Financial Derivatives (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum length of time over which forecasted loan cash flows are hedged	8 years
Fair value of written caps and floors liability	$ 2,000,000	$ 6,000,000
Cash and securities held under agreements that provide for exchanges of marketable securities or cash to collateralize either party's positions	1,200,000,000
Cash pledged under agreements that provide for exchanges of marketable securities or cash to collateralize either party's positions	1,000,000,000
Aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features	1,100,000,000
Collateral posted on derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features	1,000,000,000
Maximum amount of collateral PNC would have been required to post if the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements had been triggered	100,000,000
Minimum term of Risk Participation Agreements, years	1 year
Exposure from Risk Participation Agreements Based On The Fair Value Of The Underlying Swaps	157,000,000	145,000,000
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	7,696,000,000	7,606,000,000
Maximum term of Risk Participation Agreements, years	24 years
Underlying Other Guarantor [Member] \| Credit Default Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
The maximum amount required to be paid related to sold credit default swap protection	0	94,000,000
Fair Value Hedging [Member] \| Other Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
The ineffective portion of the change in value of our fair value hedge derivatives	(42,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Forward Contracts [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Pretax portion	74,000,000
Aftertax portion	48,000,000
Visa Class B Swap [Member] \| Other Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	22,000,000
Scenario, Plan [Member] \| Swap [Member] \| Interest Rate Contracts [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Pretax portion	244,000,000
Aftertax portion	$ 158,000,000

Deposits pledged for securities loaned at carrying value

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- Definition

Derivative liability not designated as hedging instrument written caps and floors fair value

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Exposure from risk participation agreements based on the fair value of the underlying swaps

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Minimum period of time covered by credit risk derivative contracts.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Expected pre tax reclassification adjustment for accumulated gains and losses from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges included in accumulated comprehensive income that was realized in net income during the period. A cash flow hedge is a hedge of the exposure to variability in the cash flows of a recognized asset or liability or a forecasted transaction that is attributable to a particular risk.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Expected net of tax effect of the reclassification adjustment for accumulated gains and losses from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges included in accumulated comprehensive income that was realized in net income during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The aggregate fair value of additional assets that would be required to be posted as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features if the credit-risk-related contingent features were triggered at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4H

-Subparagraph (e)

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- Definition

The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features.

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-Number 133

-Paragraph 44D

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- Definition

The amount of cash received as security in return for loaning securities to another party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

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- Definition

Fair value of derivative liability, presented on a gross basis even when the derivative instrument is subject to master netting arrangements and qualifies for net presentation in the statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 205G

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-Paragraph 44C

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- Definition

The portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments representing (a) the amount of the hedge ineffectiveness and (b) the amount, if any, excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 25

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(1),(2)

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-Paragraph 44C

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- Definition

The aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument.

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- Definition

Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

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- Definition

Maximum amount the entity would be obligated to pay on the credit risk derivatives upon occurrence of a credit event.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Paragraph 44

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- Definition

Maximum period covered by credit risk derivative contract, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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