Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Nature of Operations	Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company. We provide banking, insurance, trust and investments, mortgage banking, investment banking, retail banking, brokerage, and consumer and commercial finance through banking stores, the internet and other distribution channels to consumers, businesses and institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in foreign countries. When we refer to “Wells Fargo,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” we mean Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries (consolidated). Wells Fargo & Company (the Parent) is a financial holding company and a bank holding company.
Use of Estimates	Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and practices in the financial services industry. For discussion of our significant accounting policies, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (2013 Form 10-K). There were no material changes to these policies in the first nine months of 2014. To prepare the financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management must make estimates based on assumptions about future economic and market conditions (for example, unemployment, market liquidity, real estate prices, etc.) that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and income and expenses during the reporting period and the related disclosures. Although our estimates contemplate current conditions and how we expect them to change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be worse than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition. Management has made significant estimates in several areas, including allowance for credit losses and purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans (Note 5 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses)), valuations of residential mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) (Note 7 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) and Note 8 (Mortgage Banking Activities)) and financial instruments (Note 13 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities)), liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses (Note 8 (Mortgage Banking Activities)) and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Comparability of Prior Year Financial Data	These unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q. The results of operations in the interim financial statements do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for the full year. The interim financial information should be read in conjunction with our 2013 Form 10-K.
Accounting for Certain Factored Loan Receivable Arrangements	Accounting for Certain Factored Loan Receivable Arrangements The Company determined that certain factoring arrangements previously included within commercial loans, which were recorded with a corresponding obligation in other liabilities, did not qualify as loan purchases under Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) Topic 860 (Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets) based on interpretations of the specific arrangements. Accordingly, we revised our commercial loan balances for year-end 2012 and each of the quarters in 2013 in order to present the Company's lending trends on a comparable basis over this period. This revision, which resulted in a reduction to total commercial loans and a corresponding decrease to other liabilities, did not impact the Company's consolidated net income or total cash flows. We reduced our commercial loans by $3.5 billion, $3.2 billion, $2.1 billion, $1.6 billion, and $1.2 billion at December 31, September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively, which represented less than 1% of total commercial loans and less than 0.5% of our total loan portfolio. We also appropriately revised other affected financial information, including financial guarantees and financial ratios, to reflect this revision.
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2014	Accounting Standards Adopted in 2014 In first quarter 2014, we adopted the following new accounting guidance: Accounting Standards Update (ASU or Update) 2014-04, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure; ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists; and ASU 2013-08, Financial Services – Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to the Scope, Measurement and Disclosure Requirements.
Private Share Repurchases	Private Share Repurchases From time to time we enter into private forward repurchase transactions with unrelated third parties to complement our open-market common stock repurchase strategies, to allow us to manage our share repurchases in a manner consistent with our capital plans, currently submitted under the 2014 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR), and to provide an economic benefit to the Company. Our payments to the counterparties for these contracts are recorded in permanent equity in the quarter paid and are not subject to re-measurement. The classification of the up-front payments as permanent equity assures that we have appropriate repurchase timing consistent with our 2014 capital plan, which contemplated a fixed dollar amount available per quarter for share repurchases pursuant to Federal Reserve Board (FRB) supervisory guidance. In return, the counterparty agrees to deliver a variable number of shares based on a per share discount to the volume-weighted average stock price over the contract period. There are no scenarios where the contracts would not either physically settle in shares or allow us to choose the settlement method. Our total number of outstanding shares of common stock is not reduced until settlement of the private share repurchase contract. In July 2014, we entered into a $1.0 billion private forward repurchase contract with an unrelated third party. This contract settled in October 2014 for 19.8 million shares of common stock. At September 30, 2013, we had a $400 million private repurchase contract outstanding that settled in December 2013 for 9.6 million shares of common stock.
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events We have evaluated the effects of events that have occurred subsequent to September 30, 2014, and there have been no material events that would require recognition in our third quarter 2014 consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the Notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2014-04, Receivables: Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors: Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosures [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2014	ASU 2014-04 clarifies the timing of when a creditor is considered to have taken physical possession of residential real estate collateral for a consumer mortgage loan, resulting in the reclassification of the loan receivable to real estate owned. A creditor has taken physical possession of the property when either (1) the creditor obtains legal title through foreclosure, or (2) the borrower transfers all interests in the property to the creditor via a deed in lieu of foreclosure or a similar legal agreement. The Update also requires disclosure of the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in residential real estate mortgage loans that are in process of foreclosure. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2014 with prospective application. Our adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements as this guidance was consistent with our prior practice. See Note 5 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) for the new disclosures.
ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes: Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2014	ASU 2013-11 eliminates diversity in practice as it provides guidance on financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2014 with prospective application to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. This Update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2013-08, Financial Services: Investment Companies: Amendments to the Scope, Measurement and Disclosure Requirements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2014	ASU 2013-08 amends the scope, measurement and disclosure requirements for investment companies. The Update changes criteria companies use to assess whether an entity is an investment company. In addition, investment companies must measure noncontrolling ownership interests in other investment companies at fair value rather than using the equity method of accounting. This Update also requires new disclosures, including information about changes, if any, in an entity's status as an investment company and information about financial support provided or contractually required to be provided by an investment company to any of its investees. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2014. The Update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, as our existing practice complies with the requirements.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company. We provide banking, insurance, trust and investments, mortgage banking, investment banking, retail banking, brokerage, and consumer and commercial finance through banking stores, the internet and other distribution channels to consumers, businesses and institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in foreign countries. When we refer to “Wells Fargo,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” we mean Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries (consolidated). Wells Fargo & Company (the Parent) is a financial holding company and a bank holding company.

Use of Estimates

Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and practices in the financial services industry. For discussion of our significant accounting policies, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (2013 Form 10-K). There were no material changes to these policies in the first nine months of 2014. To prepare the financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management must make estimates based on assumptions about future economic and market conditions (for example, unemployment, market liquidity, real estate prices, etc.) that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and income and expenses during the reporting period and the related disclosures. Although our estimates contemplate current conditions and how we expect them to change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be worse than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition. Management has made significant estimates in several areas, including allowance for credit losses and purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans (Note 5 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses)), valuations of residential mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) (Note 7 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) and Note 8 (Mortgage Banking Activities)) and financial instruments (Note 13 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities)), liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses (Note 8 (Mortgage Banking Activities)) and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Comparability of Prior Year Financial Data

These unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q. The results of operations in the interim financial statements do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for the full year. The interim financial information should be read in conjunction with our 2013 Form 10-K.

Accounting for Certain Factored Loan Receivable Arrangements

The Company determined that certain factoring arrangements previously included within commercial loans, which were recorded with a corresponding obligation in other liabilities, did not qualify as loan purchases under Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) Topic 860 (Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets) based on interpretations of the specific arrangements. Accordingly, we revised our commercial loan balances for year-end 2012 and each of the quarters in 2013 in order to present the Company's lending trends on a comparable basis over this period. This revision, which resulted in a reduction to total commercial loans and a corresponding decrease to other liabilities, did not impact the Company's consolidated net income or total cash flows. We reduced our commercial loans by $3.5 billion, $3.2 billion, $2.1 billion, $1.6 billion, and $1.2 billion at December 31, September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively, which represented less than 1% of total commercial loans and less than 0.5% of our total loan portfolio. We also appropriately revised other affected financial information, including financial guarantees and financial ratios, to reflect this revision.

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2014

In first quarter 2014, we adopted the following new accounting guidance:

Accounting Standards Update (ASU or Update) 2014-04, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure;

ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists; and

ASU 2013-08, Financial Services – Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to the Scope, Measurement and Disclosure Requirements.

Private Share Repurchases

From time to time we enter into private forward repurchase transactions with unrelated third parties to complement our open-market common stock repurchase strategies, to allow us to manage our share repurchases in a manner consistent with our capital plans, currently submitted under the 2014 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR), and to provide an economic benefit to the Company.

Our payments to the counterparties for these contracts are recorded in permanent equity in the quarter paid and are not subject to re-measurement. The classification of the up-front payments as permanent equity assures that we have appropriate repurchase timing consistent with our 2014 capital plan, which contemplated a fixed dollar amount available per quarter for share repurchases pursuant to Federal Reserve Board (FRB) supervisory guidance. In return, the counterparty agrees to deliver a variable number of shares based on a per share discount to the volume-weighted average stock price over the contract period. There are no scenarios where the contracts would not either physically settle in shares or allow us to choose the settlement method. Our total number of outstanding shares of common stock is not reduced until settlement of the private share repurchase contract.

In July 2014, we entered into a $1.0 billion private forward repurchase contract with an unrelated third party. This contract settled in October 2014 for 19.8 million shares of common stock. At September 30, 2013, we had a $400 million private repurchase contract outstanding that settled in December 2013 for 9.6 million shares of common stock.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events We have evaluated the effects of events that have occurred subsequent to September 30, 2014, and there have been no material events that would require recognition in our third quarter 2014 consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the Notes to the consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2014-04, Receivables: Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors: Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosures [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2014

ASU 2014-04 clarifies the timing of when a creditor is considered to have taken physical possession of residential real estate collateral for a consumer mortgage loan, resulting in the reclassification of the loan receivable to real estate owned. A creditor has taken physical possession of the property when either (1) the creditor obtains legal title through foreclosure, or (2) the borrower transfers all interests in the property to the creditor via a deed in lieu of foreclosure or a similar legal agreement. The Update also requires disclosure of the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in residential real estate mortgage loans that are in process of foreclosure. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2014 with prospective application. Our adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements as this guidance was consistent with our prior practice. See Note 5 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) for the new disclosures.

ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes: Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2014

ASU 2013-11 eliminates diversity in practice as it provides guidance on financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2014 with prospective application to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. This Update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2013-08, Financial Services: Investment Companies: Amendments to the Scope, Measurement and Disclosure Requirements [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2014

ASU 2013-08 amends the scope, measurement and disclosure requirements for investment companies. The Update changes criteria companies use to assess whether an entity is an investment company. In addition, investment companies must measure noncontrolling ownership interests in other investment companies at fair value rather than using the equity method of accounting. This Update also requires new disclosures, including information about changes, if any, in an entity's status as an investment company and information about financial support provided or contractually required to be provided by an investment company to any of its investees. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2014. The Update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, as our existing practice complies with the requirements.