Operating Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Net interest income (expense)	$ 1,436		$ 1,285
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	288		340
Noninterest income	871		714
Noninterest expense	1,385		1,372
Amortization of intangibles	22		26
Income before income taxes	634		287
Provision for income taxes	189		53
Segment net income (loss)	445		234
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	174,752				174,579
Community Banking [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	506		469
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	356		430
Net interest income (expense) and intersegment	862		899
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	255		204
Noninterest income	268		193
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	39		33
Noninterest expense	487		538
Amortization of intangibles	9		13
Allocated corporate expenses	256		226
Income before income taxes	162		144
Provision for income taxes	57		51
Segment net income (loss)	105		93
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	60,750		62,295
Residential Mortgage Banking [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	278		254
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	(191)		(183)
Net interest income (expense) and intersegment	87		71
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	(22)		79
Noninterest income	195		75
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		0
Noninterest expense	85		63
Amortization of intangibles	0		0
Allocated corporate expenses	14		12
Income before income taxes	205		(8)
Provision for income taxes	77		(3)
Segment net income (loss)	128		(5)
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	25,288		21,669
Dealer Financial Services [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	210		210
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	(59)		(73)
Net interest income (expense) and intersegment	151		137
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	27		33
Noninterest income	2		2
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		0
Noninterest expense	25		22
Amortization of intangibles	0		0
Allocated corporate expenses	9		9
Income before income taxes	92		75
Provision for income taxes	35		28
Segment net income (loss)	57		47
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	10,050		9,480
Specialized Lending [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	167		150
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	(44)		(45)
Net interest income (expense) and intersegment	123		105
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	27		4
Noninterest income	52		50
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		0
Noninterest expense	63		55
Amortization of intangibles	1		1
Allocated corporate expenses	19		15
Income before income taxes	65		80
Provision for income taxes	12		17
Segment net income (loss)	53		63
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	16,891		14,407
Insurance Services [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	1		1
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	1		2
Net interest income (expense) and intersegment	2		3
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	0		0
Noninterest income	270		249
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		0
Noninterest expense	212		195
Amortization of intangibles	10		10
Allocated corporate expenses	20		17
Income before income taxes	30		30
Provision for income taxes	7		9
Segment net income (loss)	23		21
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	2,311		2,252
Financial Services [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	27		23
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	80		56
Net interest income (expense) and intersegment	107		79
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	14		(9)
Noninterest income	178		166
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	6		5
Noninterest expense	153		143
Amortization of intangibles	1		1
Allocated corporate expenses	23		13
Income before income taxes	100		102
Provision for income taxes	37		37
Segment net income (loss)	63		65
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	7,790		5,874
Other Treasury And Corporate [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	247	[1]	178	[1]
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	(143)	[1]	(187)	[1]
Net interest income (expense) and intersegment	104	[1]	(9)	[1]
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	(13)	[1]	29	[1]
Noninterest income	(94)	[1]	(21)	[1]
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	(45)	[1]	(38)	[1]
Noninterest expense	338	[1]	330	[1]
Amortization of intangibles	1	[1]	1	[1]
Allocated corporate expenses	(341)	[1]	(292)	[1]
Income before income taxes	(20)	[1]	(136)	[1]
Provision for income taxes	(36)	[1]	(86)	[1]
Segment net income (loss)	16	[1]	(50)	[1]
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	51,672	[1]	41,062	[1]
Total BB&T Corporation [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	1,436		1,285
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	0		0
Net interest income (expense) and intersegment	1,436		1,285
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	288		340
Noninterest income	871		714
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		0
Noninterest expense	1,363		1,346
Amortization of intangibles	22		26
Allocated corporate expenses	0		0
Income before income taxes	634		287
Provision for income taxes	189		53
Segment net income (loss)	445		234
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	$ 174,752		$ 157,039

[1] Includes financial data from subsidiaries below the quantitative and qualitative thresholds requiring disclosure.