Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Aggregate minimum rentals under noncancelable operating leases
2012	$ 97
2013	88
2014	83
2015	73
2016	61
Thereafter	206
Total	608
Operating lease expense	97	103	103
Funding Commitments
Commercial mortgage loan commitments	19	22
Consumer mortgage loan commitments	730	525
Consumer lines of credit	1,685	1,533
Affordable housing Partnerships	267	188
Total funding commitments	2,701	2,268
Minimum interest rate guarantees, high end of the range (as a percent)	5.00%
Damages sought by plaintiffs	$ 20

The amount of the obligation related to Affordable Housing partnerships, which qualify for low income tax credits.

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- Definition

Represents the amount of future commercial mortgage loan commitments of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

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Represents the amount of future consumer lines of credit commitments of the entity.

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Represents the amount of future consumer mortgage loan commitments of the entity.

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Represents the amount of entity's total funding commitments in future.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the high end of the range for the minimum interest rate guarantees in fixed accounts of life and annuity products.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Rental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

+ References

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The total of future contractually required payments on leases defined as operating.

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For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within one year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

+ References

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For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the fifth year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

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For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the fourth year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

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For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the third year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

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For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the second year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

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For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due after the fifth year from the balance sheet date on leases defined as operating.

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