Operating Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Net interest income (expense)	$ 1,462		$ 1,354		$ 2,898		$ 2,639
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	273		328		561		668
Noninterest income	966		787		1,837		1,501
Noninterest expense	1,426		1,395		2,811		2,767
Amortization of intangibles	29		25		51		51
Income before income taxes	729		418		1,363		705
Provision for income taxes	191		91		380		144
Segment net income (loss)	538		327		983		561
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	178,529				178,529				174,579
Community Banking [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	517		483		1,023		952
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	339		419		697		849
Segment net interest income	856		902		1,720		1,801
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	190		125		445		329
Noninterest income	280		298		548		491
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	43		28		82		60
Noninterest expense	447		526		935		1,064
Amortization of intangibles	10		12		19		25
Allocated corporate expenses	255		224		512		450
Income before income taxes	277		341		439		484
Provision for income taxes	100		125		157		176
Segment net income (loss)	177		216		282		308
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	61,081		61,410		61,081		61,410
Residential Mortgage Banking [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	285		244		564		498
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	(193)		(182)		(384)		(365)
Segment net interest income	92		62		180		133
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	38		146		16		225
Noninterest income	162		63		357		138
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		(1)		(1)		(1)
Noninterest expense	92		69		177		132
Amortization of intangibles	0		0		0		0
Allocated corporate expenses	13		12		27		24
Income before income taxes	111		(103)		316		(111)
Provision for income taxes	42		(39)		119		(42)
Segment net income (loss)	69		(64)		197		(69)
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	27,318		21,625		27,318		21,625
Dealer Financial Services [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	210		212		420		422
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	(54)		(69)		(113)		(141)
Segment net interest income	156		143		307		281
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	27		26		54		59
Noninterest income	2		2		4		4
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		0		0		0
Noninterest expense	25		23		50		45
Amortization of intangibles	0		1		0		1
Allocated corporate expenses	10		10		19		19
Income before income taxes	96		85		188		161
Provision for income taxes	36		32		71		61
Segment net income (loss)	60		53		117		100
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	10,303		9,681		10,303		9,681
Specialized Lending [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	175		155		341		305
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	(40)		(41)		(81)		(83)
Segment net interest income	135		114		260		222
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	24		18		51		22
Noninterest income	52		50		105		101
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		0		0		0
Noninterest expense	58		59		121		114
Amortization of intangibles	2		2		3		3
Allocated corporate expenses	19		17		38		36
Income before income taxes	84		68		152		148
Provision for income taxes	19		13		32		31
Segment net income (loss)	65		55		120		117
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	18,140		15,168		18,140		15,168
Insurance Services [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	0		0		1		1
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	0		1		1		2
Segment net interest income	0		1		2		3
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	0		0		0		0
Noninterest income	393		297		663		546
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		0		0		0
Noninterest expense	260		206		472		401
Amortization of intangibles	17		11		27		21
Allocated corporate expenses	19		17		39		34
Income before income taxes	97		64		127		93
Provision for income taxes	31		18		38		27
Segment net income (loss)	66		46		89		66
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	3,299		2,341		3,299		2,341
Financial Services [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	30		28		57		51
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	82		60		162		116
Segment net interest income	112		88		219		167
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	(8)		(2)		6		(11)
Noninterest income	169		173		347		339
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	6		3		12		8
Noninterest expense	173		145		326		288
Amortization of intangibles	1		1		2		2
Allocated corporate expenses	22		18		45		36
Income before income taxes	99		102		199		199
Provision for income taxes	36		39		74		75
Segment net income (loss)	63		63		125		124
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	8,216		6,233		8,216		6,233
Other Treasury And Corporate [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	245	[1]	232	[1]	492	[1]	410	[1]
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	(134)	[1]	(188)	[1]	(282)	[1]	(378)	[1]
Segment net interest income	111	[1]	44	[1]	210	[1]	32	[1]
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	2	[1]	15	[1]	(11)	[1]	44	[1]
Noninterest income	(92)	[1]	(96)	[1]	(187)	[1]	(118)	[1]
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	(49)	[1]	(30)	[1]	(93)	[1]	(67)	[1]
Noninterest expense	342	[1]	342	[1]	679	[1]	672	[1]
Amortization of intangibles	(1)	[1]	(2)	[1]	0	[1]	(1)	[1]
Allocated corporate expenses	(338)	[1]	(298)	[1]	(680)	[1]	(599)	[1]
Income before income taxes	(35)	[1]	(139)	[1]	(58)	[1]	(269)	[1]
Provision for income taxes	(73)	[1]	(97)	[1]	(111)	[1]	(184)	[1]
Segment net income (loss)	38	[1]	(42)	[1]	53	[1]	(85)	[1]
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	50,172	[1]	42,852	[1]	50,172	[1]	42,852	[1]
Total BB&T Corporation [Member]
Net interest income (expense)	1,462		1,354		2,898		2,639
Net intersegment interest income (expense)	0		0		0		0
Segment net interest income	1,462		1,354		2,898		2,639
Allocated provision for loan and lease losses	273		328		561		668
Noninterest income	966		787		1,837		1,501
Intersegment net referral fees (expense)	0		0		0		0
Noninterest expense	1,397		1,370		2,760		2,716
Amortization of intangibles	29		25		51		51
Allocated corporate expenses	0		0		0		0
Income before income taxes	729		418		1,363		705
Provision for income taxes	191		91		380		144
Segment net income (loss)	538		327		983		561
Identifiable segment assets (period end)	$ 178,529		$ 159,310		$ 178,529		$ 159,310

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