Representations and Warranties Obligations and Corporate Guarantees (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Liability for representations and warranties rollforward
Liability for representations and warranties, and corporate guarantees beginning of period	$ 17,780	$ 3,939	$ 5,438	$ 3,507
Additions for new sales	3	6	13	23
Charge-offs	(1,790)	(415)	(4,508)	(1,774)
Provision	278	872	15,328	2,646
Liability for representations and warranties, and corporate guarantees, June 30	16,271	4,402	16,271	4,402
First Lien [Member] \| Unpaid Principle Balance [Member]
Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments
Repurchases	1,034	567	2,228	1,776
Indemnification Payments	1,600	448	2,892	1,249
Total first-lien	2,634	1,015	5,120	3,025
First Lien [Member] \| Cash Paid for Repurchases [Member]
Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments
Repurchases	1,183	621	2,516	1,946
Indemnification Payments	1,057	258	1,756	720
Total first-lien	2,240	879	4,272	2,666
First Lien [Member] \| Loss [Member]
Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments
Total first-lien	1,617	488	2,868	1,577
Loss on First-lien Repurchases	560	230	1,112	857
Loss on First-lien Indemnification Payments	1,057	258	1,756	720
Home Equity [Member] \| Unpaid Principle Balance [Member]
Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments
Repurchases	3	13	21	55
Indemnification Payments	7	29	92	108
Total Home Equity	10	42	113	163
Home Equity [Member] \| Cash Paid for Repurchases [Member]
Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments
Repurchases	3	13	21	61
Indemnification Payments	6	28	93	104
Total Home Equity	9	41	114	165
Home Equity [Member] \| Loss [Member]
Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments
Total Home Equity	6	36	107	141
Loss on Home Equity Repurchases	0	8	14	37
Loss on Home Equity Indemnification Payments	6	28	93	104
Unpaid Principle Balance [Member]
Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments
Total First-lien and Home Equity	2,644	1,057	5,233	3,188
Cash Paid for Repurchases [Member]
Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments
Total First-lien and Home Equity	2,249	920	4,386	2,831
Loss [Member]
Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments
Total First-lien and Home Equity	$ 1,623	$ 524	$ 2,975	$ 1,718

The amount represents the increase in liability for representations and warranties related to new sales based on an assessment of the likelihood of a request being received and approved for repurchase/indemnification.

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge-offs represent the loss recorded upon completion of processing approved repurchase/indemnification where the Corporation has agreed to repurchase the loan and/or indemnify the investor.

+ Details

Name:	bac_ChargeOffs
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the total unpaid principle balance of loans included in repurchase and indemnification claims from the investor or securitization trust for losses they incurred. The repurchase and indemnification payments of first-lien mortgages were primarily with GSEs.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the total loss on loan repurchases and indemnification payments to resolve repurchase claims for first-lien mortgages which primarily related with GSEs and home equity loans related with the monolines.

+ Details

Name:	bac_FirstLienAndHomeEquity
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the total amount paid to resolve repurchase and indemnification claims through repurchase or reimbursement to the investor or securitization trust for losses they incurred. The repurchase and indemnification payments of home equity loans were primarily with monolines.

+ Details

Name:	bac_HomesEquity
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the unpaid principle balance of loans for which the Corporation paid indemnification claims from the investor or securitization trust for losses they incurred. The indemnification payments of first-lien mortgages were primarily with GSEs.

+ Details

Name:	bac_IndemnificationPayments
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the amount of the liability for representations and warranties, and corporate guarantees, which has been established primarily for the third party buyers, and for FNMA and FHLMC.

+ Details

Name:	bac_LiabilityForRepresentationsAndWarrantiesAndCorporateGuarantees
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Loan Repurchases and Indemnification Payments.

+ Details

Name:	bac_LoanRepurchasesAndIndemnificationPaymentsAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the total loss on indemnification payments to resolve repurchase claims for first-lien mortgages which primarily related with GSEs.

+ Details

Name:	bac_LossOnFirstLienIndemnificationPayments
Namespace Prefix:	bac
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the total loss on loan repurchases to resolve repurchase claims for first-lien mortgages which primarily related with GSEs.

+ Details

Name:	bac_LossOnFirstLienRepurchases
Namespace Prefix:	bac
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the total loss on indemnification payments to resolve repurchase claims for home equity mortgages which primarily related with the monolines.

+ Details

Name:	bac_LossOnHomeEquityIndemnificationPayments
Namespace Prefix:	bac
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the total loss on loan repurchases to resolve repurchase claims for home equity mortgages which primarily related with the monolines.

+ Details

Name:	bac_LossOnHomeEquityRepurchases
Namespace Prefix:	bac
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

New Table Two Abstract.

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- Definition

This represents an estimate of possible future losses related to the liability for representations and warranties and corporate guarantees. The amount is recorded as representation and warranty expense for the period in mortgage banking income.

+ Details

Name:	bac_Provision
Namespace Prefix:	bac
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This represents the unpaid principle balance of loans repurchased from the investor or securitization trust for losses they incurred. The repurchase payments of first-lien mortgages were primarily with GSEs.

+ Details

Name:	bac_Repurchases
Namespace Prefix:	bac
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration