v2.4.0.6
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements, Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 15,905 $ 17,211
Securities available for sale:    
Sales proceeds 4,242 15,361
Prepayments and maturities 12,317 11,651
Purchases (18,156) (18,831)
Loans:    
Loans originated by banking subsidiaries, net of principal collected (3,103) (214)
Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans originated for investment by banking subsidiaries 2,193 2,165
Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries (2,423) (644)
Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans 2,003 2,546
Loans originated by nonbank entities (1,620) (1,904)
Net repayments from (advances to) subsidiaries 0 0
Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries 0 0
Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries 0 0
Net decrease (increase) in investment in subsidiaries 0 0
Net cash paid for acquisitions (426) 0
Other, net (27,988) (8,898)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities (32,961) 1,232
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Net change in deposits 10,194 (10,280)
Net change in short-term borrowings 1,488 (664)
Long-term debt:    
Proceeds from issuance 8,999 5,217
Repayment (5,237) (13,933)
Preferred stock:    
Proceeds from issuance 0 2,501
Cash dividends paid (286) (251)
Common stock:    
Proceeds from issuance 879 634
Repurchased (64) (55)
Cash dividends paid (1,165) (634)
Excess tax benefits related to stock option payments 98 55
Net change in noncontrolling interests (290) (99)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 14,616 (17,509)
Net change in cash and due from banks (2,440) 934
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period 19,440 16,044
Cash and due from banks at end of period 17,000 16,978
Wells Fargo & Company [Member]
    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities 2,754 2,409
Securities available for sale:    
Sales proceeds 2,107 152
Prepayments and maturities 0 0
Purchases (24) (117)
Loans:    
Loans originated by banking subsidiaries, net of principal collected 0 0
Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans originated for investment by banking subsidiaries 0 0
Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries 0 0
Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans 0 0
Loans originated by nonbank entities 0 0
Net repayments from (advances to) subsidiaries 1,361 (212)
Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries (50) (364)
Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries 605 1,900
Net decrease (increase) in investment in subsidiaries (401) (13)
Net cash paid for acquisitions 0 0
Other, net 0 14
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities 3,598 1,360
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Net change in deposits 0 0
Net change in short-term borrowings (203) (1,076)
Long-term debt:    
Proceeds from issuance 7,851 3,238
Repayment (4,169) (6,500)
Preferred stock:    
Proceeds from issuance 0 2,501
Cash dividends paid (286) (251)
Common stock:    
Proceeds from issuance 879 634
Repurchased (64) (55)
Cash dividends paid (1,165) (634)
Excess tax benefits related to stock option payments 98 55
Net change in noncontrolling interests 0 0
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 2,941 (2,088)
Net change in cash and due from banks 9,293 1,681
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period 19,342 30,249
Cash and due from banks at end of period 28,635 31,930
Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. [Member]
    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities 220 394
Securities available for sale:    
Sales proceeds 190 92
Prepayments and maturities 39 60
Purchases (273) (100)
Loans:    
Loans originated by banking subsidiaries, net of principal collected 9 152
Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans originated for investment by banking subsidiaries 0 0
Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries 0 0
Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans 1,987 2,549
Loans originated by nonbank entities (1,620) (1,903)
Net repayments from (advances to) subsidiaries 140 (82)
Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries (1,506) 0
Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries 0 0
Net decrease (increase) in investment in subsidiaries 0 0
Net cash paid for acquisitions 0 0
Other, net 7 29
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities (1,027) 797
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Net change in deposits 0 0
Net change in short-term borrowings (72) 1,487
Long-term debt:    
Proceeds from issuance 1,506 513
Repayment (500) (3,128)
Preferred stock:    
Proceeds from issuance 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0
Common stock:    
Proceeds from issuance 0 0
Repurchased 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0
Excess tax benefits related to stock option payments 0 0
Net change in noncontrolling interests 0 (11)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 934 (1,139)
Net change in cash and due from banks 127 52
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period 566 366
Cash and due from banks at end of period 693 418
Other consolidating subsidiaries/eliminations [Member]
    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities 12,931 14,408
Securities available for sale:    
Sales proceeds 1,945 15,117
Prepayments and maturities 12,278 11,591
Purchases (17,859) (18,614)
Loans:    
Loans originated by banking subsidiaries, net of principal collected (3,112) (366)
Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans originated for investment by banking subsidiaries 2,193 2,165
Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries (2,423) (644)
Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans 16 (3)
Loans originated by nonbank entities 0 (1)
Net repayments from (advances to) subsidiaries (1,501) 294
Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries 1,556 364
Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries (605) (1,900)
Net decrease (increase) in investment in subsidiaries 401 13
Net cash paid for acquisitions (426) 0
Other, net (27,995) (8,941)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities (35,532) (925)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Net change in deposits 10,194 (10,280)
Net change in short-term borrowings 1,763 (1,075)
Long-term debt:    
Proceeds from issuance (358) 1,466
Repayment (568) (4,305)
Preferred stock:    
Proceeds from issuance 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0
Common stock:    
Proceeds from issuance 0 0
Repurchased 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0
Excess tax benefits related to stock option payments 0 0
Net change in noncontrolling interests (290) (88)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 10,741 (14,282)
Net change in cash and due from banks (11,860) (799)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period (468) (14,571)
Cash and due from banks at end of period $ (12,328) $ (15,370)