Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Deficit) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Senior Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ (11,983)	$ 60,900	$ 20,348	$ 664	$ 2,083	$ (83,531)	$ (5,126)	$ (7,398)	$ 77
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		1,000,000	579,735,457	1,113,358,051
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Change in investment in noncontrolling interest	9								9
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	(14,018)					(14,014)			(4)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax effect:
Changes in net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities (net of tax of $702, $250, and $1,644, respectively)	3,054						3,054
Reclassification adjustment for other-than-temporary impairments recognized in net income (loss) (net of tax of $250, $99, and $253 , respectively)	469						469
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss) (net of tax of $9, $28, and $10, respectively)	(19)						(19)
Unrealized gains (losses) on guaranty assets and guaranty fee buy-ups	1						1
Prior service cost and actuarial gains, net of amortization for defined benefit plans	(61)						(61)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(10,574)
Senior preferred stock dividends	(7,706)				(2,265)	(5,441)
Increase to senior preferred liquidation preference	27,700	27,700
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock (shares)			(2,867,318)	4,417,947
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock	0		(144)	3	141
Other	37				41			(4)
Other (shares)			0	728,196
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	(2,517)	88,600	20,204	667	0	(102,986)	(1,682)	(7,402)	82
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		1,000,000	576,868,139	1,118,504,194
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Change in investment in noncontrolling interest	(29)								(29)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	(16,855)					(16,855)			0
Other comprehensive income, net of tax effect:
Changes in net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities (net of tax of $702, $250, and $1,644, respectively)	465						465
Reclassification adjustment for other-than-temporary impairments recognized in net income (loss) (net of tax of $250, $99, and $253 , respectively)	209						209
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss) (net of tax of $9, $28, and $10, respectively)	(52)						(52)
Prior service cost and actuarial gains, net of amortization for defined benefit plans	(175)						(175)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(16,408)
Senior preferred stock dividends	(9,613)				(1,072)	(8,541)
Increase to senior preferred liquidation preference	23,978	23,978
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock (shares)			(21,493,217)	38,669,995
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock	0		(1,074)	20	1,054
Other	18				18	1		(1)
Other (shares)			0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	(4,571)	112,578	19,130	687	0	(128,381)	(1,235)	(7,403)	53
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		1,000,000	555,374,922	1,157,767,400
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Change in investment in noncontrolling interest	(8)								(8)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	17,220					17,224			(4)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax effect:
Changes in net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities (net of tax of $702, $250, and $1,644, respectively)	1,289						1,289
Reclassification adjustment for other-than-temporary impairments recognized in net income (loss) (net of tax of $250, $99, and $253 , respectively)	463						463
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss) (net of tax of $9, $28, and $10, respectively)	(17)						(17)
Prior service cost and actuarial gains, net of amortization for defined benefit plans	(116)						(116)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	18,839
Senior preferred stock dividends	(11,608)				1	(11,609)
Increase to senior preferred liquidation preference	4,571	4,571
Other	1				(1)	0		2
Other (shares)			0	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 7,224	$ 117,149	$ 19,130	$ 687	$ 0	$ (122,766)	$ 384	$ (7,401)	$ 41
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		1,000,000	555,374,922	1,157,767,400