v2.4.0.6
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements, Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities $ 13,665 $ 18,772 $ 28,613
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Sales proceeds 23,062 8,668 53,038
Prepayments and maturities 52,618 47,919 38,811
Purchases (121,235) (53,466) (95,285)
Loans:      
Loans originated by banking subsidiaries, net of principal collected (35,686) 15,869 52,240
Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans originated for investment by banking subsidiaries 6,555 6,517 6,162
Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries (8,878) (2,297) (3,363)
Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans 9,782 15,560 14,428
Loans originated by nonbank entities (7,522) (10,836) (9,961)
Net repayments from (advances to) subsidiaries 0 0 0
Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries 0 0 0
Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries 0 0 0
Net decrease (increase) in investment in subsidiaries 0 0 0
Net cash paid for acquisitions (353) (36) (138)
Other investing activities, net 46,613 (31,573) 15,853
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities (35,044) (3,675) 71,785
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Net change in deposits 72,128 23,924 42,473
Net change in short-term borrowings (6,231) 11,308 (69,108)
Long-term debt:      
Proceeds from issuance 11,687 3,489 8,396
Repayment (50,555) (63,317) (66,260)
Preferred stock:      
Proceeds from issuance 2,501 0 0
Cash dividends paid (844) (737) (2,178)
Redeemed 0 0 (25,000)
Common stock warrants repurchased (2) (545) 0
Common stock:      
Proceeds from issuance 1,296 1,375 21,976
Repurchased (2,416) (91) (220)
Cash dividends paid (2,537) (1,045) (2,125)
Excess tax benefits related to stock option payments 79 98 18
Net change in noncontrolling interests:      
Cash paid for purchase of Prudential's noncontrolling interest 0 0 (4,500)
Other (331) (592) (553)
Other, net 0 0 0
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 24,775 (26,133) (97,081)
Net change in cash and due from banks 3,396 (11,036) 3,317
Cash and due from banks at beginning of year 16,044 27,080 23,763
Cash and due from banks at end of year 19,440 16,044 27,080
Wells Fargo & Company [Member]
      
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 15,049 14,180 7,356
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Sales proceeds 11,459 2,441 1,184
Prepayments and maturities 0 0 0
Purchases (16,487) (119) (463)
Loans:      
Loans originated by banking subsidiaries, net of principal collected 0 0 0
Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans originated for investment by banking subsidiaries 0 0 0
Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries 0 0 0
Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans 0 0 0
Loans originated by nonbank entities 0 0 0
Net repayments from (advances to) subsidiaries 1,318 (5,485) 11,369
Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries (1,340) 0 (497)
Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries 5,779 11,282 12,979
Net decrease (increase) in investment in subsidiaries (610) 1,198 (1,382)
Net cash paid for acquisitions 0 0 0
Other investing activities, net 230 15 22,513
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities 349 9,332 45,703
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Net change in deposits 0 0 0
Net change in short-term borrowings (242) 1,860 (19,100)
Long-term debt:      
Proceeds from issuance 7,058 1,789 8,297
Repayment (31,198) (23,281) (22,931)
Preferred stock:      
Proceeds from issuance 2,501 0 0
Cash dividends paid (844) (737) (2,178)
Redeemed 0 0 (25,000)
Common stock warrants repurchased (2) (545) 0
Common stock:      
Proceeds from issuance 1,296 1,375 21,976
Repurchased (2,416) (91) (220)
Cash dividends paid (2,537) (1,045) (2,125)
Excess tax benefits related to stock option payments 79 98 18
Net change in noncontrolling interests:      
Cash paid for purchase of Prudential's noncontrolling interest 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
Other, net 0 0 (140)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities (26,305) (20,577) (41,403)
Net change in cash and due from banks (10,907) 2,935 11,656
Cash and due from banks at beginning of year 30,249 27,314 15,658
Cash and due from banks at end of year 19,342 30,249 27,314
Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. [Member]
      
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 1,563 1,774 1,655
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Sales proceeds 1,946 796 925
Prepayments and maturities 294 229 290
Purchases (1,086) (1,037) (1,667)
Loans:      
Loans originated by banking subsidiaries, net of principal collected (596) (206) (981)
Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans originated for investment by banking subsidiaries 0 0 0
Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries 0 0 0
Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans 9,984 10,829 11,119
Loans originated by nonbank entities (7,520) (6,336) (5,523)
Net repayments from (advances to) subsidiaries (81) (842) (138)
Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries 0 0 (1,000)
Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries 0 0 0
Net decrease (increase) in investment in subsidiaries 0 0 0
Net cash paid for acquisitions 0 0 0
Other investing activities, net 210 64 355
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities 3,151 3,497 3,380
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Net change in deposits 0 0 0
Net change in short-term borrowings 1,013 4,118 2,158
Long-term debt:      
Proceeds from issuance 513 0 1,347
Repayment (6,029) (9,478) (8,508)
Preferred stock:      
Proceeds from issuance 0 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0 0
Redeemed 0 0 0
Common stock warrants repurchased 0 0 0
Common stock:      
Proceeds from issuance 0 0 0
Repurchased 0 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0 0
Excess tax benefits related to stock option payments 0 0 0
Net change in noncontrolling interests:      
Cash paid for purchase of Prudential's noncontrolling interest 0 0 0
Other (11) 1 (4)
Other, net 0 0 0
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities (4,514) (5,359) (5,007)
Net change in cash and due from banks 200 (88) 28
Cash and due from banks at beginning of year 366 454 426
Cash and due from banks at end of year 566 366 454
Other consolidating subsidiaries/eliminations [Member]
      
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities (2,947) 2,818 19,602
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Sales proceeds 9,657 5,431 50,929
Prepayments and maturities 52,324 47,690 38,521
Purchases (103,662) (52,310) (93,155)
Loans:      
Loans originated by banking subsidiaries, net of principal collected (35,090) 16,075 53,221
Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans originated for investment by banking subsidiaries 6,555 6,517 6,162
Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries (8,878) (2,297) (3,363)
Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans (202) 4,731 3,309
Loans originated by nonbank entities (2) (4,500) (4,438)
Net repayments from (advances to) subsidiaries (1,237) 6,327 (11,231)
Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries 1,340 0 1,497
Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries (5,779) (11,282) (12,979)
Net decrease (increase) in investment in subsidiaries 610 (1,198) 1,382
Net cash paid for acquisitions (353) (36) (138)
Other investing activities, net 46,173 (31,652) (7,015)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities (38,544) (16,504) 22,702
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Net change in deposits 72,128 23,924 42,473
Net change in short-term borrowings (7,002) 5,330 (52,166)
Long-term debt:      
Proceeds from issuance 4,116 1,700 (1,248)
Repayment (13,328) (30,558) (34,821)
Preferred stock:      
Proceeds from issuance 0 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0 0
Redeemed 0 0 0
Common stock warrants repurchased 0 0 0
Common stock:      
Proceeds from issuance 0 0 0
Repurchased 0 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0 0
Excess tax benefits related to stock option payments 0 0 0
Net change in noncontrolling interests:      
Cash paid for purchase of Prudential's noncontrolling interest 0 0 (4,500)
Other (320) (593) (549)
Other, net 0 0 140
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 55,594 (197) (50,671)
Net change in cash and due from banks 14,103 (13,883) (8,367)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of year (14,571) (688) 7,679
Cash and due from banks at end of year $ (468) $ (14,571) $ (688)