Long-Term Debt - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 22,776	$ 23,769
FHLB Advances to Branch Bank - Varying Maturities to 2034
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	4,389	5,582
3.95% senior notes due 2016 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 0	500
Interest rate	3.95%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
3.20% senior notes due 2016 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 0	1,000
Interest rate	3.20%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
2.15% senior notes due 2017 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 750	749
Interest rate	2.15%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2017
1.60% senior notes due 2017 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 750	749
Interest rate	1.60%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2017
1.45% senior notes due 2018 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 465	500
Interest rate	1.45%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2018
Floating rate senior notes due 2018 (LIBOR-based, 1.71% at September 30, 2016) | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 400	400
Effective Rate	1.71%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2018
2.05% senior notes due 2018 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 600	600
Interest rate	2.05%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2018
6.85% senior notes due 2019 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 540	540
Interest rate	6.85%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2019
2.25% senior notes due 2019 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 648	648
Interest rate	2.25%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2019
Floating rate senior notes due 2019 (LIBOR-based, 1.42% at September 30, 2016) | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 450	450
Effective Rate	1.42%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2019
2.45% senior notes due 2020 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 1,299	1,298
Interest rate	2.45%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2020
2.63% senior notes due 2020 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 999	999
Interest rate	2.63%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2020
Floating rate senior notes due 2020 (LIBOR-based, 1.40% at September 30, 2016) | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 200	200
Effective Rate	1.40%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2020
2.05% senior notes due 2021 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 1,249	0
Effective Rate	2.05%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2021
5.38% senior notes due 2022 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 164	166
Interest rate	5.38%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2022
4.25% senior notes due 2024 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 130	0
Interest rate	4.25%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2024
4.90% subordinated notes due 2017 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 360	356
Interest rate	4.90%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2017
5.25% subordinated notes due 2019 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 586	586
Interest rate	5.25%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2019
3.95% subordinated notes due 2022 | BB&T Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 299	299
Interest rate	3.95%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2022
1.45% senior notes due 2016 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 0	750
Interest rate	1.45%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
Floating rate senior notes due 2016 (LIBOR-based, 1.27% at September 30, 2016) | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 375	375
Effective Rate	1.27%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
1.05% senior notes due 2016 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 500	500
Interest rate	1.05%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
1.00% senior notes due 2017 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 599	599
Interest rate	1.00%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2017
1.35% senior notes due 2017 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 660	750
Interest rate	1.35%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2017
2.30% senior notes due 2018 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 750	750
Interest rate	2.30%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2018
1.45% senior notes due 2019 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 1,499	0
Interest rate	1.45%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2019
Floating rate senior notes due 2019 (LIBOR-based, 1.29% at June 30, 2016) | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 250	0
Effective Rate	1.29%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2019
2.85% senior notes due 2021 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 700	700
Interest rate	2.85%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2021
5.63% subordinated notes due 2016 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 0	386
Interest rate	5.63%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
Floating rate subordinated notes due 2016 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 0	350
Effective Rate	0.98%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
Floating rate subordinated notes due 2017 (LIBOR-based, 1.12% at September 30, 2016) | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 262	262
Effective Rate	1.12%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2017
3.63% subordinated notes due 2025 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 1,249	1,249
Interest rate	3.63%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2025
3.80% subordinated notes due 2026 | Branch Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 848	848
Interest rate	3.80%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2026
Other long-term debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 155	154
Basis adjustments
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 651	$ 474