The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) 10-Q 6 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 23, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Trading Symbol	'SCHW	'
Entity Registrant Name	'SCHWAB CHARLES CORP	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000316709	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	1,289,217,199

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Net Revenues:	'		'		'		'
Asset management and administration fees	$583		$524		$1,707		$1,504
Interest revenue	531		478		1,527		1,447
Interest expense	-25		-39		-79		-116
Net interest revenue	506		439		1,448		1,331
Trading revenue	224		204		682		666
Other	57		42		172		209
Provision for loan losses	4		-10		-1		-14
Net impairment losses on securities	-1	[1]	-3	[1]	-8	[1]	-28	[1]
Total net revenues	1,373		1,196		4,000		3,668
Expenses Excluding Interest	'		'		'		'
Compensation and benefits	482		442		1,512		1,353
Professional services	103		98		308		287
Occupancy and equipment	77		77		231		233
Advertising and market development	57		49		198		173
Communications	55		53		165		166
Depreciation and amortization	51		50		153		146
Other	84		66		226		204
Total expenses excluding interest	909		835		2,793		2,562
Income before taxes on income	464		361		1,207		1,106
Taxes on income	174		114		455		389
Net Income	290		247		752		717
Preferred stock dividends	8		9		39		23
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders	$282		$238		$713		$694
Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted	1,296	[2]	1,275	[2]	1,288	[2]	1,274	[2]
Earnings Per Common Share - Basic	$0.22		$0.19		$0.55		$0.54
Earnings Per Common Share - Diluted	$0.22		$0.19		$0.55		$0.54
[1]	Net impairment losses on securities include total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $0 million and $1 million recognized in other comprehensive income, net of $(1) million and $(2) million reclassified from other comprehensive income, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Net impairment losses on securities include total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $2 million and $15 million recognized in other comprehensive income, net of $(6) million and $(13) million reclassified from other comprehensive income, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
[2]	Antidilutive stock options and restricted stock awards excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS totaled 19 million and 59 million shares for the third quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 31 million and 61 million shares for the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses	$0	$1	$2	$15
Impairment losses reclassified from other comprehensive income	($1)	($2)	($6)	($13)

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net Income	$290	$247	$752	$717
Change in net unrealized gain on securities available for sale:	'	'	'	'
Net unrealized gain (loss)	72	250	-408	458
Reclassification of impairment charges included in net impairment losses on securities	1	3	8	28
Other reclassifications included in other revenue	-2	'	-5	-1
Other	'	'	1	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	71	253	-404	485
Income tax effect	-28	-95	152	-181
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	43	158	-252	304
Comprehensive Income	$333	$405	$500	$1,021

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$7,362	$12,663
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes (including resale agreements of $13,461 at September 30, 2013 and $19,325 at December 31, 2012)	23,520	28,469
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	511	333
Receivables from brokerage clients — net	13,124	13,458
Other securities owned — at fair value	482	636
Securities available for sale	51,865	46,123
Securities held to maturity (fair value — $27,717 at September 30, 2013 and $18,732 at December 31, 2012)	28,219	18,194
Loans to banking clients — net	12,115	10,726
Equipment, office facilities, and property — net	738	675
Goodwill	1,227	1,228
Intangible assets — net	278	319
Other assets	770	813
Total assets	140,211	133,637
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	'	'
Deposits from banking clients	91,187	79,377
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	1,207	1,068
Payables to brokerage clients	34,532	40,330
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,328	1,641
Long-term debt	1,904	1,632
Total liabilities	130,158	124,048
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Preferred stock — $.01 par value per share; aggregated liquidation preference of $885 at both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012	868	865
Common stock — 3 billion shares authorized; $.01 par value per share; 1,487,543,446 shares issued	15	15
Additional paid-in capital	3,964	3,881
Retained earnings	9,034	8,554
Treasury stock, at cost — 199,823,743 shares at September 30, 2013 and 210,014,305 shares at December 31, 2012	-3,874	-4,024
Accumulated other comprehensive income	46	298
Total stockholders' equity	10,053	9,589
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$140,211	$133,637

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes, resale agreements	$13,461	$19,325
Securities held to maturity, fair value	27,717	18,732
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, aggregate liquidation preference	$885	$885
Common stock, shares authorized	3,000,000,000	3,000,000,000
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares issued	1,487,543,446	1,487,543,446
Treasury stock, shares	199,823,743	210,014,305

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities	'		'
Net income	$752		$717
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'		'
Provision for loan losses	1		14
Net impairment losses on securities	8	[1]	28	[1]
Stock-based compensation	83		79
Depreciation and amortization	153		146
Premium amortization, net, on securities available for sale and securities held to maturity	129		163
Other	23		4
Originations of loans held for sale	'		-441
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale	'		513
Net change in:	'		'
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	4,949		880
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	-177		-376
Receivables from brokerage clients	332		-844
Other securities owned	154		80
Other assets	-48		19
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	101		84
Payables to brokerage clients	-5,798		-619
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	163		-74
Net cash provided by operating activities	825		373
Cash Flows from Investing Activities	'		'
Purchases of securities available for sale	-19,910		-19,889
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale	4,665		1,524
Principal payments on securities available for sale	9,087		10,546
Purchases of securities held to maturity	-13,442		-4,620
Principal payments on securities held to maturity	3,332		4,012
Net increase in loans to banking clients	-1,315		-318
Purchase of equipment, office facilities, and property	-176		-107
Other investing activities	2		10
Net cash used for investing activities	-17,757		-8,842
Cash Flows from Financing Activities	'		'
Net change in deposits from banking clients	11,810		7,902
Repayment of commercial paper	-300		'
Issuance of long-term debt	275		'
Repayment of long-term debt	-4		-207
Premium paid on debt exchange	'		-19
Net proceeds from preferred stock offerings	'		863
Dividends paid	-283		-252
Proceeds from stock options exercised and other	140		26
Other financing activities	-7		'
Net cash provided by financing activities	11,631		8,313
Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	-5,301		-156
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	12,663		8,679
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	7,362		8,523
Cash paid during the year for:	'		'
Interest	89		118
Income taxes	448		379
Non-cash investing activity:	'		'
Securities purchased during the period but settled after period end	38		263
Non-cash financing activity:	'		'
Exchange of Senior Notes	'		$256
[1]	Net impairment losses on securities include total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $0 million and $1 million recognized in other comprehensive income, net of $(1) million and $(2) million reclassified from other comprehensive income, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Net impairment losses on securities include total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $2 million and $15 million recognized in other comprehensive income, net of $(6) million and $(13) million reclassified from other comprehensive income, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Introduction_and_Basis_of_Pres

Introduction and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Introduction and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]	'
Introduction and Basis of Presentation	'
	1.Introduction and Basis of Presentation
	The Charles Schwab Corporation (CSC) is a savings and loan holding company engaged, through its subsidiaries, in securities brokerage, banking, money management, and financial advisory services. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) is a securities broker-dealer with over 300 domestic branch offices in 45 states, as well as a branch in each of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and London, U.K. In addition, Schwab serves clients in Hong Kong through one of CSC’s subsidiaries. Other subsidiaries include Charles Schwab Bank (Schwab Bank), a federal savings bank, and Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM), the investment advisor for Schwab’s proprietary mutual funds, which are referred to as the Schwab Funds®, and for Schwab’s exchange-traded funds, which are referred to as the Schwab ETFs™.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include CSC and its majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the Company). Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S.), which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the accompanying financial statements. Certain estimates relate to other-than-temporary impairment of securities available for sale and securities held to maturity, valuation of goodwill, allowance for loan losses, and legal and regulatory reserves. Actual results may differ from those estimates. These condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2013 presentation. The Company’s results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year or any other interim period. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as updated by the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 24, 2013, relating to the realignment of the Company’s reportable segments.
	The Company’s significant accounting policies are included in note “2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as updated by its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 24, 2013. There have been no significant changes to these accounting policies during the first nine months of 2013.

Securities_Available_for_Sale_

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity [Abstract]	'
Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity	'
	2.Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity
	The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of securities available for sale and securities held to maturity are as follows:
					Gross		Gross
			Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	30-Sep-13		Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	18,498	$	175	$	25	$	18,648
	Asset-backed securities			14,519		37		42		14,514
	Corporate debt securities			9,335		52		15		9,372
	Certificates of deposit			4,275		6		1		4,280
	U.S. agency notes			4,240		1		89		4,152
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities			653		9		44		618
	Other securities			272		9		-		281
	Total securities available for sale		$	51,792	$	289	$	216	$	51,865
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	27,288	$	249	$	691	$	26,846
	Other securities			931		-		60		871
	Total securities held to maturity		$	28,219	$	249	$	751	$	27,717
					Gross		Gross
			Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	31-Dec-12		Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	20,080	$	396	$	-	$	20,476
	Asset-backed securities			8,104		62		2		8,164
	Corporate debt securities			6,197		61		2		6,256
	Certificates of deposit			6,150		12		1		6,161
	U.S. agency notes			3,465		2		3		3,464
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities			796		2		65		733
	Commercial paper			574		-		-		574
	Other securities			278		17		-		295
	Total securities available for sale		$	45,644	$	552	$	73	$	46,123
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	17,750	$	558	$	19	$	18,289
	Other securities			444		-		1		443
	Total securities held to maturity		$	18,194	$	558	$	20	$	18,732
	A summary of securities with unrealized losses, aggregated by category and period of continuous unrealized loss, is as follows:
			Less than				12 months
			12 months				or longer				Total
			Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	30-Sep-13		Value		Losses		Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S agency mortgage-backed securities		$	5,105	$	25	$	-	$	-	$	5,105	$	25
	Asset-backed securities			7,328		40		469		2		7,797		42
	Corporate debt securities			1,685		14		400		1		2,085		15
	Certificates of deposit			-		-		299		1		299		1
	U.S. agency notes			3,651		89		-		-		3,651		89
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed
	securities			112		3		393		41		505		44
	Total		$	17,881	$	171	$	1,561	$	45	$	19,442	$	216
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	16,051	$	690	$	85	$	1	$	16,136	$	691
	Other securities			771		60		-		-		771		60
	Total		$	16,822	$	750	$	85	$	1	$	16,907	$	751
	Total securities with unrealized losses (1)		$	34,703	$	921	$	1,646	$	46	$	36,349	$	967
	-1	The number of investment positions with unrealized losses totaled 260 for securities available for sale and 135 for securities held to maturity.
			Less than				12 months
			12 months				or longer				Total
			Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	31-Dec-12		Value		Losses		Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	Securities available for sale:
	Asset-backed securities		$	-	$	-	$	801	$	2	$	801	$	2
	Corporate debt securities			878		2		-		-		878		2
	Certificates of deposit			599		1		-		-		599		1
U.S. agency notes			2,102		3		-		-		2,102		3
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed
securities			46		1		549		64		595		65
Total		$	3,625	$	7	$	1,350	$	66	$	4,975	$	73
Securities held to maturity:
U.S. agency mortgage-backed
securities		$	2,680	$	19	$	-	$	-	$	2,680	$	19
Other securities			240		1		-		-		240		1
Total		$	2,920	$	20	$	-	$	-	$	2,920	$	20
Total securities with unrealized losses (1)		$	6,545	$	27	$	1,350	$	66	$	7,895	$	93
-1	The number of investment positions with unrealized losses totaled 139 for securities available for sale and 24 for securities held to maturity.
The Company’s non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities portfolio includes securities collateralized by loans that are considered to be “Prime” (defined as loans to borrowers with a Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) credit score of 620 or higher at origination), and “Alt-A” (defined as Prime loans with reduced documentation at origination). The Company does not intend to sell these securities and it is not “more likely than not” that the Company will be required to sell these securities. Management determined that it does not expect to recover all of the amortized cost of certain of its Alt-A and Prime residential mortgage-backed securities and therefore determined that these securities were other-than-temporarily impaired (OTTI).  The Company recognized an impairment charge equal to the securities’ expected credit losses of $1 million and $8 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2013, respectively, based on the Company’s cash flow projections for these securities. The expected credit losses were measured as the difference between the present value of expected cash flows and the amortized cost of the securities. Further deterioration in the performance of the underlying loans in the Company’s non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities portfolio could result in the recognition of additional impairment losses.
The following table is a rollforward of the amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for OTTI securities held by the Company during the period for which a portion of the impairment was recognized in or reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss):
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
Balance at beginning of period		$	166	$	152	$	159	$	127
Credit losses recognized into current period earnings on debt securities for
which an other-than-temporary impairment was not previously recognized			-		1		1		6
Credit losses recognized into current period earnings on debt securities for
which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized			1		2		7		22
Balance at end of period		$	167	$	155	$	167	$	155
The maturities of securities available for sale and securities held to maturity at September 30, 2013 are as follows:
				After 1 year		After 5 years
		Within		through		through		After
		1 year		5 years		10 years		10 years		Total
Securities available for sale:
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities (1)		$	-	$	325	$	4,271	$	14,052	$	18,648
Asset-backed securities			-		1,255		2,598		10,661		14,514
Corporate debt securities			1,902		7,364		106		-		9,372
Certificates of deposit			2,378		1,902		-		-		4,280
U.S. agency notes			-		2,291		1,861		-		4,152
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed
securities (1)			-		3		2		613		618
Other securities			-		-		-		281		281
Total fair value		$	4,280	$	13,140	$	8,838	$	25,607	$	51,865
Total amortized cost		$	4,272	$	13,136	$	8,835	$	25,549	$	51,792
Securities held to maturity:
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities (1)		$	-	$	371	$	11,555	$	14,920	$	26,846
Other securities			100		-		340		431		871
Total fair value		$	100	$	371	$	11,895	$	15,351	$	27,717
Total amortized cost		$	100	$	364	$	12,349	$	15,406	$	28,219
-1	Mortgage-backed securities have been allocated to maturity groupings based on final contractual maturities. Actual maturities will differ from final contractual maturities because borrowers on a certain portion of loans underlying these securities have the right to prepay their obligations.
Proceeds and gross realized gains from sales of securities available for sale are as follows:
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
Proceeds		$	1,661	$	201	$	4,665	$	1,524
Gross realized gains		$	2	$	-	$	5	$	2

Loans_to_Banking_Clients_and_R

Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses [Abstract]	'
Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses	'
	3.Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses
	The composition of loans to banking clients by loan segment is as follows:
			September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Residential real estate mortgages		$	7,835		$	6,507
	Home equity lines of credit			3,054			3,287
	Personal loans secured by securities			1,247			963
	Other			31			25
	Total loans to banking clients (1)			12,167			10,782
	Allowance for loan losses			-52			-56
	Total loans to banking clients – net		$	12,115		$	10,726
	-1	All loans are evaluated for impairment by loan segment.
	The Company has commitments to extend credit related to unused home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), personal loans secured by securities, and other lines of credit, which totaled $5.6 billion and $5.4 billion at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	Changes in the allowance for loan losses were as follows:
	Three Months Ended			30-Sep-13											30-Sep-12
				Residential											Residential
				real estate				Home equity							real estate			Home equity
				mortgages				lines of credit				Total			mortgages			lines of credit			Total
	Balance at beginning of period			$	40			$	17		$	57			$	34		$	17	$	51
	Charge-offs				-1				-1			-2				-2			-3		-5
	Recoveries				1				-			1				1			-		1
	Provision for loan losses				-6				2			-4				2			8		10
	Balance at end of period			$	34			$	18		$	52			$	35		$	22	$	57
	Nine Months Ended			30-Sep-13											30-Sep-12
				Residential											Residential
				real estate				Home equity							real estate			Home equity
				mortgages				lines of credit				Total			mortgages			lines of credit			Total
	Balance at beginning of period			$	36			$	20		$	56			$	40		$	14	$	54
	Charge-offs				-4				-4			-8				-6			-7		-13
	Recoveries				2				1			3				2			-		2
	Provision for loan losses				-				1			1				-1			15		14
	Balance at end of period			$	34			$	18		$	52			$	35		$	22	$	57
	Included in the loan portfolio are nonaccrual loans totaling $46 million and $48 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. There were no loans accruing interest that were contractually 90 days or more past due at September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012. Nonperforming assets, which include nonaccrual loans and other real estate owned, totaled $49 million and $54 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Troubled debt restructurings were not material at September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012.
	In 2012, Schwab Bank launched a co-branded loan origination program for Schwab Bank clients (the Program) with Quicken Loans, Inc. (Quicken® Loans®). Pursuant to the Program, Quicken Loans originates and services first lien residential real estate mortgage loans (First Mortgages) and HELOCs for Schwab Bank clients. Under the Program, Schwab Bank purchases certain First Mortgages and HELOCs that are originated by Quicken Loans. Schwab Bank sets the underwriting guidelines and pricing for all loans it intends to purchase for its portfolio. Schwab Bank purchased First Mortgages of $862 million and $923 million during the third quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $3.1 billion and $1.5 billion during the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, respectively. The First Mortgages purchased under the Program are included in the First mortgages loan class in the tables below.
	The delinquency analysis by loan class is as follows:
												>90 days past
						30-59 days			60-89 days			due and other			Total		Total
	30-Sep-13		Current			past due			past due			nonaccrual loans			past due		loans
	Residential real estate mortgages:
	First mortgages		$	7,632		$	7		$	2		$	30		$	39	$	7,671
	Purchased first mortgages			158			1			1			4			6		164
	Home equity lines of credit			3,037			3			2			12			17		3,054
	Personal loans secured by securities			1,247			-			-			-			-		1,247
	Other			31			-			-			-			-		31
	Total loans to banking clients		$	12,105		$	11		$	5		$	46		$	62	$	12,167
												>90 days past
						30-59 days			60-89 days			due and other			Total		Total
	31-Dec-12		Current			past due			past due			nonaccrual loans			past due		loans
	Residential real estate mortgages:
	First mortgages		$	6,291		$	22		$	2		$	33		$	57	$	6,348
	Purchased first mortgages			154			1			-			4			5		159
	Home equity lines of credit			3,269			5			2			11			18		3,287
	Personal loans secured by securities			963			-			-			-			-		963
	Other			22			3			-			-			3		25
	Total loans to banking clients		$	10,699		$	31		$	4		$	48		$	83	$	10,782
	In addition to monitoring delinquency, the Company monitors the credit quality of residential real estate mortgages and HELOCs by stratifying the portfolios by the year of origination, borrower FICO scores at origination (Origination FICO), updated borrower FICO scores (Updated FICO), loan-to-value (LTV) ratios at origination (Origination LTV), and estimated current LTV ratios (Estimated Current LTV), as presented in the following tables. Borrowers’ FICO scores are provided by an independent third party credit reporting service and were last updated in September 2013. The Origination LTV and Estimated Current LTV ratios for a HELOC include any first lien mortgage outstanding on the same property at the time of the HELOC’s origination. The Estimated Current LTV for each loan is estimated by reference to a home price appreciation index.
			Residential real estate mortgages
			First			Purchased							Home equity
	30-Sep-13		mortgages			first mortgages			Total				lines of credit
	Year of origination
	Pre-2009		$	712		$	54		$	766			$	2,098
	2009			207			4			211				270
	2010			545			8			553				198
2011			790			39			829				162
2012			2,477			27			2,504				165
2013			2,940			32			2,972				161
Total		$	7,671		$	164		$	7,835			$	3,054
Origination FICO
<620		$	10		$	2		$	12			$	1
620 – 679			98			14			112				20
680 – 739			1,339			33			1,372				584
>740			6,224			115			6,339				2,449
Total		$	7,671		$	164		$	7,835			$	3,054
Updated FICO
<620		$	47		$	5		$	52			$	45
620 – 679			209			12			221				106
680 – 739			1,061			26			1,087				471
>740			6,354			121			6,475				2,432
Total		$	7,671		$	164		$	7,835			$	3,054
Origination LTV
<70%		$	5,174		$	112		$	5,286			$	2,052
>70% – <90%			2,480			47			2,527				978
>90% – <100%			17			5			22				24
Total		$	7,671		$	164		$	7,835			$	3,054
												Percent of Loans
												that are 90+ Days
												Past Due and
					Weighted							Less than 90 Days
					Average				Utilization			Past Due but on
30-Sep-13		Balance			Updated FICO				Rate (1)			Nonaccrual Status
Residential real estate mortgages:
Estimated Current LTV
<70%		$	6,509			774			N/A			0.04	%
>70% – <90%			1,118			762			N/A			0.29	%
>90% – <100%			95			741			N/A			3.21	%
>100%			113			727			N/A			9.12	%
Total		$	7,835			771			N/A			0.24	%
Home equity lines of credit:
Estimated Current LTV
<70%		$	2,110			772			36	%		0.12	%
>70% – <90%			670			762			48	%		0.26	%
>90% – <100%			131			756			58	%		0.70	%
>100%			143			740			61	%		1.64	%
Total		$	3,054			768			39	%		0.25	%
-1	The Utilization Rate is calculated using the outstanding HELOC balance divided by the associated total line of credit.
N/A Not applicable.
		Residential real estate mortgages
		First			Purchased							Home equity
31-Dec-12		mortgages			first mortgages			Total				lines of credit
Year of origination
Pre-2009		$	867		$	62		$	929			$	2,338
2009			305			6			311				338
2010			909			12			921				249
2011			1,270			53			1,323				198
2012			2,997			26			3,023				164
Total		$	6,348		$	159		$	6,507			$	3,287
Origination FICO
<620		$	10		$	1		$	11			$	-
620 – 679			98			16			114				23
680 – 739			1,141			40			1,181				633
>740			5,099			102			5,201				2,631
Total		$	6,348		$	159		$	6,507			$	3,287
Updated FICO
<620		$	54		$	6		$	60			$	49
620 – 679			191			13			204				117
680 – 739			940			34			974				510
>740			5,163			106			5,269				2,611
Total		$	6,348		$	159		$	6,507			$	3,287
Origination LTV
<70%		$	4,189		$	97		$	4,286			$	2,225
>70% – <90%			2,142			54			2,196				1,036
>90% – <100%			17			8			25				26
Total		$	6,348		$	159		$	6,507			$	3,287
												Percent of Loans
												that are 90+ Days
												Past Due and
					Weighted							Less than 90 Days
					Average				Utilization			Past Due but on
31-Dec-12		Balance			Updated FICO				Rate (1)			Nonaccrual Status
Residential real estate mortgages:
Estimated Current LTV
<70%		$	4,162			772			N/A			0.05	%
>70% – <90%			1,841			764			N/A			0.22	%
>90% – <100%			168			750			N/A			0.51	%
>100%			336			741			N/A			5.34	%
Total		$	6,507			768			N/A			0.38	%
Home equity lines of credit:
Estimated Current LTV
<70%		$	1,559			773			36	%		0.14	%
>70% – <90%			1,020			766			46	%		0.18	%
>90% – <100%			267			759			54	%		0.44	%
>100%			441			753			59	%		1.06	%
Total		$	3,287			767			42	%		0.31	%
-1	The Utilization Rate is calculated using the outstanding HELOC balance divided by the associated total line of credit.
N/A Not applicable.
The Company monitors the credit quality of personal loans secured by securities by reviewing the fair value of collateral to ensure adequate collateralization of at least 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the loans. All of these personal loans were fully collateralized by securities with fair values in excess of borrowings at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

Borrowings

Borrowings	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Borrowings [Abstract]	'
Borrowings	'
	4.Borrowings
	See note “14 – Borrowings” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as updated by its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 24, 2013, relating to the realignment of the Company’s reportable segments. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s borrowings with the exception of the issuance disclosed below.
	Long-term debt, including unamortized debt discounts and premiums, where applicable, consists of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Senior Notes	$	1,565	$	1,288
	Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series A		249		249
	Finance lease obligation		90		95
	Total long-term debt	$	1,904	$	1,632
	On July 25, 2013, CSC issued $275 million of Senior Notes that mature in 2018 under its universal shelf registration statement on file with the SEC. The Senior Notes have a fixed interest rate of 2.20% with interest payable semi-annually.
	Annual maturities on long-term debt outstanding at September 30, 2013 are as follows:
	2013			$	1
	2014				6
	2015				357
	2016				7
	2017				258
	Thereafter				1,292
	Total maturities				1,921
	Unamortized discount, net				-17
	Total long-term debt			$	1,904

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	5.Commitments and Contingencies
	The Company has clients that sell (i.e., write) listed option contracts that are cleared by the Options Clearing Corporation – a clearing house that establishes margin requirements on these transactions. The Company partially satisfies the margin requirements by arranging unsecured standby letter of credit agreements (LOCs), in favor of the Options Clearing Corporation, which are issued by multiple banks. At September 30, 2013, the aggregate face amount of these LOCs totaled $240 million. There were no funds drawn under any of these LOCs at September 30, 2013. In connection with its securities lending activities, the Company is required to provide collateral to certain brokerage clients. The Company satisfies the collateral requirements by providing cash as collateral.
	The Company also provides guarantees to securities clearing houses and exchanges under standard membership agreements, which require members to guarantee the performance of other members. Under the agreements, if another member becomes unable to satisfy its obligations to the clearing houses and exchanges, other members would be required to meet shortfalls. The Company’s liability under these arrangements is not quantifiable and may exceed the cash and securities it has posted as collateral. However, the potential requirement for the Company to make payments under these arrangements is remote. Accordingly, no liability has been recognized for these guarantees.
	Legal contingencies: The Company is subject to claims and lawsuits in the ordinary course of business, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation, some of which include claims for substantial or unspecified damages. The Company is also the subject of inquiries, investigations, and proceedings by regulatory and other governmental agencies.
	The Company believes it has strong defenses in all significant matters currently pending and is contesting liability and any damages claimed. Nevertheless, some of these matters may result in adverse judgments or awards, including penalties, injunctions or other relief, and the Company may also determine to settle a matter because of the uncertainty and risks of litigation. Described below are certain matters in which there is a reasonable possibility that a material loss could be incurred or where the matter may otherwise be of significant interest to stockholders. With respect to all other pending matters, based on current information and consultation with counsel, it does not appear that the outcome of any such matter could be material to the financial condition, operating results or cash flows of the Company. However, predicting the outcome of a litigation or regulatory matter is inherently difficult, requiring significant judgment and evaluation of various factors, including the procedural status of the matter and any recent developments; prior experience and the experience of others in similar cases; available defenses, including potential opportunities to dispose of a case on the merits or procedural grounds before trial (e.g., motions to dismiss or for summary judgment); the progress of fact discovery; the opinions of counsel and experts regarding potential damages; potential opportunities for settlement and the status of any settlement discussions; and potential insurance coverage and indemnification. Often, as in the case of the Auction Rate Securities Regulatory Inquiries and Total Bond Market Fund Litigation matters described below, it is not possible to reasonably estimate potential liability, if any, or a range of potential liability until the matter is closer to resolution – pending, for example, further proceedings, the outcome of key motions or appeals, or discussions among the parties. Numerous issues may have to be developed, such as discovery of important factual matters and determination of threshold legal issues, which may include novel or unsettled questions of law. Reserves are established or adjusted or further disclosure and estimates of potential loss are provided as the matter progresses and more information becomes available.
	Auction Rate Securities Regulatory Inquiries: Schwab has been responding to industry wide inquiries from federal and state regulators regarding sales of auction rate securities to clients who were unable to sell their holdings when the normal auction process for those securities froze unexpectedly in February 2008. On August 17, 2009, a civil complaint was filed against Schwab in New York state court by the Attorney General of the State of New York (NYAG) alleging material misrepresentations and omissions by Schwab regarding the risks of auction rate securities, and seeking restitution, disgorgement, penalties and other relief, including repurchase of securities held in client accounts. As reflected in a statement issued August 17, 2009, Schwab has responded that the allegations are without merit, and has been contesting all charges. By order dated October 24, 2011, the court granted Schwab’s motion to dismiss the complaint with prejudice. The NYAG appealed, and in a decision issued August 29, 2013, the Appellate Division reinstated two of the NYAG’s four causes of action. On September 26, 2013, the NYAG petitioned the Appellate Division for reconsideration of one of the other two causes of action that the Appellate Division previously declined to reinstate. The NYAG’s petition for reconsideration remains pending.
	Total Bond Market Fund Litigation: On August 28, 2008, a class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of investors in the Schwab Total Bond Market Fund™ (Northstar lawsuit). The lawsuit, which alleges violations of state law and federal securities law in connection with the fund’s investment policy, names Schwab Investments (registrant and issuer of the fund’s shares) and CSIM as defendants. Allegations include that the fund improperly deviated from its stated investment objectives by investing in collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and investing more than 25% of fund assets in CMOs and mortgage-backed securities without obtaining a shareholder vote. Plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and rescission damages, unspecified equitable and injunctive relief, costs and attorneys’ fees. Plaintiffs’ federal securities law claim and certain of plaintiffs’ state law claims were dismissed in proceedings before the court and following a successful petition by defendants to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. On August 8, 2011, the court dismissed plaintiffs’ remaining claims with prejudice. Plaintiffs have again appealed to the Ninth Circuit, where the case is currently pending.
	optionsXpress Regulatory Matters: optionsXpress entities and individual employees are respondents in certain pending regulatory matters which predate the Company’s acquisition of optionsXpress. On April 16, 2012, optionsXpress, Inc. was charged by the SEC in an administrative proceeding alleging violations of the firm’s close-out obligations under Regulation SHO (short sale delivery rules) in connection with certain customer trading activity. Trial in the proceeding commenced September 5, 2012. In a decision issued June 7, 2013, the judge held that optionsXpress violated Regulation SHO and aided and abetted fraudulent trading activity by its customer, and ordered the firm to pay disgorgement and penalties. The Company continues to dispute the allegations and is appealing the decision.  The Company has a contingent liability associated with this matter, which was not material at September 30, 2013. Separately, on April 19, 2012, the SEC instituted an administrative proceeding alleging violations of the broker-dealer registration requirements by an unregistered optionsXpress entity. A settlement consenting to a penalty and cease and desist order was reached with the SEC in that proceeding on October 22, 2013. The settlement agreement and the Company’s contingent liability associated with this matter were not material at September 30, 2013.

Fair_Values_of_Assets_and_Liab

Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities	'
	6.Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities
	For a description of the fair value hierarchy and the Company’s fair value methodologies, including the use of independent third-party pricing services, see note “2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as updated by the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 24, 2013, relating to the realignment of the Company’s reportable segments. There were no significant changes in these methodologies during the quarter ended September 30, 2013. The Company did not transfer any assets or liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 during the quarter ended September 30, 2013, or the year ended December 31, 2012. In addition, the Company did not adjust prices received from the primary independent third-party pricing service at September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012.
	Financial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value
	The following tables present the fair value hierarchy for assets measured at fair value. Liabilities recorded at fair value were not material, and therefore are not included in the following tables:
		Quoted Prices
		in Active Markets			Significant			Significant
		for Identical			Other Observable			Unobservable
		Assets			Inputs			Inputs				Balance at
	30-Sep-13	(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)				Fair Value
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds		$	675		$	-		$	-		$	675
	Commercial paper			-			10			-			10
	Total cash equivalents			675			10			-			685
	Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes:
	Certificates of deposit			-			2,901			-			2,901
	U.S. Government securities			-			2,601			-			2,601
	Total investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory
	purposes			-			5,502			-			5,502
	Other securities owned:
	Schwab Funds® money market funds			225			-			-			225
	Equity and bond mutual funds			198			-			-			198
	State and municipal debt obligations			-			43			-			43
	Equity, U.S. Government and corporate debt, and other
	securities			1			15			-			16
	Total other securities owned			424			58			-			482
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities			-			18,648			-			18,648
	Asset-backed securities			-			14,514			-			14,514
	Corporate debt securities			-			9,372			-			9,372
	Certificates of deposit			-			4,280			-			4,280
	U.S. agency notes			-			4,152			-			4,152
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities			-			618			-			618
	Other securities			-			281			-			281
	Total securities available for sale			-			51,865			-			51,865
	Total		$	1,099		$	57,435		$	-		$	58,534
		Quoted Prices
		in Active Markets			Significant			Significant
		for Identical			Other Observable			Unobservable
		Assets			Inputs			Inputs			Balance at
	December 31, 2012	(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)			Fair Value
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds		$	413		$	-		$	-		$	413
	Commercial paper			-			1,076			-			1,076
	Total cash equivalents			413			1,076			-			1,489
	Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes:
	Certificates of deposit			-			2,976			-			2,976
	U.S. Government securities			-			1,767			-			1,767
	Total investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory
	purposes			-			4,743			-			4,743
	Other securities owned:
	Schwab Funds® money market funds			329			-			-			329
	Equity and bond mutual funds			217			-			-			217
	State and municipal debt obligations			-			48			-			48
	Equity, U.S. Government and corporate debt, and other
	securities			2			40			-			42
	Total other securities owned			548			88			-			636
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities			-			20,476			-			20,476
	Asset-backed securities			-			8,164			-			8,164
	Corporate debt securities			-			6,256			-			6,256
	Certificates of deposit			-			6,161			-			6,161
	U.S. agency notes			-			3,464			-			3,464
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities			-			733			-			733
Commercial paper			-			574			-			574
Other securities			-			295			-			295
Total securities available for sale			-			46,123			-			46,123
Total		$	961		$	52,030		$	-		$	52,991
Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value
Descriptions of the valuation methodologies and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments not recorded at fair value are also described in note “2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as updated by the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 24, 2013, relating to the realignment of the Company’s reportable segments. There were no significant changes in these methodologies or assumptions during the quarter ended September 30, 2013. The following tables present the fair value hierarchy for financial instruments not recorded at fair value:
				Quoted Prices
				in Active Markets			Significant			Significant
				for Identical			Other Observable			Unobservable
	Carrying			Assets			Inputs			Inputs			Balance at
30-Sep-13	Amount			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)			Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	6,677		$	-		$	6,677		$	-		$	6,677
Cash and investments segregated and
on deposit for regulatory purposes			18,013			-			18,013			-			18,013
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and
clearing organizations			511			-			511			-			511
Receivables from brokerage clients – net			13,119			-			13,119			-			13,119
Securities held to maturity:
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities			27,288			-			26,846			-			26,846
Other securities			931			-			871			-			871
Total securities held to maturity			28,219			-			27,717			-			27,717
Loans to banking clients – net:
Residential real estate mortgages			7,801			-			7,803			-			7,803
Home equity lines of credit			3,036			-			3,043			-			3,043
Personal loans secured by securities			1,247			-			1,247			-			1,247
Other			31			-			31			-			31
Total loans to banking clients – net			12,115			-			12,124			-			12,124
Other assets			64			-			64			-			64
Total		$	78,718		$	-		$	78,225		$	-		$	78,225
Liabilities:
Deposits from banking clients		$	91,187		$	-		$	91,187		$	-		$	91,187
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing
organizations			1,207			-			1,207			-			1,207
Payables to brokerage clients			34,532			-			34,532			-			34,532
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			536			-			536			-			536
Long-term debt			1,904			-			1,999			-			1,999
Total		$	129,366		$	-		$	129,461		$	-		$	129,461
				Quoted Prices
				in Active Markets			Significant			Significant
				for Identical			Other Observable			Unobservable
	Carrying			Assets			Inputs			Inputs			Balance at
December 31, 2012	Amount			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)			Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	11,174		$	-		$	11,174		$	-		$	11,174
Cash and investments segregated and
on deposit for regulatory purposes			23,723			-			23,723			-			23,723
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and
clearing organizations			333			-			333			-			333
Receivables from brokerage clients – net			13,453			-			13,453			-			13,453
Securities held to maturity:
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities			17,750			-			18,289			-			18,289
Other securities			444			-			443			-			443
Total securities held to maturity			18,194			-			18,732			-			18,732
Loans to banking clients – net:
Residential real estate mortgages			6,471			-			6,687			-			6,687
Home equity lines of credit			3,267			-			3,295			-			3,295
Personal loans secured by securities			963			-			963			-			963
Other			25			-			24			-			24
Total loans to banking clients – net			10,726			-			10,969			-			10,969
Other assets			64			-			64			-			64
Total		$	77,667		$	-		$	78,448		$	-		$	78,448
Liabilities:
Deposits from banking clients		$	79,377		$	-		$	79,377		$	-		$	79,377
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing
organizations			1,068			-			1,068			-			1,068
Payables to brokerage clients			40,330			-			40,330			-			40,330
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			353			-			353			-			353
Long-term debt			1,632			-			1,782			-			1,782
Total		$	122,760		$	-		$	122,910		$	-		$	122,910
Securities lending: Payables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations include securities loaned. The Company loans client securities temporarily to other brokers in connection with its securities lending activities and receives cash as collateral for the securities loaned. The fair value of client securities pledged in securities lending transactions to other broker-dealers was $939 million at September 30, 2013 and $852 million at December 31, 2012. Additionally, the Company borrows securities from other broker-dealers to fulfill short sales by clients, which are included in receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations. The fair value of these borrowed securities was $246 million at September 30, 2013 and $121 million at December 31, 2012. All of the Company’s securities lending transactions are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements with other broker-dealers. However, the Company does not net securities lending transactions and therefore, the Company’s securities loaned and securities borrowed are presented gross in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Resale agreements: Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes include securities purchased under agreements to resell (resale agreements), which are collateralized by U.S. Government and agency securities. Schwab enters into collateralized resale agreements principally with other broker-dealers, which could result in losses in the event the counterparty fails to purchase the securities held as collateral for the cash advanced and the fair value of the securities declines. Schwab utilizes the collateral provided under these resale agreements to meet obligations under broker-dealer client protection rules, which place limitations on its ability to access such segregated securities. The Company’s resale agreements are not subject to master netting arrangements.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'
	7.Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	Accumulated other comprehensive income represents cumulative gains and losses that are not reflected in earnings. The components of other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:
	Three Months Ended September 30,				2013								2012
			Before		Tax				Net of		Before		Tax			Net of
			tax		effect				tax		tax		effect			tax
	Change in net unrealized gain on
	securities available for sale:
	Net unrealized gain		$	72	$	-28		$	44		$	250	$	-94	$	156
	Reclassification of impairment charges
	included in net impairment losses
	on securities			1		-			1			3		-1		2
	Other reclassifications included in
	other revenue			-2		-			-2			-		-		-
	Change in net unrealized gain on
	securities available for sale			71		-28			43			253		-95		158
	Other comprehensive income		$	71	$	-28		$	43		$	253	$	-95	$	158
	Nine Months Ended September 30,				2013								2012
			Before		Tax				Net of		Before		Tax			Net of
			tax		effect				tax		tax		effect			tax
	Change in net unrealized gain on
	securities available for sale:
	Net unrealized (loss) gain		$	-408	$	153		$	-255		$	458	$	-171	$	287
	Reclassification of impairment charges
	included in net impairment losses
	on securities			8		-2			6			28		-10		18
	Other reclassifications included in
	other revenue			-5		1			-4			-1		-		-1
	Change in net unrealized gain on
	securities available for sale			-405		152			-253			485		-181		304
	Other			1		-			1			-		-		-
	Other comprehensive (loss) income		$	-404	$	152		$	-252		$	485	$	-181	$	304
	Accumulated other comprehensive income balances are as follows:
		Net unrealized								Total
		gain on securities								accumulated other
		available for sale				Other				comprehensive income
	Balance at December 31, 2011		$	10			$	-2			$	8
	Other net changes			304				-				304
	Balance at September 30, 2012		$	314			$	-2			$	312
	Balance at December 31, 2012		$	299			$	-1			$	298
	Other net changes			-253				1				-252
	Balance at September 30, 2013		$	46			$	-			$	46

Earnings_Per_Common_Share

Earnings Per Common Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Common Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Common Share	'
	8.Earnings Per Common Share
	Basic earnings per common share (EPS) is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The computation of diluted EPS is similar to the computation of basic EPS except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued. Dilutive potential common shares include, if dilutive, the effect of outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock awards and units. EPS under the basic and diluted computations is as follows:
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Net income		$	290	$	247	$	752	$	717
	Preferred stock dividends			-8		-9		-39		-23
	Net income available to common stockholders		$	282	$	238	$	713	$	694
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding — basic			1,287		1,274		1,282		1,273
	Common stock equivalent shares related to stock incentive plans			9		1		6		1
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding — diluted (1)			1,296		1,275		1,288		1,274
	Basic EPS		$	.22	$	.19	$	.55	$	.54
	Diluted EPS		$	.22	$	.19	$	.55	$	.54
	-1	Antidilutive stock options and restricted stock awards excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS totaled 19 million and 59 million shares for the third quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 31 million and 61 million shares for the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Regulatory_Requirements

Regulatory Requirements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Regulatory Requirements [Abstract]	'
Regulatory Requirements	'
	9.Regulatory Requirements
	CSC is a savings and loan holding company and Schwab Bank, CSC’s depository institution subsidiary, is a federal savings bank. CSC is subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve) and Schwab Bank is subject to supervision and regulation by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the OCC). CSC is currently not subject to specific statutory capital requirements, however, CSC is required to serve as a source of strength for Schwab Bank. Under the new regulatory capital rules, which implemented Basel III and relevant provisions of the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,” CSC will be subject to minimum leverage and minimum risk-based capital ratio requirements beginning on January 1, 2015.
	Schwab Bank is subject to regulation and supervision and to various requirements and restrictions under federal and state laws, including regulatory capital guidelines. Among other things, these requirements also restrict and govern the terms of affiliate transactions, such as extensions of credit and repayment of loans between Schwab Bank and CSC or CSC’s other subsidiaries. In addition, Schwab Bank is required to provide notice to and may be required to obtain approval of the OCC and the Federal Reserve to declare dividends to CSC. The federal banking agencies have broad powers to enforce these regulations, including the power to terminate deposit insurance, impose substantial fines and other civil and criminal penalties, and appoint a conservator or receiver. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, Schwab Bank could be subject to restrictive actions if it were to fall within one of the lowest three of five capital categories. Schwab Bank is required to maintain minimum capital levels as specified in federal banking laws and regulations. Failure to meet the minimum levels could result in certain mandatory, and possibly additional discretionary, actions by the regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on Schwab Bank. At September 30, 2013, CSC and Schwab Bank met the capital level requirements.
	The regulatory capital and ratios for Schwab Bank at September 30, 2013 are as follows:
						Minimum Capital				Minimum to be
		Actual				Requirement				Well Capitalized
		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
	Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital	$	6,345	18.5	%	$	1,369	4.0	%	$	2,053	6.0	%
	Total Risk-Based Capital	$	6,398	18.7	%	$	2,737	8.0	%	$	3,422	10.0	%
	Tier 1 Leverage	$	6,345	6.5	%	$	3,911	4.0	%	$	4,889	5.0	%
	Tangible Equity	$	6,345	6.5	%	$	1,955	2.0	%		N/A
	N/A Not applicable.
	Based on its regulatory capital ratios at September 30, 2013, Schwab Bank is considered well capitalized (the highest category) pursuant to banking regulatory guidelines. There are no conditions or events since September 30, 2013, that management believes have changed Schwab Bank’s capital category.
	CSC’s principal U.S. broker-dealers are Schwab and optionsXpress, Inc. Schwab and optionsXpress, Inc. are both subject to Rule 15c3-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Uniform Net Capital Rule). Schwab and optionsXpress, Inc. compute net capital under the alternative method permitted by the Uniform Net Capital Rule. This method requires the maintenance of minimum net capital, as defined, of the greater of 2% of aggregate debit balances arising from client transactions or a minimum dollar requirement ($250,000 for Schwab), which is based on the type of business conducted by the broker-dealer. Under the alternative method, a broker-dealer may not repay subordinated borrowings, pay cash dividends, or make any unsecured advances or loans to its parent company or employees if such payment would result in a net capital amount of less than 5% of aggregate debit balances or less than 120% of its minimum dollar requirement.
	optionsXpress, Inc. is also subject to Commodity Futures Trading Commission Regulation 1.17 (Reg. 1.17) under the Commodity Exchange Act, which also requires the maintenance of minimum net capital. optionsXpress, Inc., as a futures commission merchant, is required to maintain minimum net capital equal to the greater of its net capital requirement under Reg. 1.17 ($1 million), or the sum of 8% of the total risk margin requirements for all positions carried in client accounts and 8% of the total risk margin requirements for all positions carried in non-client accounts (as defined in Reg. 1.17).
	Net capital and net capital requirements for Schwab and optionsXpress, Inc. at September 30, 2013 are as follows:
										Net Capital		Net Capital
				% of		Minimum		2% of		in Excess of		in Excess of 5%
				Aggregate		Net Capital		Aggregate		Required		of Aggregate
		Net Capital		Debit Balances		Required		Debit Balances		Net Capital		Debit Balances
	Schwab	$	1,361	9	%	$	0.250	$	288	$	1,073	$	642
	optionsXpress, Inc.	$	100	29	%	$	1	$	7	$	93	$	83

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Information [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	10.Segment Information
	The Company structures its operating segments according to its clients and the services provided to those clients. The Company’s two reportable segments are Investor Services and Advisor Services. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company realigned its reportable segments as a result of organizational changes. The segment formerly reported as Institutional Services was renamed to Advisor Services. Additionally, the Retirement Plan Services and Corporate Brokerage Services business units are now part of the Investor Services segment. Prior period segment information has been recast to reflect these organizational changes. The Investor Services segment provides retail brokerage and banking services to individual investors, retirement plan services, and corporate brokerage services. The Advisor Services segment provides custodial, trading, and support services to independent investment advisors, and retirement business services to independent retirement plan advisors and recordkeepers whose plan assets are held at Schwab Bank. Revenues and expenses are allocated to the Company’s two segments based on which segment services the client.
	The Company evaluates the performance of its segments on a pre-tax basis, excluding items such as significant nonrecurring gains, impairment charges on non-financial assets, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and significant restructuring and other charges. Segment assets and liabilities are not used for evaluating segment performance or in deciding how to allocate resources to segments. There are no revenues from transactions between the segments.
	Financial information for the Company’s reportable segments is presented in the following table:
		Investor Services				Advisor Services				Unallocated				Total
	Three Months Ended September 30,	2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Net Revenues:
	Asset management and administration fees	$	410	$	366	$	173	$	157	$	-	$	1	$	583	$	524
	Net interest revenue		450		387		56		52		-		-		506		439
	Trading revenue		153		145		71		60		-		-1		224		204
	Other		44		26		13		16		-		-		57		42
	Provision for loan losses		3		-10		1		-		-		-		4		-10
	Net impairment losses on securities		-		-2		-1		-1		-		-		-1		-3
	Total net revenues		1,060		912		313		284		-		-		1,373		1,196
	Expenses Excluding Interest		705		657		204		178		-		-		909		835
	Income before taxes on income	$	355	$	255	$	109	$	106	$	-	$	-	$	464	$	361
	Taxes on income														174		114
	Net Income													$	290	$	247
		Investor Services				Advisor Services				Unallocated				Total
	Nine Months Ended September 30,	2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Net Revenues:
	Asset management and administration fees	$	1,199	$	1,057	$	508	$	447	$	-	$	-	$	1,707	$	1,504
	Net interest revenue		1,281		1,178		167		153		-		-		1,448		1,331
	Trading revenue		462		475		220		192		-		-1		682		666
	Other (1)		129		87		43		50		-		72		172		209
	Provision for loan losses		-1		-13		-		-1		-		-		-1		-14
	Net impairment losses on securities		-7		-25		-1		-3		-		-		-8		-28
	Total net revenues		3,063		2,759		937		838		-		71		4,000		3,668
	Expenses Excluding Interest		2,178		2,014		615		548		-		-		2,793		2,562
	Income before taxes on income	$	885	$	745	$	322	$	290	$	-	$	71	$	1,207	$	1,106
	Taxes on income														455		389
	Net Income													$	752	$	717
	-1	Unallocated amount includes a pre-tax gain of $70 million relating to a confidential resolution of a vendor dispute in the second quarter of 2012.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events	'
	11.Subsequent Events
	The Company has evaluated the impact of events that have occurred subsequent to September 30, 2013, through the date the condensed consolidated financial statements were filed with the SEC. Based on this evaluation, other than as recorded or disclosed within these condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes, the Company has determined none of these events were required to be recognized or disclosed.

Securities_Available_for_Sale_1

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity [Abstract]	'
Amortized Cost, Gross Unrealized Gains and Losses, and Fair Value of Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity	'
	:
					Gross		Gross
			Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	30-Sep-13		Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	18,498	$	175	$	25	$	18,648
	Asset-backed securities			14,519		37		42		14,514
	Corporate debt securities			9,335		52		15		9,372
	Certificates of deposit			4,275		6		1		4,280
	U.S. agency notes			4,240		1		89		4,152
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities			653		9		44		618
	Other securities			272		9		-		281
	Total securities available for sale		$	51,792	$	289	$	216	$	51,865
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	27,288	$	249	$	691	$	26,846
	Other securities			931		-		60		871
	Total securities held to maturity		$	28,219	$	249	$	751	$	27,717
					Gross		Gross
			Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	31-Dec-12		Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	20,080	$	396	$	-	$	20,476
	Asset-backed securities			8,104		62		2		8,164
	Corporate debt securities			6,197		61		2		6,256
	Certificates of deposit			6,150		12		1		6,161
	U.S. agency notes			3,465		2		3		3,464
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities			796		2		65		733
	Commercial paper			574		-		-		574
	Other securities			278		17		-		295
	Total securities available for sale		$	45,644	$	552	$	73	$	46,123
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	17,750	$	558	$	19	$	18,289
	Other securities			444		-		1		443
	Total securities held to maturity		$	18,194	$	558	$	20	$	18,732
Securities with Unrealized Losses, Aggregated by Category and Period of Continuous Unrealized Loss	'
			Less than				12 months
			12 months				or longer				Total
			Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	30-Sep-13		Value		Losses		Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S agency mortgage-backed securities		$	5,105	$	25	$	-	$	-	$	5,105	$	25
	Asset-backed securities			7,328		40		469		2		7,797		42
	Corporate debt securities			1,685		14		400		1		2,085		15
	Certificates of deposit			-		-		299		1		299		1
	U.S. agency notes			3,651		89		-		-		3,651		89
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed
	securities			112		3		393		41		505		44
	Total		$	17,881	$	171	$	1,561	$	45	$	19,442	$	216
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities		$	16,051	$	690	$	85	$	1	$	16,136	$	691
	Other securities			771		60		-		-		771		60
	Total		$	16,822	$	750	$	85	$	1	$	16,907	$	751
	Total securities with unrealized losses (1)		$	34,703	$	921	$	1,646	$	46	$	36,349	$	967
	-1	The number of investment positions with unrealized losses totaled 260 for securities available for sale and 135 for securities held to maturity.
			Less than				12 months
			12 months				or longer				Total
			Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	31-Dec-12		Value		Losses		Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	Securities available for sale:
	Asset-backed securities		$	-	$	-	$	801	$	2	$	801	$	2
	Corporate debt securities			878		2		-		-		878		2
	Certificates of deposit			599		1		-		-		599		1
	U.S. agency notes			2,102		3		-		-		2,102		3
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed
	securities			46		1		549		64		595		65
	Total		$	3,625	$	7	$	1,350	$	66	$	4,975	$	73
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed
	securities		$	2,680	$	19	$	-	$	-	$	2,680	$	19
	Other securities			240		1		-		-		240		1
	Total		$	2,920	$	20	$	-	$	-	$	2,920	$	20
	Total securities with unrealized losses (1)		$	6,545	$	27	$	1,350	$	66	$	7,895	$	93
	-1	The number of investment positions with unrealized losses totaled 139 for securities available for sale and 24 for securities held to maturity.
Rollforward Amount of Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings for OTTI Securities for Portion of Impairment Recognized in or Reclassified From Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	'
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Balance at beginning of period		$	166	$	152	$	159	$	127
	Credit losses recognized into current period earnings on debt securities for
	which an other-than-temporary impairment was not previously recognized			-		1		1		6
	Credit losses recognized into current period earnings on debt securities for
	which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized			1		2		7		22
	Balance at end of period		$	167	$	155	$	167	$	155
Maturities of Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity	'
					After 1 year		After 5 years
			Within		through		through		After
			1 year		5 years		10 years		10 years		Total
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities (1)		$	-	$	325	$	4,271	$	14,052	$	18,648
	Asset-backed securities			-		1,255		2,598		10,661		14,514
	Corporate debt securities			1,902		7,364		106		-		9,372
	Certificates of deposit			2,378		1,902		-		-		4,280
	U.S. agency notes			-		2,291		1,861		-		4,152
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed
	securities (1)			-		3		2		613		618
	Other securities			-		-		-		281		281
	Total fair value		$	4,280	$	13,140	$	8,838	$	25,607	$	51,865
	Total amortized cost		$	4,272	$	13,136	$	8,835	$	25,549	$	51,792
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities (1)		$	-	$	371	$	11,555	$	14,920	$	26,846
	Other securities			100		-		340		431		871
	Total fair value		$	100	$	371	$	11,895	$	15,351	$	27,717
	Total amortized cost		$	100	$	364	$	12,349	$	15,406	$	28,219
	-1	Mortgage-backed securities have been allocated to maturity groupings based on final contractual maturities. Actual maturities will differ from final contractual maturities because borrowers on a certain portion of loans underlying these securities have the right to prepay their obligations.
Proceeds and Gross Realized Gains from Sales of Securities Available for Sale	'
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Proceeds		$	1,661	$	201	$	4,665	$	1,524
	Gross realized gains		$	2	$	-	$	5	$	2

Loans_to_Banking_Clients_and_R1

Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses [Abstract]	'
Composition of Loans to Banking Clients by Loan Segment	'
			September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Residential real estate mortgages		$	7,835		$	6,507
	Home equity lines of credit			3,054			3,287
	Personal loans secured by securities			1,247			963
	Other			31			25
	Total loans to banking clients (1)			12,167			10,782
	Allowance for loan losses			-52			-56
	Total loans to banking clients – net		$	12,115		$	10,726
	-1	All loans are evaluated for impairment by loan segment.
Changes in Allowance for Loan Losses	'
	Three Months Ended			30-Sep-13											30-Sep-12
				Residential											Residential
				real estate				Home equity							real estate			Home equity
				mortgages				lines of credit				Total			mortgages			lines of credit			Total
	Balance at beginning of period			$	40			$	17		$	57			$	34		$	17	$	51
	Charge-offs				-1				-1			-2				-2			-3		-5
	Recoveries				1				-			1				1			-		1
	Provision for loan losses				-6				2			-4				2			8		10
	Balance at end of period			$	34			$	18		$	52			$	35		$	22	$	57
	Nine Months Ended			30-Sep-13											30-Sep-12
				Residential											Residential
				real estate				Home equity							real estate			Home equity
				mortgages				lines of credit				Total			mortgages			lines of credit			Total
	Balance at beginning of period			$	36			$	20		$	56			$	40		$	14	$	54
	Charge-offs				-4				-4			-8				-6			-7		-13
	Recoveries				2				1			3				2			-		2
	Provision for loan losses				-				1			1				-1			15		14
	Balance at end of period			$	34			$	18		$	52			$	35		$	22	$	57
Delinquency Aging Analysis by Loan Class	'
												>90 days past
						30-59 days			60-89 days			due and other			Total		Total
	30-Sep-13		Current			past due			past due			nonaccrual loans			past due		loans
	Residential real estate mortgages:
	First mortgages		$	7,632		$	7		$	2		$	30		$	39	$	7,671
	Purchased first mortgages			158			1			1			4			6		164
	Home equity lines of credit			3,037			3			2			12			17		3,054
	Personal loans secured by securities			1,247			-			-			-			-		1,247
	Other			31			-			-			-			-		31
	Total loans to banking clients		$	12,105		$	11		$	5		$	46		$	62	$	12,167
												>90 days past
						30-59 days			60-89 days			due and other			Total		Total
	31-Dec-12		Current			past due			past due			nonaccrual loans			past due		loans
	Residential real estate mortgages:
	First mortgages		$	6,291		$	22		$	2		$	33		$	57	$	6,348
	Purchased first mortgages			154			1			-			4			5		159
	Home equity lines of credit			3,269			5			2			11			18		3,287
	Personal loans secured by securities			963			-			-			-			-		963
	Other			22			3			-			-			3		25
	Total loans to banking clients		$	10,699		$	31		$	4		$	48		$	83	$	10,782
Credit Quality of Residential Real Estate Mortgages and HELOCs by Reviewing FICO Scores at Origination, Current FICO Scores, Loan-To-Value Ratio	'
			Residential real estate mortgages
			First			Purchased							Home equity
	30-Sep-13		mortgages			first mortgages			Total				lines of credit
	Year of origination
	Pre-2009		$	712		$	54		$	766			$	2,098
	2009			207			4			211				270
	2010			545			8			553				198
	2011			790			39			829				162
	2012			2,477			27			2,504				165
	2013			2,940			32			2,972				161
	Total		$	7,671		$	164		$	7,835			$	3,054
	Origination FICO
	<620		$	10		$	2		$	12			$	1
	620 – 679			98			14			112				20
	680 – 739			1,339			33			1,372				584
	>740			6,224			115			6,339				2,449
	Total		$	7,671		$	164		$	7,835			$	3,054
	Updated FICO
	<620		$	47		$	5		$	52			$	45
	620 – 679			209			12			221				106
	680 – 739			1,061			26			1,087				471
	>740			6,354			121			6,475				2,432
	Total		$	7,671		$	164		$	7,835			$	3,054
	Origination LTV
	<70%		$	5,174		$	112		$	5,286			$	2,052
	>70% – <90%			2,480			47			2,527				978
	>90% – <100%			17			5			22				24
	Total		$	7,671		$	164		$	7,835			$	3,054
													Percent of Loans
													that are 90+ Days
													Past Due and
						Weighted							Less than 90 Days
						Average				Utilization			Past Due but on
	30-Sep-13		Balance			Updated FICO				Rate (1)			Nonaccrual Status
	Residential real estate mortgages:
	Estimated Current LTV
	<70%		$	6,509			774			N/A			0.04	%
	>70% – <90%			1,118			762			N/A			0.29	%
	>90% – <100%			95			741			N/A			3.21	%
	>100%			113			727			N/A			9.12	%
	Total		$	7,835			771			N/A			0.24	%
	Home equity lines of credit:
	Estimated Current LTV
	<70%		$	2,110			772			36	%		0.12	%
	>70% – <90%			670			762			48	%		0.26	%
	>90% – <100%			131			756			58	%		0.70	%
	>100%			143			740			61	%		1.64	%
	Total		$	3,054			768			39	%		0.25	%
	-1	The Utilization Rate is calculated using the outstanding HELOC balance divided by the associated total line of credit.
	N/A Not applicable.
			Residential real estate mortgages
			First			Purchased							Home equity
	31-Dec-12		mortgages			first mortgages			Total				lines of credit
	Year of origination
	Pre-2009		$	867		$	62		$	929			$	2,338
	2009			305			6			311				338
	2010			909			12			921				249
	2011			1,270			53			1,323				198
	2012			2,997			26			3,023				164
	Total		$	6,348		$	159		$	6,507			$	3,287
	Origination FICO
	<620		$	10		$	1		$	11			$	-
	620 – 679			98			16			114				23
680 – 739			1,141			40			1,181				633
>740			5,099			102			5,201				2,631
Total		$	6,348		$	159		$	6,507			$	3,287
Updated FICO
<620		$	54		$	6		$	60			$	49
620 – 679			191			13			204				117
680 – 739			940			34			974				510
>740			5,163			106			5,269				2,611
Total		$	6,348		$	159		$	6,507			$	3,287
Origination LTV
<70%		$	4,189		$	97		$	4,286			$	2,225
>70% – <90%			2,142			54			2,196				1,036
>90% – <100%			17			8			25				26
Total		$	6,348		$	159		$	6,507			$	3,287
												Percent of Loans
												that are 90+ Days
												Past Due and
					Weighted							Less than 90 Days
					Average				Utilization			Past Due but on
31-Dec-12		Balance			Updated FICO				Rate (1)			Nonaccrual Status
Residential real estate mortgages:
Estimated Current LTV
<70%		$	4,162			772			N/A			0.05	%
>70% – <90%			1,841			764			N/A			0.22	%
>90% – <100%			168			750			N/A			0.51	%
>100%			336			741			N/A			5.34	%
Total		$	6,507			768			N/A			0.38	%
Home equity lines of credit:
Estimated Current LTV
<70%		$	1,559			773			36	%		0.14	%
>70% – <90%			1,020			766			46	%		0.18	%
>90% – <100%			267			759			54	%		0.44	%
>100%			441			753			59	%		1.06	%
Total		$	3,287			767			42	%		0.31	%
-1	The Utilization Rate is calculated using the outstanding HELOC balance divided by the associated total line of credit.
N/A Not applicable.

Borrowings_Tables

Borrowings (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Borrowings [Abstract]	'
Long-term Debt Including Unamortized Debt Discounts and Premiums	'
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Senior Notes	$	1,565	$	1,288
	Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series A		249		249
	Finance lease obligation		90		95
	Total long-term debt	$	1,904	$	1,632
Annual Maturities on Long-term Debt Outstanding	'
	2013			$	1
	2014				6
	2015				357
	2016				7
	2017				258
	Thereafter				1,292
	Total maturities				1,921
	Unamortized discount, net				-17
	Total long-term debt			$	1,904

Fair_Values_of_Assets_and_Liab1

Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Hierarchy for Assets Measured at Fair Value	'
		Quoted Prices
		in Active Markets			Significant			Significant
		for Identical			Other Observable			Unobservable
		Assets			Inputs			Inputs				Balance at
	30-Sep-13	(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)				Fair Value
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds		$	675		$	-		$	-		$	675
	Commercial paper			-			10			-			10
	Total cash equivalents			675			10			-			685
	Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes:
	Certificates of deposit			-			2,901			-			2,901
	U.S. Government securities			-			2,601			-			2,601
	Total investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory
	purposes			-			5,502			-			5,502
	Other securities owned:
	Schwab Funds® money market funds			225			-			-			225
	Equity and bond mutual funds			198			-			-			198
	State and municipal debt obligations			-			43			-			43
	Equity, U.S. Government and corporate debt, and other
	securities			1			15			-			16
	Total other securities owned			424			58			-			482
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities			-			18,648			-			18,648
	Asset-backed securities			-			14,514			-			14,514
	Corporate debt securities			-			9,372			-			9,372
	Certificates of deposit			-			4,280			-			4,280
	U.S. agency notes			-			4,152			-			4,152
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities			-			618			-			618
	Other securities			-			281			-			281
	Total securities available for sale			-			51,865			-			51,865
	Total		$	1,099		$	57,435		$	-		$	58,534
		Quoted Prices
		in Active Markets			Significant			Significant
		for Identical			Other Observable			Unobservable
		Assets			Inputs			Inputs			Balance at
	December 31, 2012	(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)			Fair Value
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds		$	413		$	-		$	-		$	413
	Commercial paper			-			1,076			-			1,076
	Total cash equivalents			413			1,076			-			1,489
	Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes:
	Certificates of deposit			-			2,976			-			2,976
	U.S. Government securities			-			1,767			-			1,767
	Total investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory
	purposes			-			4,743			-			4,743
	Other securities owned:
	Schwab Funds® money market funds			329			-			-			329
	Equity and bond mutual funds			217			-			-			217
	State and municipal debt obligations			-			48			-			48
	Equity, U.S. Government and corporate debt, and other
	securities			2			40			-			42
	Total other securities owned			548			88			-			636
	Securities available for sale:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities			-			20,476			-			20,476
	Asset-backed securities			-			8,164			-			8,164
	Corporate debt securities			-			6,256			-			6,256
	Certificates of deposit			-			6,161			-			6,161
	U.S. agency notes			-			3,464			-			3,464
	Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities			-			733			-			733
	Commercial paper			-			574			-			574
	Other securities			-			295			-			295
	Total securities available for sale			-			46,123			-			46,123
	Total		$	961		$	52,030		$	-		$	52,991
Fair Value Hierarchy for Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value	'
					Quoted Prices
					in Active Markets			Significant			Significant
					for Identical			Other Observable			Unobservable
		Carrying			Assets			Inputs			Inputs			Balance at
	30-Sep-13	Amount			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)			Fair Value
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	6,677		$	-		$	6,677		$	-		$	6,677
	Cash and investments segregated and
	on deposit for regulatory purposes			18,013			-			18,013			-			18,013
	Receivables from brokers, dealers, and
	clearing organizations			511			-			511			-			511
	Receivables from brokerage clients – net			13,119			-			13,119			-			13,119
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities			27,288			-			26,846			-			26,846
	Other securities			931			-			871			-			871
	Total securities held to maturity			28,219			-			27,717			-			27,717
	Loans to banking clients – net:
	Residential real estate mortgages			7,801			-			7,803			-			7,803
	Home equity lines of credit			3,036			-			3,043			-			3,043
	Personal loans secured by securities			1,247			-			1,247			-			1,247
	Other			31			-			31			-			31
	Total loans to banking clients – net			12,115			-			12,124			-			12,124
	Other assets			64			-			64			-			64
	Total		$	78,718		$	-		$	78,225		$	-		$	78,225
	Liabilities:
	Deposits from banking clients		$	91,187		$	-		$	91,187		$	-		$	91,187
	Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing
	organizations			1,207			-			1,207			-			1,207
	Payables to brokerage clients			34,532			-			34,532			-			34,532
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities			536			-			536			-			536
	Long-term debt			1,904			-			1,999			-			1,999
	Total		$	129,366		$	-		$	129,461		$	-		$	129,461
					Quoted Prices
					in Active Markets			Significant			Significant
					for Identical			Other Observable			Unobservable
		Carrying			Assets			Inputs			Inputs			Balance at
	December 31, 2012	Amount			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)			Fair Value
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	11,174		$	-		$	11,174		$	-		$	11,174
	Cash and investments segregated and
	on deposit for regulatory purposes			23,723			-			23,723			-			23,723
	Receivables from brokers, dealers, and
	clearing organizations			333			-			333			-			333
	Receivables from brokerage clients – net			13,453			-			13,453			-			13,453
	Securities held to maturity:
	U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities			17,750			-			18,289			-			18,289
	Other securities			444			-			443			-			443
	Total securities held to maturity			18,194			-			18,732			-			18,732
	Loans to banking clients – net:
	Residential real estate mortgages			6,471			-			6,687			-			6,687
	Home equity lines of credit			3,267			-			3,295			-			3,295
	Personal loans secured by securities			963			-			963			-			963
	Other			25			-			24			-			24
	Total loans to banking clients – net			10,726			-			10,969			-			10,969
	Other assets			64			-			64			-			64
	Total		$	77,667		$	-		$	78,448		$	-		$	78,448
	Liabilities:
	Deposits from banking clients		$	79,377		$	-		$	79,377		$	-		$	79,377
	Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing
	organizations			1,068			-			1,068			-			1,068
	Payables to brokerage clients			40,330			-			40,330			-			40,330
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities			353			-			353			-			353
	Long-term debt			1,632			-			1,782			-			1,782
Total		$	122,760		$	-		$	122,910		$	-		$	122,910

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'
Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	Three Months Ended September 30,				2013								2012
			Before		Tax				Net of		Before		Tax			Net of
			tax		effect				tax		tax		effect			tax
	Change in net unrealized gain on
	securities available for sale:
	Net unrealized gain		$	72	$	-28		$	44		$	250	$	-94	$	156
	Reclassification of impairment charges
	included in net impairment losses
	on securities			1		-			1			3		-1		2
	Other reclassifications included in
	other revenue			-2		-			-2			-		-		-
	Change in net unrealized gain on
	securities available for sale			71		-28			43			253		-95		158
	Other comprehensive income		$	71	$	-28		$	43		$	253	$	-95	$	158
	Nine Months Ended September 30,				2013								2012
			Before		Tax				Net of		Before		Tax			Net of
			tax		effect				tax		tax		effect			tax
	Change in net unrealized gain on
	securities available for sale:
	Net unrealized (loss) gain		$	-408	$	153		$	-255		$	458	$	-171	$	287
	Reclassification of impairment charges
	included in net impairment losses
	on securities			8		-2			6			28		-10		18
	Other reclassifications included in
	other revenue			-5		1			-4			-1		-		-1
	Change in net unrealized gain on
	securities available for sale			-405		152			-253			485		-181		304
	Other			1		-			1			-		-		-
	Other comprehensive (loss) income		$	-404	$	152		$	-252		$	485	$	-181	$	304
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Balances	'
		Net unrealized								Total
		gain on securities								accumulated other
		available for sale				Other				comprehensive income
	Balance at December 31, 2011		$	10			$	-2			$	8
	Other net changes			304				-				304
	Balance at September 30, 2012		$	314			$	-2			$	312
	Balance at December 31, 2012		$	299			$	-1			$	298
	Other net changes			-253				1				-252
	Balance at September 30, 2013		$	46			$	-			$	46

Earnings_Per_Common_Share_Tabl

Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Common Share [Abstract]	'
EPS under Basic and Diluted Computations	'
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Net income		$	290	$	247	$	752	$	717
	Preferred stock dividends			-8		-9		-39		-23
	Net income available to common stockholders		$	282	$	238	$	713	$	694
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding — basic			1,287		1,274		1,282		1,273
	Common stock equivalent shares related to stock incentive plans			9		1		6		1
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding — diluted (1)			1,296		1,275		1,288		1,274
	Basic EPS		$	.22	$	.19	$	.55	$	.54
	Diluted EPS		$	.22	$	.19	$	.55	$	.54
	-1	Antidilutive stock options and restricted stock awards excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS totaled 19 million and 59 million shares for the third quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 31 million and 61 million shares for the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Regulatory_Requirements_Tables

Regulatory Requirements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Regulatory Requirements [Abstract]	'
Regulatory Capital and Ratios	'
						Minimum Capital				Minimum to be
		Actual				Requirement				Well Capitalized
		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
	Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital	$	6,345	18.5	%	$	1,369	4.0	%	$	2,053	6.0	%
	Total Risk-Based Capital	$	6,398	18.7	%	$	2,737	8.0	%	$	3,422	10.0	%
	Tier 1 Leverage	$	6,345	6.5	%	$	3,911	4.0	%	$	4,889	5.0	%
	Tangible Equity	$	6,345	6.5	%	$	1,955	2.0	%		N/A
	N/A Not applicable.
Net Capital and Net Capital Requirements for Schwab and optionsXpress, Inc.	'
										Net Capital		Net Capital
				% of		Minimum		2% of		in Excess of		in Excess of 5%
				Aggregate		Net Capital		Aggregate		Required		of Aggregate
		Net Capital		Debit Balances		Required		Debit Balances		Net Capital		Debit Balances
	Schwab	$	1,361	9	%	$	0.250	$	288	$	1,073	$	642
	optionsXpress, Inc.	$	100	29	%	$	1	$	7	$	93	$	83

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Information [Abstract]	'
Financial Information for Reportable Segments	'
		Investor Services				Advisor Services				Unallocated				Total
	Three Months Ended September 30,	2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Net Revenues:
	Asset management and administration fees	$	410	$	366	$	173	$	157	$	-	$	1	$	583	$	524
	Net interest revenue		450		387		56		52		-		-		506		439
	Trading revenue		153		145		71		60		-		-1		224		204
	Other		44		26		13		16		-		-		57		42
	Provision for loan losses		3		-10		1		-		-		-		4		-10
	Net impairment losses on securities		-		-2		-1		-1		-		-		-1		-3
	Total net revenues		1,060		912		313		284		-		-		1,373		1,196
	Expenses Excluding Interest		705		657		204		178		-		-		909		835
	Income before taxes on income	$	355	$	255	$	109	$	106	$	-	$	-	$	464	$	361
	Taxes on income														174		114
	Net Income													$	290	$	247
		Investor Services				Advisor Services				Unallocated				Total
	Nine Months Ended September 30,	2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Net Revenues:
	Asset management and administration fees	$	1,199	$	1,057	$	508	$	447	$	-	$	-	$	1,707	$	1,504
	Net interest revenue		1,281		1,178		167		153		-		-		1,448		1,331
	Trading revenue		462		475		220		192		-		-1		682		666
	Other (1)		129		87		43		50		-		72		172		209
	Provision for loan losses		-1		-13		-		-1		-		-		-1		-14
	Net impairment losses on securities		-7		-25		-1		-3		-		-		-8		-28
	Total net revenues		3,063		2,759		937		838		-		71		4,000		3,668
	Expenses Excluding Interest		2,178		2,014		615		548		-		-		2,793		2,562
	Income before taxes on income	$	885	$	745	$	322	$	290	$	-	$	71	$	1,207	$	1,106
	Taxes on income														455		389
	Net Income													$	752	$	717
	-1	Unallocated amount includes a pre-tax gain of $70 million relating to a confidential resolution of a vendor dispute in the second quarter of 2012.

Introduction_and_Basis_of_Pres1

Introduction and Basis of Presentation (Details)	Sep. 30, 2013
	state
	item
Introduction and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]	'
Minimum number of domestic branch offices	300
States with domestic branch offices	45

Securities_Available_for_Sale_2

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
	item				item
Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Fair Isaac & Company minimum credit score for Prime loan origination	620		'		620		'
Net impairment losses on securities	$1	[1]	$3	[1]	$8	[1]	$28	[1]
[1]	Net impairment losses on securities include total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $0 million and $1 million recognized in other comprehensive income, net of $(1) million and $(2) million reclassified from other comprehensive income, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Net impairment losses on securities include total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $2 million and $15 million recognized in other comprehensive income, net of $(6) million and $(13) million reclassified from other comprehensive income, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Securities_Available_for_Sale_3

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Amortized Cost, Gross Unrealized Gains and Losses, and Fair Value of Securities Available for Sale) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	$51,792		$45,644
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Gains	289		552
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Losses	216		73
Securities available for sale	51,865		46,123
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	18,498		20,080
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Gains	175		396
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Losses	25		'
Securities available for sale	18,648	[1]	20,476
Asset-backed securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	14,519		8,104
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Gains	37		62
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Losses	42		2
Securities available for sale	14,514		8,164
Corporate debt securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	9,335		6,197
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Gains	52		61
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Losses	15		2
Securities available for sale	9,372		6,256
Certificates of deposit	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	4,275		6,150
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Gains	6		12
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Losses	1		1
Securities available for sale	4,280		6,161
U.S. agency notes	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	4,240		3,465
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Gains	1		2
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Losses	89		3
Securities available for sale	4,152		3,464
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	653		796
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Gains	9		2
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Losses	44		65
Securities available for sale	618	[1]	733
Commercial paper	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	'		574
Securities available for sale	'		574
Other securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	272		278
Securities available for sale Gross Unrealized Gains	9		17
Securities available for sale	$281		$295
[1]	Mortgage-backed securities have been allocated to maturity groupings based on final contractual maturities. Actual maturities will differ from final contractual maturities because borrowers on a certain portion of loans underlying these securities have the right to prepay their obligations.

Securities_Available_for_Sale_4

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Amortized Cost, Gross Unrealized Gains and Losses, and Fair Value of Securities Held to Maturity) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities held to maturity	$28,219		$18,194
Securities held to maturity Gross Unrealized Gains	249		558
Securities held to maturity Gross Unrealized Losses	751		20
Securities held to maturity, fair value	27,717		18,732
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'		'
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities held to maturity	27,288		17,750
Securities held to maturity Gross Unrealized Gains	249		558
Securities held to maturity Gross Unrealized Losses	691		19
Securities held to maturity, fair value	26,846	[1]	18,289
Other securities	'		'
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities held to maturity	931		444
Securities held to maturity Gross Unrealized Losses	60		1
Securities held to maturity, fair value	$871		$443
[1]	Mortgage-backed securities have been allocated to maturity groupings based on final contractual maturities. Actual maturities will differ from final contractual maturities because borrowers on a certain portion of loans underlying these securities have the right to prepay their obligations.

Securities_Available_for_Sale_5

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Available For Sale Securities with Unrealized Losses, Aggregated by Category and Period of Continuous Unrealized Loss) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	security	security
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Fair Value	$17,881	$3,625
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	171	7
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Fair Value	1,561	1,350
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	45	66
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	19,442	4,975
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	216	73
Number of available for sale securities in unrealized loss positions	260	139
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Fair Value	5,105	'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	25	'
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	5,105	'
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	25	'
Asset-backed securities	'	'
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Fair Value	7,328	'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	40	'
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Fair Value	469	801
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	2	2
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	7,797	801
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	42	2
Corporate debt securities	'	'
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Fair Value	1,685	878
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	14	2
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Fair Value	400	'
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	1	'
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	2,085	878
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	15	2
Certificates of deposit	'	'
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Fair Value	'	599
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	'	1
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Fair Value	299	'
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	1	'
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	299	599
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	1	1
U.S. agency notes	'	'
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Fair Value	3,651	2,102
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	89	3
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	3,651	2,102
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	89	3
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Fair Value	112	46
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	3	1
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Fair Value	393	549
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	41	64
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	505	595
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	$44	$65

Securities_Available_for_Sale_6

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Held To Maturity Securities with Unrealized Losses, Aggregated by Category and Period of Continuous Unrealized Loss) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	security	security
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities held to maturity Less than 12 months Fair Value	$16,822	$2,920
Securities held to maturity Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	750	20
Securities held to maturity 12 months or longer Fair Value	85	'
Securities held to maturity 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	1	'
Total Securities held to maturity with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	16,907	2,920
Total Securities held to maturity with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	751	20
Number of held to maturity securities in unrealized loss positions	135	24
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities held to maturity Less than 12 months Fair Value	16,051	2,680
Securities held to maturity Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	690	19
Securities held to maturity 12 months or longer Fair Value	85	'
Securities held to maturity 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	1	'
Total Securities held to maturity with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	16,136	2,680
Total Securities held to maturity with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	691	19
Other securities	'	'
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Securities held to maturity Less than 12 months Fair Value	771	240
Securities held to maturity Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	60	1
Total Securities held to maturity with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	771	240
Total Securities held to maturity with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	$60	$1

Securities_Available_for_Sale_7

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Securities with Unrealized Losses, Aggregated by Category and Period of Continuous Unrealized Loss) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity [Abstract]	'		'
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Fair Value	$17,881		$3,625
Securities available for sale Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	171		7
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Fair Value	1,561		1,350
Securities available for sale 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	45		66
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	19,442		4,975
Total Securities available for sale with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	216		73
Securities held to maturity Less than 12 months Fair Value	16,822		2,920
Securities held to maturity Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	750		20
Securities held to maturity 12 months or longer Fair Value	85		'
Securities held to maturity 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	1		'
Total Securities held to maturity with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	16,907		2,920
Total Securities held to maturity with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	751		20
Securities Less than 12 months Fair Value	34,703	[1]	6,545	[2]
Securities Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses	921	[1]	27	[2]
Securities 12 months or longer Fair Value	1,646	[1]	1,350	[2]
Securities 12 months or longer Unrealized Losses	46	[1]	66	[2]
Total securities with unrealized losses Total Fair Value	36,349	[1]	7,895	[2]
Total securities with unrealized losses Total Unrealized Losses	$967	[1]	$93	[2]
[1]	The number of investment positions with unrealized losses totaled 260 for securities available for sale and 135 for securities held to maturity.
[2]	The number of investment positions with unrealized losses totaled 139 for securities available for sale and 24 for securities held to maturity.

Securities_Available_for_Sale_8

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Rollforward Amount of Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings for OTTI Securities for Portion of Impairment Recognized in or Reclassified From Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	$166	$152	$159	$127
Credit losses recognized into current period earnings on debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment was not previously recognized	'	1	1	6
Credit losses recognized into current period earnings on debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized	1	2	7	22
Balance at end of period	$167	$155	$167	$155

Securities_Available_for_Sale_9

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Maturities of Securities Available for Sale) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale fair value Within 1 year	$4,280		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 1 year through 5 years	13,140		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 5 years through 10 years	8,838		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 10 years	25,607		'
Securities available for sale	51,865		46,123
Securities available for sale Within 1 year amortized cost	4,272		'
Securities available for sale After 1 year through 5 years amortized cost	13,136		'
Securities available for sale After 5 years through 10 years amortized cost	8,835		'
Securities available for sale After 10 years amortized cost	25,549		'
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	51,792		45,644
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 1 year through 5 years	325	[1]	'
Securities available for sale fair value After 5 years through 10 years	4,271	[1]	'
Securities available for sale fair value After 10 years	14,052	[1]	'
Securities available for sale	18,648	[1]	20,476
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	18,498		20,080
Asset-backed securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 1 year through 5 years	1,255		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 5 years through 10 years	2,598		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 10 years	10,661		'
Securities available for sale	14,514		8,164
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	14,519		8,104
Corporate debt securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale fair value Within 1 year	1,902		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 1 year through 5 years	7,364		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 5 years through 10 years	106		'
Securities available for sale	9,372		6,256
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	9,335		6,197
Certificates of deposit	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale fair value Within 1 year	2,378		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 1 year through 5 years	1,902		'
Securities available for sale	4,280		6,161
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	4,275		6,150
U.S. agency notes	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 1 year through 5 years	2,291		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 5 years through 10 years	1,861		'
Securities available for sale	4,152		3,464
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	4,240		3,465
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 1 year through 5 years	3	[1]	'
Securities available for sale fair value After 5 years through 10 years	2	[1]	'
Securities available for sale fair value After 10 years	613	[1]	'
Securities available for sale	618	[1]	733
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	653		796
Other securities	'		'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities available for sale fair value After 10 years	281		'
Securities available for sale	281		295
Securities available for sale Amortized Cost	$272		$278
[1]	Mortgage-backed securities have been allocated to maturity groupings based on final contractual maturities. Actual maturities will differ from final contractual maturities because borrowers on a certain portion of loans underlying these securities have the right to prepay their obligations.

Recovered_Sheet1

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Maturities of Securities Held to Maturity) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities held to maturity Within 1 year	$100		'
Securities held to maturity After 1 year through 5 years	371		'
Securities held to maturity After 5 years through 10 years	11,895		'
Securities held to maturity After 10 years	15,351		'
Securities held to maturity, fair value	27,717		18,732
Securities held to maturity Within 1 year amortized cost	100		'
Securities held to maturity After 1 year through 5 years amortized cost	364		'
Securities held to maturity After 5 years through 10 years amortized cost	12,349		'
Securities held to maturity After 10 years amortized cost	15,406		'
Securities held to maturity	28,219		18,194
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'		'
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities held to maturity Within 1 year	'	[1]	'
Securities held to maturity After 1 year through 5 years	371	[1]	'
Securities held to maturity After 5 years through 10 years	11,555	[1]	'
Securities held to maturity After 10 years	14,920	[1]	'
Securities held to maturity, fair value	26,846	[1]	18,289
Securities held to maturity	27,288		17,750
Other securities	'		'
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]	'		'
Securities held to maturity Within 1 year	100		'
Securities held to maturity After 5 years through 10 years	340		'
Securities held to maturity After 10 years	431		'
Securities held to maturity, fair value	871		443
Securities held to maturity	$931		$444
[1]	Mortgage-backed securities have been allocated to maturity groupings based on final contractual maturities. Actual maturities will differ from final contractual maturities because borrowers on a certain portion of loans underlying these securities have the right to prepay their obligations.

Recovered_Sheet2

Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity (Proceeds and Gross Realized Gains from Sales of Securities Available for Sale) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Proceeds	$1,661	$201	$4,665	$1,524
Gross realized gains	$2	'	$5	$2

Loans_to_Banking_Clients_and_R2

Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
			First Mortgage [Member]	First Mortgage [Member]	First Mortgage [Member]	First Mortgage [Member]
Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Commitments to extend credit related to unused home equity lines of credit, personal loans secured by securities, and other lines of credit	$5,600,000,000	$5,400,000,000	'	'	'	'
Total nonaccrual loans	46,000,000	48,000,000	'	'	'	'
Loans accruing interest contractually 90 days or more past due	0	0	'	'	'	'
Nonperforming assets, including nonaccrual loans and other real estate owned	49,000,000	54,000,000	'	'	'	'
Purchased First Mortgages	'	'	$862,000,000	$923,000,000	$3,100,000,000	$1,500,000,000
Minimum fair value percentage of collateral to principal amount of loan	100.00%	100.00%	'	'	'	'

Loans_to_Banking_Clients_and_R3

Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses (Composition of Loans to Banking Clients by Loan Segment) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loans to banking clients	$12,167	'	$10,782	'	'	'
Allowance for loan losses	-52	-57	-56	-57	-51	-54
Total loans to banking clients - net	12,115	'	10,726	'	'	'
Residential real estate mortgages	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loans to banking clients	7,835	'	6,507	'	'	'
Allowance for loan losses	-34	-40	-36	-35	-34	-40
Home equity lines of credit	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loans to banking clients	3,054	'	3,287	'	'	'
Allowance for loan losses	-18	-17	-20	-22	-17	-14
Personal loans secured by securities	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loans to banking clients	1,247	'	963	'	'	'
Other	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loans to banking clients	$31	'	$25	'	'	'

Loans_to_Banking_Clients_and_R4

Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses (Changes in Allowance for Loan Losses) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	$57	$51	$56	$54
Charge-offs	-2	-5	-8	-13
Recoveries	1	1	3	2
Provision for loan losses	-4	10	1	14
Balance at end of period	52	57	52	57
Residential real estate mortgages	'	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	40	34	36	40
Charge-offs	-1	-2	-4	-6
Recoveries	1	1	2	2
Provision for loan losses	-6	2	'	-1
Balance at end of period	34	35	34	35
Home equity lines of credit	'	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	17	17	20	14
Charge-offs	-1	-3	-4	-7
Recoveries	'	'	1	'
Provision for loan losses	2	8	1	15
Balance at end of period	$18	$22	$18	$22

Loans_to_Banking_Clients_and_R5

Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses (Delinquency Aging Analysis by Loan Class) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Current	$12,105	$10,699
30-59 days past due	11	31
60-89 days past due	5	4
>90 days past due and other nonaccrual loans	46	48
Total past due	62	83
Total loans	12,167	10,782
Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Current	7,632	6,291
30-59 days past due	7	22
60-89 days past due	2	2
>90 days past due and other nonaccrual loans	30	33
Total past due	39	57
Total loans	7,671	6,348
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Current	158	154
30-59 days past due	1	1
60-89 days past due	1	'
>90 days past due and other nonaccrual loans	4	4
Total past due	6	5
Total loans	164	159
Home equity lines of credit	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Current	3,037	3,269
30-59 days past due	3	5
60-89 days past due	2	2
>90 days past due and other nonaccrual loans	12	11
Total past due	17	18
Total loans	3,054	3,287
Personal loans secured by securities	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Current	1,247	963
Total loans	1,247	963
Other	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Current	31	22
30-59 days past due	'	3
Total past due	'	3
Total loans	$31	$25

Loans_to_Banking_Clients_and_R6

Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Loan Losses (Credit Quality of Residential Real Estate Mortgages and HELOCs by Reviewing FICO Scores at Origination, Current FICO Scores, Loan-To-Value Ratio) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	$12,167		$10,782
Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	7,671		6,348
Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	164		159
Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	7,835		6,507
Weighted Average Updated FICO	771		768
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.24%		0.38%
Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	3,054		3,287
Weighted Average Updated FICO	768		767
Utilization Rate	39.00%	[1]	42.00%	[1]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.25%		0.31%
Year of origination Pre 2009 [Member] | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	712		867
Year of origination Pre 2009 [Member] | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	54		62
Year of origination Pre 2009 [Member] | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	766		929
Year of origination Pre 2009 [Member] | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,098		2,338
Year of origination 2009 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	207		305
Year of origination 2009 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	4		6
Year of origination 2009 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	211		311
Year of origination 2009 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	270		338
Year of origination 2010 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	545		909
Year of origination 2010 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	8		12
Year of origination 2010 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	553		921
Year of origination 2010 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	198		249
Year of origination 2011 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	790		1,270
Year of origination 2011 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	39		53
Year of origination 2011 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	829		1,323
Year of origination 2011 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	162		198
Year of origination 2012 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,477		2,997
Year of origination 2012 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	27		26
Year of origination 2012 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,504		3,023
Year of origination 2012 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	165		164
Year of origination 2013 [Member] | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,940		'
Year of origination 2013 [Member] | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	32		'
Year of origination 2013 [Member] | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,972		'
Year of origination 2013 [Member] | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	161		'
Origination FICO Score Below 620 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	10		10
Origination FICO Score Below 620 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2		1
Origination FICO Score Below 620 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	12		11
Origination FICO Score Below 620 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	1		'
Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	98		98
Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	14		16
Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	112		114
Origination FICO Score 620 Through 679 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	20		23
Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	1,339		1,141
Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	33		40
Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	1,372		1,181
Origination FICO Score 680 Through 739 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	584		633
Origination FICO Score 740 And Above | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	6,224		5,099
Origination FICO Score 740 And Above | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	115		102
Origination FICO Score 740 And Above | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	6,339		5,201
Origination FICO Score 740 And Above | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,449		2,631
Updated FICO Score Below 620 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	47		54
Updated FICO Score Below 620 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	5		6
Updated FICO Score Below 620 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	52		60
Updated FICO Score Below 620 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	45		49
Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	209		191
Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	12		13
Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	221		204
Updated FICO Score 620 Through 679 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	106		117
Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739 | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	1,061		940
Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739 | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	26		34
Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739 | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	1,087		974
Updated FICO Score 680 Through 739 | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	471		510
Updated FICO Score 740 And Above | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	6,354		5,163
Updated FICO Score 740 And Above | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	121		106
Updated FICO Score 740 And Above | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	6,475		5,269
Updated FICO Score 740 And Above | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,432		2,611
Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	5,174		4,189
Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	112		97
Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	5,286		4,286
Origination Loan To Value Ratio 70 Percent And Below | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,052		2,225
Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,480		2,142
Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	47		54
Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,527		2,196
Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 70 Percent Through 90 Percent | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	978		1,036
Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent | Residential real estate mortgages, first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	17		17
Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent | Residential real estate mortgages, purchased first mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	5		8
Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	22		25
Origination Loan to Value Ratio Greater Than 90 Percent Through 100 Percent | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	24		26
Estimated Current LTV 70 Percent And Below | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	6,509		4,162
Weighted Average Updated FICO	774		772
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.04%		0.05%
Estimated Current LTV 70 Percent And Below | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	2,110		1,559
Weighted Average Updated FICO	772		773
Utilization Rate	36.00%	[1]	36.00%	[1]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.12%		0.14%
Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 70% through 90% | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	1,118		1,841
Weighted Average Updated FICO	762		764
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.29%		0.22%
Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 70% through 90% | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	670		1,020
Weighted Average Updated FICO	762		766
Utilization Rate	48.00%	[1]	46.00%	[1]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.26%		0.18%
Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 90% through 100% | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	95		168
Weighted Average Updated FICO	741		750
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	3.21%		0.51%
Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 90% through 100% | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	131		267
Weighted Average Updated FICO	756		759
Utilization Rate	58.00%	[1]	54.00%	[1]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	0.70%		0.44%
Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 100% | Residential real estate mortgages	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	113		336
Weighted Average Updated FICO	727		741
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	9.12%		5.34%
Estimated Current LTV Greater Than 100% | Home equity lines of credit	'		'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'		'
Loans to banking clients	$143		$441
Weighted Average Updated FICO	740		753
Utilization Rate	61.00%	[1]	59.00%	[1]
Percent of Loans that are 90+ Days Past Due and Less than 90 Days Past Due but on Nonaccrual Status	1.64%		1.06%
[1]	The Utilization Rate is calculated using the outstanding HELOC balance divided by the associated total line of credit.

Borrowings_Narrative_Details

Borrowings (Narrative) (Details) (Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member], USD $)	Jul. 25, 2013
Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Issued Senior Notes	$275,000,000
Fixed interest rate, long term debt	2.20%
Debt instrument maturity year	'2018

Borrowings_Longterm_Debt_Inclu

Borrowings (Long-term Debt Including Unamortized Debt Discounts and Premiums) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Borrowings [Abstract]	'	'
Senior Notes	$1,565	$1,288
Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series A	249	249
Finance lease obligation	90	95
Total long-term debt	$1,904	$1,632

Borrowings_Annual_Maturities_o

Borrowings (Annual Maturities on Long-term Debt Outstanding) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Borrowings [Abstract]	'	'
2013	$1	'
2014	6	'
2015	357	'
2016	7	'
2017	258	'
Thereafter	1,292	'
Total maturities	1,921	'
Unamortized discount, net	-17	'
Total long-term debt	$1,904	$1,632

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Aug. 28, 2008	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Performance Guarantee [Member]	Bond Market Fund Litigation [Member]	Margin Requirements	Brokerage Client Collateral Requirements [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Aggregate face amount of letter of credit agreements	'	'	$240	'
Alleged minimum percentage of fund assets invested in CMOs and mortgage-backed securities without obtaining shareholder vote	'	25.00%	'	'
Funds drawn under LOC's	'	'	'	0
Liability for guarantees	$0	'	'	'

Fair_Values_of_Assets_and_Liab2

Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]	'	'
Fair value of client securities pledged in securities lending transactions to other broker-dealers	$939	$852
Fair value of borrowed securities from other broker-dealers to fulfill short sales by clients	$246	$121

Fair_Values_of_Assets_and_Liab3

Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Fair Value Hierarchy for Assets Measured at Fair Value) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	$482	$636
Securities available for sale	51,865	46,123
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash equivalents	685	1,489
Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	5,502	4,743
Other securities owned	482	636
Securities available for sale	51,865	46,123
Total	58,534	52,991
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Money market funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash equivalents	675	413
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Commercial paper	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash equivalents	10	1,076
Securities available for sale	'	574
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Certificates of deposit	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	2,901	2,976
Securities available for sale	4,280	6,161
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. Government securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	2,601	1,767
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Schwab Funds money market funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	225	329
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity and bond mutual funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	198	217
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | State and municipal debt obligations	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	43	48
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity, U.S. Government and corporate debt, and other securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	16	42
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	18,648	20,476
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Asset-backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	14,514	8,164
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate debt securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	9,372	6,256
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. agency notes	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	4,152	3,464
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	618	733
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Other securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	281	295
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash equivalents	675	413
Other securities owned	424	548
Total	1,099	961
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Money market funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash equivalents	675	413
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Schwab Funds money market funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	225	329
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity and bond mutual funds	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	198	217
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity, U.S. Government and corporate debt, and other securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	1	2
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash equivalents	10	1,076
Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	5,502	4,743
Other securities owned	58	88
Securities available for sale	51,865	46,123
Total	57,435	52,030
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Commercial paper	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash equivalents	10	1,076
Securities available for sale	'	574
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Certificates of deposit	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	2,901	2,976
Securities available for sale	4,280	6,161
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. Government securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	2,601	1,767
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | State and municipal debt obligations	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	43	48
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity, U.S. Government and corporate debt, and other securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Other securities owned	15	40
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	18,648	20,476
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Asset-backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	14,514	8,164
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate debt securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	9,372	6,256
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. agency notes	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	4,152	3,464
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	618	733
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Other securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Securities available for sale	$281	$295

Fair_Values_of_Assets_and_Liab4

Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Fair Value Hierarchy for Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Assets:	'	'
Securities held to maturity	$27,717	$18,732
Carrying Amount	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	6,677	11,174
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	18,013	23,723
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	511	333
Receivables from brokerage clients - net	13,119	13,453
Securities held to maturity	28,219	18,194
Loans to banking clients - net	12,115	10,726
Other assets	64	64
Total	78,718	77,667
Liabilities:	'	'
Deposits from banking clients	91,187	79,377
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	1,207	1,068
Payables to brokerage clients	34,532	40,330
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	536	353
Long-term debt	1,904	1,632
Total	129,366	122,760
Carrying Amount | Residential real estate mortgages	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	7,801	6,471
Carrying Amount | Home equity lines of credit	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	3,036	3,267
Carrying Amount | Personal loans secured by securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	1,247	963
Carrying Amount | Other	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	31	25
Carrying Amount | U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Securities held to maturity	27,288	17,750
Carrying Amount | Other securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Securities held to maturity	931	444
Fair Value	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	6,677	11,174
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	18,013	23,723
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	511	333
Receivables from brokerage clients - net	13,119	13,453
Securities held to maturity	27,717	18,732
Loans to banking clients - net	12,124	10,969
Other assets	64	64
Total	78,225	78,448
Liabilities:	'	'
Deposits from banking clients	91,187	79,377
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	1,207	1,068
Payables to brokerage clients	34,532	40,330
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	536	353
Long-term debt	1,999	1,782
Total	129,461	122,910
Fair Value | Residential real estate mortgages	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	7,803	6,687
Fair Value | Home equity lines of credit	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	3,043	3,295
Fair Value | Personal loans secured by securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	1,247	963
Fair Value | Other	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	31	24
Fair Value | U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Securities held to maturity	26,846	18,289
Fair Value | Other securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Securities held to maturity	871	443
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	6,677	11,174
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	18,013	23,723
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	511	333
Receivables from brokerage clients - net	13,119	13,453
Securities held to maturity	27,717	18,732
Loans to banking clients - net	12,124	10,969
Other assets	64	64
Total	78,225	78,448
Liabilities:	'	'
Deposits from banking clients	91,187	79,377
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	1,207	1,068
Payables to brokerage clients	34,532	40,330
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	536	353
Long-term debt	1,999	1,782
Total	129,461	122,910
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Residential real estate mortgages	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	7,803	6,687
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Home equity lines of credit	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	3,043	3,295
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Personal loans secured by securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	1,247	963
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Loans to banking clients - net	31	24
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Securities held to maturity	26,846	18,289
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other securities	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Securities held to maturity	$871	$443

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Change in net unrealized gain on Securities available for sale:	'	'	'	'
Net unrealized (loss) gain	$72	$250	($408)	$458
Reclassification of impairment charges included in net impairment losses on securities	1	3	8	28
Other reclassifications included in other revenue	-2	'	-5	-1
Change in net unrealized gain on securities available for sale	71	253	-405	485
Other	'	'	1	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	71	253	-404	485
Change in net unrealized gain on Securities available for sale:	'	'	'	'
Net unrealized (loss) gain	-28	-94	153	-171
Reclassification of impairment charges included in net impairment losses on securities	'	-1	-2	-10
Other reclassifications included in other revenue	'	'	1	'
Change in net unrealized gain on securities available for sale	-28	-95	152	-181
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax effect	-28	-95	152	-181
Change in net unrealized gain on securities available for sale:	'	'	'	'
Net unrealized (loss) gain	44	156	-255	287
Reclassification of impairment charges included in net impairment losses on securities	1	2	6	18
Other reclassifications included in other revenue	-2	'	-4	-1
Change in net unrealized gain on securities available for sale	43	158	-253	304
Other	'	'	1	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$43	$158	($252)	$304

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Balances) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
					Net Unrealized Gain On Securities Available For Sale [Member]	Net Unrealized Gain On Securities Available For Sale [Member]	Other	Other	Other
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	'	$298	$8	$299	$10	($1)	($2)	($2)
Other net changes	43	158	-252	304	-253	304	1	'	'
Ending Balance	$46	$312	$46	$312	$46	$314	'	($2)	($2)

Earnings_Per_Common_Share_EPS_

Earnings Per Common Share (EPS under Basic and Diluted Computations) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Common Share [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Net income	$290		$247		$752		$717
Preferred stock dividends	-8		-9		-39		-23
Net income available to common stockholders	$282		$238		$713		$694
Weighted-average common shares outstanding — basic	1,287		1,274		1,282		1,273
Common stock equivalent shares related to stock incentive plans	9		1		6		1
Weighted-average common shares outstanding — diluted	1,296	[1]	1,275	[1]	1,288	[1]	1,274	[1]
Basic EPS	$0.22		$0.19		$0.55		$0.54
Diluted EPS	$0.22		$0.19		$0.55		$0.54
Antidilutive stock options and restricted stock awards excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS	19		59		31		61
[1]	Antidilutive stock options and restricted stock awards excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS totaled 19 million and 59 million shares for the third quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 31 million and 61 million shares for the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Regulatory_Requirements_Narrat

Regulatory Requirements (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements for Broker Dealers [Line Items]	'
Percentage of aggregate debit balances required as minimum net capital	2.00%
Net capital under the alternative method permitted by the Uniform Net Capital Rule	'This method requires the maintenance of minimum net capital, as defined, of the greater of 2% of aggregate debit balances arising from client transactions or a minimum dollar requirement ($250,000 for Schwab), which is based on the type of business conducted by the broker-dealer. Under the alternative method, a broker-dealer may not repay subordinated borrowings, pay cash dividends, or make any unsecured advances or loans to its parent company or employees if such payment would result in a net capital amount of less than 5% of aggregate debit balances or less than 120% of its minimum dollar requirement.
Percentage of net capital to aggregate debit balances required for a broker-dealer to repay subordinated borrowings, pay cash dividends, or make any unsecured advances or loans to its parent company or employees	5.00%
Percentage of net capital to the Company's minimum dollar requirement required for a broker-dealer to repay subordinated borrowings, pay cash dividends, or make any unsecured advances or loans to its parent company or employees	120.00%
Description of Net Capital Requirements under Commodity Exchange Act	'optionsXpress, Inc. is also subject to Commodity Futures Trading Commission Regulation 1.17 (Reg. 1.17) under the Commodity Exchange Act, which also requires the maintenance of minimum net capital. optionsXpress, Inc., as a futures commission merchant, is required to maintain minimum net capital equal to the greater of its net capital requirement under Reg. 1.17 ($1 million), or the sum of 8% of the total risk margin requirements for all positions carried in client accounts and 8% of the total risk margin requirements for all positions carried in non-client accounts (as defined in Reg. 1.17).
Net capital required for optionsXpress, Inc. under Reg 1.17 of the Commodity Exchange Act	$1,000,000
Minimum percentage of the total risk margin requirements for all positions carried in customer accounts to be added to the minimum percentage of the total risk margin requirements for all positions carried in non-customer accounts for optionsXpress, Inc. minimum net capital calculation	8.00%
Minimum percentage of the total risk margin requirements for all positions carried in non-customer accounts to be added to the minimum percentage of the total risk margin requirements for all positions carried in customer accounts for optionsXpress, Inc. minimum net capital calculation	8.00%
Schwab	'
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements for Broker Dealers [Line Items]	'
Minimum capital requirement	$250,000

Regulatory_Requirements_Regula

Regulatory Requirements (Regulatory Capital and Ratios) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital	'
Actual Amount	$6,345
Minimum Capital Requirement Amount	1,369
Minimum to be Well Capitalized Amount	2,053
Actual Ratio	18.50%
Minimum Capital Requirement Ratio	4.00%
Minimum to be Well Capitalized Ratio	6.00%
Total Risk-Based Capital	'
Actual Amount	6,398
Minimum Capital Requirement Amount	2,737
Minimum to be Well Capitalized Amount	3,422
Actual Ratio	18.70%
Minimum Capital Requirement Ratio	8.00%
Minimum to be Well Capitalized Ratio	10.00%
Tier 1 Leverage	'
Actual Amount	6,345
Minimum Capital Requirement Amount	3,911
Minimum to be Well Capitalized Amount	4,889
Actual Ratio	6.50%
Minimum Capital Requirement Ratio	4.00%
Minimum to be Well Capitalized Ratio	5.00%
Tangible Equity	'
Actual Amount	6,345
Minimum Capital Requirement Amount	$1,955
Actual Ratio	6.50%
Minimum Capital Requirement Ratio	2.00%

Regulatory_Requirements_Net_Ca

Regulatory Requirements (Net Capital and Net Capital Requirements for Schwab and optionsXpress, Inc) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
Schwab	'
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements for Broker Dealers [Line Items]	'
Net Capital	$1,361,000,000
% of Aggregate Debit Balances	9.00%
Minimum Net Capital Required	250,000
2% of Aggregate Debit Balances	288,000,000
Net Capital in Excess of Required Net Capital	1,073,000,000
Net Capital in Excess of 5% of Aggregate Debit Balances	642,000,000
OptionsXpress, Inc.	'
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements for Broker Dealers [Line Items]	'
Net Capital	100,000,000
% of Aggregate Debit Balances	29.00%
Minimum Net Capital Required	1,000,000
2% of Aggregate Debit Balances	7,000,000
Net Capital in Excess of Required Net Capital	93,000,000
Net Capital in Excess of 5% of Aggregate Debit Balances	$83,000,000

Segment_Information_Narrative_

Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
	segment
Segment Information [Abstract]	'
Number of reportable segments	2

Segment_Information_Financial_

Segment Information (Financial Information for Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Net Revenues:	'		'		'	'		'
Asset management and administration fees	$583		$524		'	$1,707		$1,504
Net interest revenue	506		439		'	1,448		1,331
Trading revenue	224		204		'	682		666
Other	57		42		'	172		209
Provision for loan losses	4		-10		'	-1		-14
Net impairment losses on securities	-1	[1]	-3	[1]	'	-8	[1]	-28	[1]
Total net revenues	1,373		1,196		'	4,000		3,668
Expenses Excluding Interest	909		835		'	2,793		2,562
Income before taxes on income	464		361		'	1,207		1,106
Taxes on income	174		114		'	455		389
Net Income	290		247		'	752		717
Pretax gain related to confidential resolution of a vendor dispute	'		'		70	'		70
Investor Services	'		'		'	'		'
Net Revenues:	'		'		'	'		'
Asset management and administration fees	410		366		'	1,199		1,057
Net interest revenue	450		387		'	1,281		1,178
Trading revenue	153		145		'	462		475
Other	44		26		'	129		87
Provision for loan losses	3		-10		'	-1		-13
Net impairment losses on securities	'		-2		'	-7		-25
Total net revenues	1,060		912		'	3,063		2,759
Expenses Excluding Interest	705		657		'	2,178		2,014
Income before taxes on income	355		255		'	885		745
Advisor Services [Member]	'		'		'	'		'
Net Revenues:	'		'		'	'		'
Asset management and administration fees	173		157		'	508		447
Net interest revenue	56		52		'	167		153
Trading revenue	71		60		'	220		192
Other	13		16		'	43		50
Provision for loan losses	1		'		'	'		-1
Net impairment losses on securities	-1		-1		'	-1		-3
Total net revenues	313		284		'	937		838
Expenses Excluding Interest	204		178		'	615		548
Income before taxes on income	109		106		'	322		290
Unallocated	'		'		'	'		'
Net Revenues:	'		'		'	'		'
Asset management and administration fees	'		1		'	'		'
Trading revenue	'		-1		'	'		-1
Other	'		'		'	'		72	[2]
Total net revenues	'		'		'	'		71
Income before taxes on income	'		'		'	'		$71
[1]	Net impairment losses on securities include total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $0 million and $1 million recognized in other comprehensive income, net of $(1) million and $(2) million reclassified from other comprehensive income, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Net impairment losses on securities include total other-than-temporary impairment losses of $2 million and $15 million recognized in other comprehensive income, net of $(6) million and $(13) million reclassified from other comprehensive income, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
[2]	Unallocated amount includes a pre-tax gain of $70 million relating to a confidential resolution of a vendor dispute in the second quarter of 2012.