v2.4.0.6
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2012
Independent Foreclosure Review (IFR) Programs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Private Forward Repurchase Transaction [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Private Forward Repurchase Transaction [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
Private Forward Repurchase Transaction [Member]
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Supplemental cash flow information - Noncash activities              
Transfers from trading assets to securities available for sale $ 0 $ 47 $ 0        
Transfers from loans to securities available for sale 921 2,822 3,476        
Trading assets retained from securitizations of MHFS 85,108 61,599 19,815        
Capitalization of MSRs from sale of MHFS 4,988 4,089 4,570        
Transfers from MHFS to foreclosed assets 223 224 262        
Transfers from loans to MHFS 7,584 6,305 230        
Transfers from loans to LHFS 143 129 1,313        
Transfers from loans to foreclosed assets 9,016 9,315 8,699        
Changes in consolidations (deconsolidations) of variable interest entities:              
Trading assets 0 0 155        
Securities available for sale (40) 7 (7,590)        
Loans (245) (599) 26,117        
Other assets 0 0 212        
Short-term borrowings 0 0 5,127        
Long-term debt (293) (628) 13,613        
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 0 0 (32)        
Decrease in noncontrolling interests due to deconsolidation of subsidiaries 0 0 440        
Transfer from noncontrolling interests to long term debt 0 0 345        
Consolidation of Reverse Mortgages Previously Sold:              
Loans 0 5,483 0        
Long-term debt 0 5,425 0        
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Textuals [Abstract]              
Forward Contract Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Contract Amount         $ 200    
Common stock repurchased, shares         36,000,000 6,000,000 6,000,000
Settlement agreement, terms       In aggregate, the servicers have agreed to make direct, cash payments of $3.3 billion and to provide $5.2 billion in additional assistance, such as loan modifications, to consumers. Our portion of the cash settlement is $766 million, which is based on the proportionate share of Wells Fargo-serviced loans in the overall IFR population. We fully accrued the cash portion of the settlement in 2012, along with other remediation-related costs. We also committed to foreclosure prevention actions which include first and second lien modifications and short sales/deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure on $1.2 billion of loans. We anticipate meeting this commitment primarily through first lien modification and short sale activities. We are required to meet this commitment within two years of signing the agreement and we anticipate that we will be able to meet our commitment within the required timelines. This commitment did not result in any charge as we believe that this commitment is covered through the existing allowance for credit losses and the nonaccretable difference relating to the purchased credit-impaired loan portfolios.