Receivables Held for Sale - Summary of Activity in Receivables Held for Sale (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Receivables held for sale at beginning of period	$ 6,203
Lower of amortized cost or fair value adjustment	(454)
Carrying value of real estate secured receivables held for sale settled through short sale or transfer to REO	(147)
Change in receivable balance	156
Receivables held for sale at end of period	6,354
Real Estate Owned [Member]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Receivables held for sale		3,022
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Lower of amortized cost or fair value adjustment	(536)
Carrying value of real estate secured receivables held for sale settled through short sale or transfer to REO	(147)
Change in receivable balance	4
Receivables held for sale at end of period	3,407
Personal non-credit card [Member]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Receivables held for sale		3,181
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Receivables held for sale at beginning of period	3,181
Lower of amortized cost or fair value adjustment	82
Carrying value of real estate secured receivables held for sale settled through short sale or transfer to REO	0
Change in receivable balance	152
Receivables held for sale at end of period	$ 2,947

The aggregate carrying amount of loans receivable that will be sold to other entities. Includes mortgage and all other loans (collectively, loans) not classified as held for investment. Such loans are stated at the lower of cost or market, or elected fair value. Mortgage loans exclude mortgage-backed securities which are considered a debt security (other loan).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 65

-Paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 28, 29

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Number 210

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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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+ Details