LENDING ACTIVITIES (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 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	(176)	(86)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off	6	36
Net charge-offs	(170)	(50)
Provision for loan losses	(75)	(12)
Other	(7)	(55)
Allowance at the end of the period	488	761
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	(12)	(40)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off	6	36
Net charge-offs	(6)	(4)
Provision for loan losses	(106)	(62)
Other		(55)
Allowance at the end of the period	193	349
Allowance related to individually assessed credit losses	38	105
Commercial mortgage loans	332	570
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	(164)	(46)
Net charge-offs	(164)	(46)
Provision for loan losses	31	50
Other	(7)
Allowance at the end of the period	$ 295	$ 412

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

Amount of allowance to cover probable credit losses on loans and leases. Includes carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations. Excludes allowance for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: 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 2: 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

Reference 3: 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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher OTS

-Name Federal Regulation (FR)

-Number Title 12

-Section 563c.102

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph a(ii)

-Chapter V

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph d

-Article 9

Reference 6: 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 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section L

-Subsection 1

+ Details