Loan Sale and Servicing Activities and Variable Interest Entities (Non-Consolidated VIEs) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Aggregate Assets	$ 125,126	$ 125,671
Aggregate Liabilities	121,581	122,660
PNC Risk of Loss	8,480	7,583
Carrying Value of Assets	8,480	7,583
Carrying Value of Liabilities	571	451
Tax Credit Investments And Other [Member]
Aggregate Assets	5,650	5,395
Aggregate Liabilities	2,105	2,384
PNC Risk of Loss	1,035	837
Carrying Value of Assets	1,035	837
Carrying Value of Liabilities	479	352
Tax Credit Investments And Other [Member] \| Equity Investments [Member]
Carrying Value of Assets	1	837
Tax Credit Investments And Other [Member] \| Loans Held For Sale [Member]
Carrying Value of Assets	4
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securitizations [Member]
Aggregate Assets	73,628	75,961
Aggregate Liabilities	73,628	75,961
PNC Risk of Loss	1,738	2,079
Carrying Value of Assets	1,738	2,079
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securitizations [Member]
Aggregate Assets	45,848	44,315
Aggregate Liabilities	45,848	44,315
PNC Risk of Loss	5,707	4,667
Carrying Value of Assets	5,707	4,667
Carrying Value of Liabilities	$ 92	$ 99

Aggregate assets of variable interest entities

No definition available.

Name:	pnc_VariableInterestEntitiesAggregateAssets
Namespace Prefix:	pnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate liabilities of variable interest entities

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pnc_VariableInterestEntitiesAggregateLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	pnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph b

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5728-111685

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5747-111685

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS140-4/FIN46(R)

-Paragraph C6

-Subparagraph b

-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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of the assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of the liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant