Variable interest entities and asset securitizations	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Variable interest entities and asset securitizations	19. Variable interest entities and asset securitizations In 2002 and 2003, the Company transferred approximately $1.9 billion of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans to qualified special-purpose trusts in two non-recourse securitization transactions. In exchange for the loans, the Company received cash, no more than 88% of the resulting securities, and the servicing rights to the loans. Through December 31, 2009, all of the retained securities were classified as investment securities available for sale as the qualified special-purpose trusts were not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Effective January 1, 2010, following new accounting guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of both securitization trusts considering its role as servicer and its retained subordinated interests in the trusts. As a result, beginning January 1, 2010, the Company included the one-to-four family residential mortgage loans that were included in the two non-recourse securitization transactions in its consolidated financial statements. The effect of that consolidation on January 1, 2010 was to increase loans receivable by $424 million, decrease the amortized cost of available-for-sale investment securities by $360 million (fair value of $355 million), and increase borrowings by $65 million. The transition adjustment at January 1, 2010 as a result of the Company’s adoption of the new accounting requirements was not significant. In the second quarter of 2010, the 2002 securitization trust was terminated as the Company exercised its right to purchase the underlying mortgage loans pursuant to the clean-up call provisions of the qualified special-purpose trust. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the carrying values of the loans in the remaining securitization trust were $151 million and $196 million, respectively. The outstanding principal amount of mortgage-backed securities issued by the qualified special purpose trust that was held by parties unrelated to M&T at December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $23 million and $30 million, respectively. Because the transaction was non-recourse, the Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its association with the trust at December 31, 2012 is limited to realizing the carrying value of the loans less the amount of the mortgage-backed securities held by third parties. As described in note 9, M&T has issued junior subordinated debentures payable to various trusts that have issued Capital Securities. M&T owns the common securities of those trust entities. The Company is not considered to be the primary beneficiary of those entities and, accordingly, the trusts are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company included the Junior Subordinated Debentures as “long-term borrowings” in its consolidated balance sheet. The Company has recognized $34 million in other assets for its “investment” in the common securities of the trusts that will be concomitantly repaid to M&T by the respective trust from the proceeds of M&T’s repayment of the junior subordinated debentures associated with preferred capital securities described in note 9. The Company has invested as a limited partner in various partnerships that collectively had total assets of approximately $1.5 billion at December 31, 2012 and $1.4 billion at Deecember 31, 2011. Those partnerships generally construct or acquire properties for which the investing partners are eligible to receive certain federal income tax credits in accordance with government guidelines. Such investments may also provide tax deductible losses to the partners. The partnership investments also assist the Company in achieving its community reinvestment initiatives. As a limited partner, there is no recourse to the Company by creditors of the partnerships. However, the tax credits that result from the Company’s investments in such partnerships are generally subject to recapture should a partnership fail to comply with the respective government regulations. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss of its investments in such partnerships was $270 million, including $71 million of unfunded commitments, at December 31, 2012 and $271 million, including $75 million of unfunded commitments, at December 31, 2011. The Company has not provided financial or other support to the partnerships that was not contractually required. Management currently estimates that no material losses are probable as a result of the Company’s involvement with such entities. The Company, in its position as limited partner, does not direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the partnerships and, therefore, in accordance with the accounting provisions for variable interest entities, the partnership entities are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

19. Variable interest entities and asset securitizations

In 2002 and 2003, the Company transferred approximately $1.9 billion of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans to qualified special-purpose trusts in two non-recourse securitization transactions. In exchange for the loans, the Company received cash, no more than 88% of the resulting securities, and the servicing rights to the loans. Through December 31, 2009, all of the retained securities were classified as investment securities available for sale as the qualified special-purpose trusts were not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Effective January 1, 2010, following new accounting guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of both securitization trusts considering its role as servicer and its retained subordinated interests in the trusts. As a result, beginning January 1, 2010, the Company included the one-to-four family residential mortgage loans that were included in the two non-recourse securitization transactions in its consolidated financial statements. The effect of that consolidation on January 1, 2010 was to increase loans receivable by $424 million, decrease the amortized cost of available-for-sale investment securities by $360 million (fair value of $355 million), and increase borrowings by $65 million. The transition adjustment at January 1, 2010 as a result of the Company’s adoption of the new accounting requirements was not significant. In the second quarter of 2010, the 2002 securitization trust was terminated as the Company exercised its right to purchase the underlying mortgage loans pursuant to the clean-up call provisions of the qualified special-purpose trust. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the carrying values of the loans in the remaining securitization trust were $151 million and $196 million, respectively. The outstanding principal amount of mortgage-backed securities issued by the qualified special purpose trust that was held by parties unrelated to M&T at December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $23 million and $30 million, respectively. Because the transaction was non-recourse, the Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its association with the trust at December 31, 2012 is limited to realizing the carrying value of the loans less the amount of the mortgage-backed securities held by third parties.

As described in note 9, M&T has issued junior subordinated debentures payable to various trusts that have issued Capital Securities. M&T owns the common securities of those trust entities. The Company is not considered to be the primary beneficiary of those entities and, accordingly, the trusts are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company included the Junior Subordinated Debentures as “long-term borrowings” in its consolidated balance sheet. The Company has recognized $34 million in other assets for its “investment” in the common securities of the trusts that will be concomitantly repaid to M&T by the respective trust from the proceeds of M&T’s repayment of the junior subordinated debentures associated with preferred capital securities described in note 9.

The Company has invested as a limited partner in various partnerships that collectively had total assets of approximately $1.5 billion at December 31, 2012 and $1.4 billion at Deecember 31, 2011. Those partnerships generally construct or acquire properties for which the investing partners are eligible to receive certain federal income tax credits in accordance with government guidelines. Such investments may also provide tax deductible losses to the partners. The partnership investments also assist the Company in achieving its community reinvestment initiatives. As a limited partner, there is no recourse to the Company by creditors of the partnerships. However, the tax credits that result from the Company’s investments in such partnerships are generally subject to recapture should a partnership fail to comply with the respective government regulations. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss of its investments in such partnerships was $270 million, including $71 million of unfunded commitments, at December 31, 2012 and $271 million, including $75 million of unfunded commitments, at December 31, 2011. The Company has not provided financial or other support to the partnerships that was not contractually required. Management currently estimates that no material losses are probable as a result of the Company’s involvement with such entities. The Company, in its position as limited partner, does not direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the partnerships and, therefore, in accordance with the accounting provisions for variable interest entities, the partnership entities are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.