Mortgages and HELOCs. The adoption impact was recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings as of the date of adoption.
ASU 2018-15, “Intangibles– Goodwill and Other–Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)”	Aligns the criteria for capitalizing implementation costs for cloud computing arrangements (CCA) that are service contracts with internal-use software that is developed or purchased and CCAs that include an internal-use software license. This guidance requires that the capitalized implementation costs be recognized over the period of the CCA service contract, subject to impairment evaluation on an ongoing basis. The guidance prescribes the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flow classification of the capitalized implementation costs and related amortization expense, and requires additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures. Adoption provides for retrospective or prospective application to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption.	January 1, 2020	The Company adopted this guidance prospectively on January 1, 2020. As such, adoption had no impact on the Company’s financial statements. Historically, Schwab has expensed implementation costs as they are incurred for CCAs that are service contracts. Therefore, adopting this guidance will change the Company’s accounting treatment for these types of implementation costs going forward.

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Standard	Description	Required Date of Adoption	Effects on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2020-4, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting”	Provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying existing accounting guidance to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met, including simplifying accounting analyses for contract modifications. This guidance only applies to the items listed above if they reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform and only for a limited period of time. When elected, the optional expedients for contract modifications must be applied consistently for all eligible contracts or eligible transactions subject to the same accounting guidance that would have otherwise been applied. Once elected, the amendments must be applied prospectively.	N/A. Effective March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022	The Company adopted this guidance prospectively as of October 1, 2020. There was no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon initial adoption.