Assets and Liabilities of Businesses Held For Sale and Discontinued Operations (WMC and GE Industrial) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer Mexico [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer Mexico [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer Mexico [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer Mexico [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer Ireland [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer Ireland [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Consumer Ireland [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer Ireland [Member]
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Pending Repurchase Claims Based Upon Representations And Warranties						$ 2,731		$ 2,731			$ 705	$ 347
Reserves Related to Unmet Contractual Representations and Warranties						491		491		140
Adjustment For Pending Claims For Unmet Representations And Warranties						351
Adverse Percentage Change In Assumptions That Would Effect Claims For Unmet Representations And Warranties						10.00%
Percentage Increase To Estimates Of Future Loan Repurchase Requests And Estimated Percentage Of Loans Repurchased						50.00%		50.00%
Increase To Reserve For Claims For Unmet Representations And Warranties For Adverse Effect In Assumptions						500
Agreed Selling Price Of Business																												4,577
Revenues from discontinued operations						(351)		(358)						6			11	(1)	12		67	1	2		1	31			101	1	215	2	4	6	8
Discontinued Operation Revenue Insignificant Amount							insignificant amount		insignificant amount				insignificant amount			insignificant amount				insignificant amount							insignificant amount
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(553)	194	(770)	229		227	1	236	3				1	2			2	(2)	17	(4)	33	1	319		1	326			(117)	2	(80)	2	(23)	(186)	(44)
Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity Insignificant Amount																insignificant amount											insignificant amount
Agreed Upon Selling Price Of Disposal Business																								692
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation	1,490		1,490		1,721
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation	1,940		1,940		1,629
Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations																							(319)				148							131
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business															2,365				1,943
Reported Claims Beyond Those Included In Previously Discussed Pending Claims						$ 850		$ 850