Variable interest entities and asset securitizations	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Text Block [Abstract]
Variable interest entities and asset securitizations	11. Variable interest entities and asset securitizations As described in note 5, 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 June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company included the junior subordinated debentures as “long-term borrowings” in its consolidated balance sheet and recognized $24 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 5. 11. Variable interest entities and asset securitizations, continued The Company has invested as a limited partner in various partnerships that collectively had total assets of approximately $1.1 billion and $1.0 billion at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. 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 $331 million, including $122 million of unfunded commitments, at June 30, 2017 and $294 million, including $102 million of unfunded commitments, at December 31, 2016. Contingent commitments to provide additional capital contributions to these partnerships were not material at June 30, 2017. 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. The Company’s investment cost is amortized to income taxes in the consolidated statement of income as tax credits and other tax benefits resulting from deductible losses associated with the projects are received. The Company amortized $11 million and $24 million of its investments in qualified affordable housing projects to income tax expense during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and recognized $15 million and $31 million of tax credits and other tax benefits during those respective periods. Similarly, for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016, the Company amortized $11 million and $22 million, respectively, of its investments in qualified affordable housing projects to income tax expense and recognized $14 million and $28 million of tax credits and other tax benefits during those respective periods. The Company serves as investment advisor for certain registered money-market funds. The Company has no explicit arrangement to provide support to those funds, but may waive portions of its allowable management fees as a result of market conditions.

11. Variable interest entities and asset securitizations

As described in note 5, 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 June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company included the junior subordinated debentures as “long-term borrowings” in its consolidated balance sheet and recognized $24 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 5.

11. Variable interest entities and asset securitizations, continued

The Company has invested as a limited partner in various partnerships that collectively had total assets of approximately $1.1 billion and $1.0 billion at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. 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 $331 million, including $122 million of unfunded commitments, at June 30, 2017 and $294 million, including $102 million of unfunded commitments, at December 31, 2016. Contingent commitments to provide additional capital contributions to these partnerships were not material at June 30, 2017. 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. The Company’s investment cost is amortized to income taxes in the consolidated statement of income as tax credits and other tax benefits resulting from deductible losses associated with the projects are received. The Company amortized $11 million and $24 million of its investments in qualified affordable housing projects to income tax expense during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and recognized $15 million and $31 million of tax credits and other tax benefits during those respective periods. Similarly, for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016, the Company amortized $11 million and $22 million, respectively, of its investments in qualified affordable housing projects to income tax expense and recognized $14 million and $28 million of tax credits and other tax benefits during those respective periods.

The Company serves as investment advisor for certain registered money-market funds. The Company has no explicit arrangement to provide support to those funds, but may waive portions of its allowable management fees as a result of market conditions.