LOANS (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Loans receivable
Loans, net of unearned income	$ 658,423,000,000	$ 658,423,000,000	$ 647,242,000,000
Loans at fair value	5,359,000,000	5,359,000,000	5,265,000,000
Residential First Mortgage Loans | Loan to Values (LTVs)
Residential Mortgage Loan to Values
Loan, credit indicator ratio less than or equal to 80%	41,550,000,000	41,550,000,000	36,422,000,000
Loan, credit indicator ratio greater than 80% but less than or equal to 100%	19,298,000,000	19,298,000,000	21,146,000,000
Loan, credit indicator ratio greater than 100%	16,243,000,000	16,243,000,000	24,425,000,000
Residential First Mortgage Loans | Consumer Credit Scores (FICOs)
Consumer Loans Credit Quality Indicators, FICO score
Loan, credit score less than 620	17,497,000,000	17,497,000,000	20,370,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 620 but less than 660	8,270,000,000	8,270,000,000	8,815,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 660	51,332,000,000	51,332,000,000	52,839,000,000
Home equity loans | Loan to Values (LTVs)
Residential Mortgage Loan to Values
Loan, credit indicator ratio less than or equal to 80%	13,020,000,000	13,020,000,000	12,724,000,000
Loan, credit indicator ratio greater than 80% but less than or equal to 100%	9,939,000,000	9,939,000,000	10,232,000,000
Loan, credit indicator ratio greater than 100%	13,621,000,000	13,621,000,000	18,226,000,000
Home equity loans | Consumer Credit Scores (FICOs)
Consumer Loans Credit Quality Indicators, FICO score
Loan, credit score less than 620	5,646,000,000	5,646,000,000	6,783,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 620 but less than 660	3,295,000,000	3,295,000,000	3,703,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 660	27,820,000,000	27,820,000,000	30,884,000,000
Credit cards | Consumer Credit Scores (FICOs)
Consumer Loans Credit Quality Indicators, FICO score
Loan, credit score less than 620	7,790,000,000	7,790,000,000	9,621,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 620 but less than 660	10,128,000,000	10,128,000,000	10,905,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 660	87,334,000,000	87,334,000,000	93,234,000,000
Installment and other | Consumer Credit Scores (FICOs)
Consumer Loans Credit Quality Indicators, FICO score
Loan, credit score less than 620	4,422,000,000	4,422,000,000	3,789,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 620 but less than 660	2,459,000,000	2,459,000,000	2,858,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 660	5,457,000,000	5,457,000,000	6,704,000,000
Consumer
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	385,163,000,000	385,163,000,000	398,135,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	8,323,000,000	8,323,000,000	9,249,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	8,031,000,000	8,031,000,000	9,270,000,000
Loans, Past due Government guaranteed	6,235,000,000	6,235,000,000	6,686,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	407,752,000,000	407,752,000,000	423,340,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	9,761,000,000	9,761,000,000	7,832,000,000
Loans, 90 days past due and accruing	6,844,000,000	6,844,000,000	7,626,000,000
Loans less than this number of days past due are considered current	30 days	30 days	30 days
Loans at fair value	1,256,000,000	1,256,000,000	1,326,000,000
Consumer | Minimum
Residential Mortgage Loan to Values
Minimum number of payments made consecutively for the loans to be re-aged	1	1	1
Consumer | Maximum
Residential Mortgage Loan to Values
Minimum number of payments made consecutively for the loans to be re-aged	3	3	3
Consumer | Loan to Values (LTVs)
Residential Mortgage Loan to Values
Loan, credit indicator ratio less than or equal to 80%	54,570,000,000	54,570,000,000	49,146,000,000
Loan, credit indicator ratio greater than 80% but less than or equal to 100%	29,237,000,000	29,237,000,000	31,378,000,000
Loan, credit indicator ratio greater than 100%	29,864,000,000	29,864,000,000	42,651,000,000
Consumer | Consumer Credit Scores (FICOs)
Consumer Loans Credit Quality Indicators, FICO score
Loan, credit score less than 620	35,355,000,000	35,355,000,000	40,563,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 620 but less than 660	24,152,000,000	24,152,000,000	26,281,000,000
Loan, credit score equal to or greater than 660	171,933,000,000	171,933,000,000	183,661,000,000
Consumer | Residential First Mortgage Loans
Loans receivable
Loans at fair value	1,300,000,000	1,300,000,000	1,300,000,000
Delinquency status
Number of days past due, non-accrual status	90 days	90 days	90 days
Consumer | Home equity loans
Delinquency status
Number of days past due, non-accrual status	90 days	90 days	90 days
Consumer | Credit cards
Delinquency status
Number of days past due, non-accrual status	180 days	180 days	180 days
Consumer | Installment and other
Delinquency status
Number of days past due, non-accrual status	90 days	90 days	90 days
Consumer | Commercial market loans
Delinquency status
Number of days past due, non-accrual status	90 days	90 days	90 days
Consumer | Special Asset Pool (SAP)
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	594,000,000	594,000,000	1,193,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	31,000,000	31,000,000	29,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	33,000,000	33,000,000	47,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	658,000,000	658,000,000	1,269,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	91,000,000	91,000,000	115,000,000
Consumer | Total GCB and LCL
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	384,569,000,000	384,569,000,000	396,942,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	8,292,000,000	8,292,000,000	9,220,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	7,998,000,000	7,998,000,000	9,223,000,000
Loans, Past due Government guaranteed	6,235,000,000	6,235,000,000	6,686,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	407,094,000,000	407,094,000,000	422,071,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	9,670,000,000	9,670,000,000	7,717,000,000
Loans, 90 days past due and accruing	6,844,000,000	6,844,000,000	7,626,000,000
Consumer | Unsecured Revolving Loans
Delinquency status
Number of days past due, non-accrual status	180 days	180 days	180 days
Consumer | In North America Offices
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	240,678,000,000	240,678,000,000	258,546,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	6,114,000,000	6,114,000,000	7,117,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	6,375,000,000	6,375,000,000	7,630,000,000
Loans, Past due Government guaranteed	6,235,000,000	6,235,000,000	6,686,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	259,402,000,000	259,402,000,000	279,979,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	7,651,000,000	7,651,000,000	5,816,000,000
Loans, 90 days past due and accruing	6,357,000,000	6,357,000,000	7,136,000,000
Total loans reclassified to non-accrual as result from new guidance issued by OCC	1,500,000,000	1,500,000,000
Loans current but reclassified to non-accrual as result from new guidance issued by OCC	1,300,000,000	1,300,000,000
Consumer | In North America Offices | Residential First Mortgage Loans
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	76,311,000,000	76,311,000,000	81,081,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	3,495,000,000	3,495,000,000	3,550,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	3,684,000,000	3,684,000,000	4,121,000,000
Loans, Past due Government guaranteed	6,235,000,000	6,235,000,000	6,686,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	89,725,000,000	89,725,000,000	95,438,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	5,295,000,000	5,295,000,000	4,176,000,000
Loans, 90 days past due and accruing	4,842,000,000	4,842,000,000	5,054,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due, guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored agencies	1,400,000,000	1,400,000,000	1,600,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due, guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored agencies	4,800,000,000	4,800,000,000	5,100,000,000
Total loans reclassified to non-accrual as result from new guidance issued by OCC	1,200,000,000	1,200,000,000
Consumer | In North America Offices | Home equity loans
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	37,071,000,000	37,071,000,000	41,585,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	703,000,000	703,000,000	868,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	853,000,000	853,000,000	1,022,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	38,627,000,000	38,627,000,000	43,475,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	1,889,000,000	1,889,000,000	982,000,000
Total loans reclassified to non-accrual as result from new guidance issued by OCC	300,000,000	300,000,000
Consumer | In North America Offices | Credit cards
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	106,261,000,000	106,261,000,000	114,022,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	1,590,000,000	1,590,000,000	2,344,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	1,496,000,000	1,496,000,000	2,058,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	109,347,000,000	109,347,000,000	118,424,000,000
Loans, 90 days past due and accruing	1,496,000,000	1,496,000,000	2,058,000,000
Consumer | In North America Offices | Installment and other
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	13,656,000,000	13,656,000,000	15,215,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	297,000,000	297,000,000	340,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	327,000,000	327,000,000	222,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	14,280,000,000	14,280,000,000	15,777,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	318,000,000	318,000,000	438,000,000
Loans, 90 days past due and accruing	10,000,000	10,000,000	10,000,000
Consumer | In North America Offices | Commercial market loans
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	7,379,000,000	7,379,000,000	6,643,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	29,000,000	29,000,000	15,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	15,000,000	15,000,000	207,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	7,423,000,000	7,423,000,000	6,865,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	149,000,000	149,000,000	220,000,000
Loans, 90 days past due and accruing	9,000,000	9,000,000	14,000,000
Consumer | In offices outside North America
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	143,891,000,000	143,891,000,000	138,396,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	2,178,000,000	2,178,000,000	2,103,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	1,623,000,000	1,623,000,000	1,593,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	147,692,000,000	147,692,000,000	142,092,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	2,019,000,000	2,019,000,000	1,901,000,000
Loans, 90 days past due and accruing	487,000,000	487,000,000	490,000,000
Consumer | In offices outside North America | Residential First Mortgage Loans
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	45,305,000,000	45,305,000,000	43,310,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	606,000,000	606,000,000	566,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	479,000,000	479,000,000	482,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	46,390,000,000	46,390,000,000	44,358,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	778,000,000	778,000,000	744,000,000
Consumer | In offices outside North America | Home equity loans
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	4,000,000	4,000,000	6,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	2,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	6,000,000	6,000,000	8,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	2,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000
Consumer | In offices outside North America | Credit cards
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	37,967,000,000	37,967,000,000	38,289,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	959,000,000	959,000,000	930,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	778,000,000	778,000,000	785,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	39,704,000,000	39,704,000,000	40,004,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	513,000,000	513,000,000	496,000,000
Loans, 90 days past due and accruing	487,000,000	487,000,000	490,000,000
Consumer | In offices outside North America | Installment and other
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	29,180,000,000	29,180,000,000	26,300,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	508,000,000	508,000,000	528,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	197,000,000	197,000,000	197,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	29,885,000,000	29,885,000,000	27,025,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	260,000,000	260,000,000	258,000,000
Consumer | In offices outside North America | Commercial market loans
Loans receivable
Recorded investment in loans	31,435,000,000	31,435,000,000	30,491,000,000
Loans, 30-89 days past due	105,000,000	105,000,000	79,000,000
Loans, greater than or equal to 90 days past due	167,000,000	167,000,000	127,000,000
Loans, net of unearned income	31,707,000,000	31,707,000,000	30,697,000,000
Loans, total non-accrual	$ 466,000,000	$ 466,000,000	$ 401,000,000
Open-ended consumer loans
Residential Mortgage Loan to Values
Minimum number of payments made consecutively for the loans to be re-aged	3	3	3
Number of re-age modification limitations in twelve months	1	1	1
Number of re-age modification limitations in five years	2	2	2