LENDING ACTIVITIES (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Changes in the allowance for losses on Mortgage and other loans receivable
Allowance at the beginning of the year	$ 740	$ 878
Loans charged off	(34)	(34)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off	2	33
Net charge-offs	(32)	(1)
Provision for loan losses	1	(3)
Other	(1)	(31)
Allowance at the end of the period	708	843
Commercial mortgages
Changes in the allowance for losses on Mortgage and other loans receivable
Allowance at the beginning of the year	305	470
Loans charged off	(6)	(29)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off	2	33
Net charge-offs	(4)	4
Provision for loan losses	(5)	(21)
Other		(31)
Allowance at the end of the period	296	422
Allowance related to individually assessed credit losses	60	100
Commercial mortgage loans	442	635
Other Loans
Changes in the allowance for losses on Mortgage and other loans receivable
Allowance at the beginning of the year	435	408
Loans charged off	(28)	(5)
Net charge-offs	(28)	(5)
Provision for loan losses	6	18
Other	(1)
Allowance at the end of the period	$ 412	$ 421

Reflects the net amount of other additions and reductions in the reserve for credit losses.

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Reflects the gross amount charged against earnings during the period as credit losses (bad debt expense) based on review of the loan and lease portfolio and application of the methodology for estimating credit losses.

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- Definition

Reflects a reduction in bad debt expense attributable to collections of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially charged off as bad debts.

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- Definition

Reflects the amount of loans and leases that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities.

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- Definition

The allowance for loan and lease losses represents the reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified loans and leases, as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. For banks, include currently required allocated transfer risk reserves. Include carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations determined to be appropriate.

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

-Publisher OTS

-Name Federal Regulation (FR)

-Number Title 12

-Chapter V

-Section 563c.102

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph a(ii)

-Subsection I

-LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section L

-Subsection 1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 114

-Paragraph 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 9

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph d

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 8, 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

+ Details