Changes in AOCI (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
AOCI	$ (751)	$ (593)	$ (559)	$ (713)
OCI before reclassifications, net of tax	(239)	(208)	(43)
Personnel expense	3,180us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	3,293us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	3,125us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense
Interest income	6,142	6,507	6,917
Interest expense	768us-gaap_InterestExpense	891us-gaap_InterestExpense	1,060us-gaap_InterestExpense
FDIC loss share income, net	(343)bbt_FdicLossShareIncomeNet	(293)bbt_FdicLossShareIncomeNet	(318)bbt_FdicLossShareIncomeNet
Securities (gains) losses, net	(3)	51	(12)
Income before income taxes	2,986	3,124	2,792
Tax effect	760us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1,395us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	764us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net income	2,226us-gaap_ProfitLoss	1,729us-gaap_ProfitLoss	2,028us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Net change in AOCI	(158)	(34)	154
Reclassification Out Of AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
Personnel expense	17	91	76
Interest income	(18)	99	73
Interest expense	82	77	72
FDIC loss share income, net	45	63	83
Securities (gains) losses, net	3	(51)	12
Income before income taxes	129	279	316
Tax effect	48	105	119
Net income	81	174	197
Unrecognized Net Pension and Postretirement Costs
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
AOCI	(626)	(303)	(714)	(603)
OCI before reclassifications, net of tax	(334)	354	(158)
Net change in AOCI	(323)	411	(111)
Unrecognized Net Pension and Postretirement Costs \| Reclassification Out Of AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
Personnel expense	17	91	76
Income before income taxes	17	91	76
Tax effect	6	34	29
Net income	11	57	47
Unrealized Net Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
AOCI	(54)	2	(173)	(159)
OCI before reclassifications, net of tax	(107)	127	(52)
Net change in AOCI	(56)	175	(14)
Unrealized Net Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges \| Reclassification Out Of AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
Interest income			(11)
Interest expense	82	77	72
Income before income taxes	82	77	61
Tax effect	31	29	23
Net income	51	48	38
Unrealized Net Gains (Losses) on AFS Securities [Member]
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
AOCI	152	(42)	598	263
Transfers between categories of AOCI			0
OCI before reclassifications, net of tax	207	(669)	280
Net change in AOCI	194	(640)	335
Unrealized Net Gains (Losses) on AFS Securities [Member] \| Reclassification Out Of AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
Interest income	(24)	97	76
Securities (gains) losses, net	3	(51)	12
Income before income taxes	(21)	46	88
Tax effect	(8)	17	33
Net income	(13)	29	55
FDIC's Share Of Unrealized (Gains) Losses On AFS Securities
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
AOCI	(207)	(235)	(256)	(195)
OCI before reclassifications, net of tax	0	(18)	(113)
Net change in AOCI	28	21	(61)
FDIC's Share Of Unrealized (Gains) Losses On AFS Securities \| Reclassification Out Of AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
FDIC loss share income, net	45	63	83
Income before income taxes	45	63	83
Tax effect	17	24	31
Net income	28	39	52
Other, net [Member]
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
AOCI	(16)	(15)	(14)	(19)
Transfers between categories of AOCI			0
OCI before reclassifications, net of tax	(5)	(2)	0
Net change in AOCI	(1)	(1)	5
Other, net [Member] \| Reclassification Out Of AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustments Out Of AOCI [Line Items]
Interest income	6	2	8
Income before income taxes	6	2	8
Tax effect	2	1	3
Net income	$ 4	$ 1	$ 5

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Other Comprehensive Income Period Increase Decrease Net Of Tax

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Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Represents the total of interest and dividend income, including any amortization and accretion (as applicable) of discounts and premiums, earned from (1) loans and leases whether held-for-sale or held-in-portfolio; (2) investment securities; (3) federal funds sold; (4) securities purchased under agreements to resell; (5) investments in banker's acceptances, commercial paper, or certificates of deposit; (6) dividend income; or (7) other investments not otherwise specified herein.

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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The aggregate amount of expenditures for salaries, wages, profit sharing and incentive compensation, and other employee benefits, including equity-based compensation, and pension and other postretirement benefit expense.

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This item represents the total realized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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