Credit Quality of Residential Real Estate Mortgages and HELOCs by Reviewing FICO Scores at Origination, Current FICO Scores, Loan-To-Value Ratio (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	$ 10,159	[1]	$ 9,866	[1]
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	5,817
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Year of origination Pre 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	489
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	430
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2009
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	354
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2010
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,128
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2011
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,606
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2012
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,810
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	10
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	96
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,061
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	4,650
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	56
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	163
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	862
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	4,736
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	3,807
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,994
Residential real estate mortgages, originated and purchased first mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	16
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	165
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Year of origination Pre 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	57
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	6
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2009
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	6
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2010
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	14
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2011
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	62
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2012
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	20
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	18
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	40
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	106
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	6
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	11
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	39
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	109
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	103
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	55
Residential real estate mortgages, other purchased first mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	7
Residential real estate mortgages
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	5,982		5,596
Weighted Average Updated FICO	769		768
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.39%		0.50%
Residential real estate mortgages | Year of origination Pre 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	546		629
Residential real estate mortgages | Year of origination 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	436		546
Residential real estate mortgages | Year of origination 2009
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	360		563
Residential real estate mortgages | Year of origination 2010
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,142		1,774
Residential real estate mortgages | Year of origination 2011
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,668		2,084
Residential real estate mortgages | Year of origination 2012
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,830
Residential real estate mortgages | Origination FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	11		11
Residential real estate mortgages | Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	114		127
Residential real estate mortgages | Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,101		1,073
Residential real estate mortgages | Origination FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	4,756		4,385
Residential real estate mortgages | Updated FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	62		62
Residential real estate mortgages | Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	174		173
Residential real estate mortgages | Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	901		875
Residential real estate mortgages | Updated FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	4,845		4,486
Residential real estate mortgages | Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	3,910		3,598
Residential real estate mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	2,049		1,964
Residential real estate mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	23		34
Residential real estate mortgages | Estimated Current LTV 70 Percent And Below
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	4,024		3,200
Weighted Average Updated FICO	774		773
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.26%		0.27%
Residential real estate mortgages | Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 70% through 90%
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,557		1,764
Weighted Average Updated FICO	764		766
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.41%		0.41%
Residential real estate mortgages | Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 90% through 100%
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	171		241
Weighted Average Updated FICO	748		758
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	1.31%		1.33%
Residential real estate mortgages | Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 100%
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	230		391
Weighted Average Updated FICO	748		748
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	1.96%		2.34%
Home equity lines of credit
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	3,346		3,509
Weighted Average Updated FICO	769		769
Utilization Rate	42.00%	[2]	43.00%	[2]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.26%		0.25%
Home equity lines of credit | Year of origination Pre 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,220		1,306
Home equity lines of credit | Year of origination 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,180		1,262
Home equity lines of credit | Year of origination 2009
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	362		412
Home equity lines of credit | Year of origination 2010
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	270		311
Home equity lines of credit | Year of origination 2011
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	214		218
Home equity lines of credit | Year of origination 2012
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	100
Home equity lines of credit | Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	24		24
Home equity lines of credit | Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	643		667
Home equity lines of credit | Origination FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	2,679		2,818
Home equity lines of credit | Updated FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	47		49
Home equity lines of credit | Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	111		112
Home equity lines of credit | Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	505		520
Home equity lines of credit | Updated FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	2,683		2,828
Home equity lines of credit | Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	2,263		2,378
Home equity lines of credit | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,056		1,091
Home equity lines of credit | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	27		40
Home equity lines of credit | Estimated Current LTV 70 Percent And Below
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,704		1,561
Weighted Average Updated FICO	775		774
Utilization Rate	37.00%	[2]	37.00%	[2]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.07%		0.09%
Home equity lines of credit | Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 70% through 90%
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	1,013		1,099
Weighted Average Updated FICO	767		769
Utilization Rate	47.00%	[2]	46.00%	[2]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.33%		0.26%
Home equity lines of credit | Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 90% through 100%
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	265		328
Weighted Average Updated FICO	762		765
Utilization Rate	54.00%	[2]	54.00%	[2]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.40%		0.16%
Home equity lines of credit | Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 100%
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients	364		521
Weighted Average Updated FICO	754		755
Utilization Rate	61.00%	[2]	58.00%	[2]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.83%		0.75%
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			5,437
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Year of origination Pre 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			569
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Year of origination 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			538
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Year of origination 2009
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			553
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Year of origination 2010
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			1,757
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Year of origination 2011
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			2,020
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Origination FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			9
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			108
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			1,030
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			4,290
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Updated FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			55
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			162
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			831
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			4,389
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			3,507
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			1,904
Residential real estate mortgages, originated first mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			26
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			159
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Year of origination Pre 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			60
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2008
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			8
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2009
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			10
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2010
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			17
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Year of origination 2011
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			64
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			2
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			19
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			43
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Origination FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			95
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score Below 620
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			7
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			11
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			44
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Updated FICO Score 740 And Above
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			97
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			91
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			60
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages | Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans to banking clients			$ 8

[1] All loans are evaluated for impairment by loan segment.

[2] The Utilization Rate is calculated using the outstanding HELOC balance divided by the associated total line of credit.