Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
US GAAP Based, Net Interest Income	$ 535		$ 543	$ 1,122		$ 1,173
US GAAP Based, Other Operating Income	863		532	1,230		1,123
US GAAP Based, Total operating income	1,398		1,075	2,352		2,296
US GAAP Based, Loan impairment charges	89		95	89		93
US GAAP Based, Operating Income, Net	1,309		980	2,263		2,203
US GAAP Based, Operating Expenses	1,551		890	2,407		1,821
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense	(242)		90	(144)		382
US GAAP Based, Total Assets	200,427	[1]	178,623	200,427	[1]	178,623	210,280	[1]
US GAAP Based, Total loans, net	55,445	[1]	50,230	55,445	[1]	50,230	51,124	[1]
US GAAP Based, Goodwill	2,228	[1]	2,626	2,228	[1]	2,626	2,228	[1]
US GAAP Based, Deposits	123,227	[1]	130,655	123,227	[1]	130,655	139,729	[1]
RBWM [Member]
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
IFRS Based, Net Interest Income	197		249	444		497
IFRS Based, Other Operating Income	262		130	359		189
IFRS Based, Total operating income	459		379	803		686
IFRS Based, Loan impairment charges	61		58	102		90
IFRS Based, Operating Income, Net	398		321	701		596
IFRS Based, Operating Expenses	321		369	642		819
IFRS Based, Profit Before Income Tax Expense	77		(48)	59		(223)
IFRS Based, Total Assets	25,654		28,416	25,654		28,416
IFRS Based, Total loans, net	16,312		17,397	16,312		17,397
IFRS Based, Goodwill	581		876	581		876
IFRS Based, Deposits	36,770		47,981	36,770		47,981
CMB [Member]
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
IFRS Based, Net Interest Income	156		172	332		347
IFRS Based, Other Operating Income	301		106
US GAAP Based, Other Operating Income				405		211
IFRS Based, Total operating income	457		278	727		558
IFRS Based, Loan impairment charges	8		42	(9)		12
IFRS Based, Operating Income, Net	449		236	736		546
IFRS Based, Operating Expenses	190		200	375		376
IFRS Based, Profit Before Income Tax Expense	259		36	361		170
IFRS Based, Total Assets	23,221		19,954	23,221		19,954
IFRS Based, Total loans, net	18,080		15,137	18,080		15,137
IFRS Based, Goodwill	357		368	357		368
IFRS Based, Deposits	21,125		24,039	21,125		24,039
GBM [Member]
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
IFRS Based, Net Interest Income	167		130	310		262
IFRS Based, Other Operating Income	165		272	491		689
IFRS Based, Total operating income	332		402	801		951
IFRS Based, Loan impairment charges	23		(10)	(8)		(27)
IFRS Based, Operating Income, Net	309		412	809		978
IFRS Based, Operating Expenses	236		239	495		465
IFRS Based, Profit Before Income Tax Expense	73		173	314		513
IFRS Based, Total Assets	219,724		187,050	219,724		187,050
IFRS Based, Total loans, net	33,386		23,025	33,386		23,025
IFRS Based, Goodwill	480		480	480		480
IFRS Based, Deposits	42,071		42,416	42,071		42,416
PB [Member]
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
IFRS Based, Net Interest Income	47		44	92		90
IFRS Based, Other Operating Income	28		34	57		70
IFRS Based, Total operating income	75		78	149		160
IFRS Based, Loan impairment charges	(3)		(1)	(5)		(10)
IFRS Based, Operating Income, Net	78		79	154		170
IFRS Based, Operating Expenses	63		65	121		129
IFRS Based, Profit Before Income Tax Expense	15		14	33		41
IFRS Based, Total Assets	6,860		6,282	6,860		6,282
IFRS Based, Total loans, net	5,081		4,343	5,081		4,343
IFRS Based, Goodwill	326		326	326		326
IFRS Based, Deposits	12,727		12,154	12,727		12,154
Other [Member]
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
IFRS Based, Net Interest Income	(3)		(3)	(10)		(67)
IFRS Based, Other Operating Income	131		19	(140)		(17)
IFRS Based, Total operating income	128		16	(150)		(84)
IFRS Based, Operating Income, Net	128		16	(150)		(84)
IFRS Based, Operating Expenses	723		20	742		37
IFRS Based, Profit Before Income Tax Expense	(595)		(4)	(892)		(121)
IFRS Based, Total Assets	92		92	92		92
Adjustments/Reconciling Items [Member]
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
IFRS Based, Net Interest Income	(1)		(7)	(7)		(15)
IFRS Based, Other Operating Income	1		7	7		15
Total [Member]
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
IFRS Based, Net Interest Income	563		585	1,151		1,114
IFRS Based, Other Operating Income	888		568	1,179		1,157
IFRS Based, Total operating income	1,451		1,153	2,330		2,271
IFRS Based, Loan impairment charges	89		89	80		65
IFRS Based, Operating Income, Net	1,362		1,064	2,250		2,206
IFRS Based, Operating Expenses	1,533		893	2,375		1,826
IFRS Based, Profit Before Income Tax Expense	(171)		171	(125)		380
IFRS Based, Total Assets	275,551		241,794	275,551		241,794
IFRS Based, Total loans, net	72,859		59,902	72,859		59,902
IFRS Based, Goodwill	1,744		2,050	1,744		2,050
IFRS Based, Deposits	112,693		126,590	112,693		126,590
IFRS Adjustments [Member]
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
IFRS Based, Net Interest Income	(36)		(88)	(51)		(33)
IFRS Based, Other Operating Income	(32)		(9)	36		24
IFRS Based, Total operating income	(68)		(97)	(15)		(9)
IFRS Based, Loan impairment charges	7		(5)	4		5
IFRS Based, Operating Income, Net	(75)		(92)	(19)		(14)
IFRS Based, Operating Expenses	(4)		(11)			(16)
IFRS Based, Profit Before Income Tax Expense	(71)		(81)	(19)		2
IFRS Based, Total Assets	(75,139)		(62,989)	(75,139)		(62,989)
IFRS Based, Total loans, net	(1,995)		(3,105)	(1,995)		(3,105)
IFRS Based, Goodwill	484		576	484		576
IFRS Based, Deposits	(6,229)		(3,477)	(6,229)		(3,477)
IFRS Reclassifications [Member]
Summary on Reconciliation of Results Under IFRS to US GAAP
IFRS Based, Net Interest Income	8		46	22		92
IFRS Based, Other Operating Income	7		(27)	15		(58)
IFRS Based, Total operating income	15		19	37		34
IFRS Based, Loan impairment charges	(7)		11	5		23
IFRS Based, Operating Income, Net	22		8	32		11
IFRS Based, Operating Expenses	22		8	32		11
IFRS Based, Total Assets	15		(182)	15		(182)
IFRS Based, Total loans, net	(15,419)		(6,567)	(15,419)		(6,567)
IFRS Based, Deposits	$ 16,763		$ 7,542	$ 16,763		$ 7,542

[1] The following table summarizes assets and liabilities related to variable interest entities ("VIEs") as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 which are consolidated on our balance sheet. Assets and liabilities exclude intercompany balances that eliminate in consolidation.