Business Segments - Reconciliation of IFRS Basis Segment Results (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
IFRS based Net Interest Income	$ (500)		$ (522)		$ (261)
US GAAP based Net interest income	1,646		1,776		2,036
IFRS based Other operating income (Total other revenues)	(1,609)		3		(69)
US GAAP based Other operating income (Total other revenues)	(2,119)		140		484
US GAAP based Total operating income (loss)	(473)		1,916		2,520
IFRS based Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)	332		495		341
US GAAP based Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)	(2,224)		(4,418)		(5,346)
US GAAP based Operating Income, Net	(2,697)		(2,502)		(2,826)
IFRS based Operating expense	(44)		40		(44)
US GAAP based Operating expenses	1,114		1,255		1,176
IFRS based Profit (loss) before tax	(1,821)		16		(33)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax	(3,811)		(3,757)		(4,002)
US GAAP based Intersegment revenues	0		0		0
US GAAP based Depreciation and amortization	7		19		22
US GAAP based Expenditures for long-lived assets	3		4		10
IFRS based Customer loans (Receivables)	(4,557)		(162)		(270)
US GAAP based Customer loans (Receivables)	32,939		47,912		56,456
IFRS based Assets	(3,074)		(2,974)		(3,408)
US GAAP based Assets	44,746		50,666		64,345
Consumer
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
IFRS based Net Interest Income	2,350		2,456		2,326
IFRS based Other operating income (Total other revenues)	(11)		(48)		(30)
IFRS based Total operating income (loss)	2,339		2,408		2,296
IFRS based Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)	(2,556)		(4,911)		(5,692)
IFRS Based Operating Income, Net	(217)		(2,503)		(3,396)
IFRS based Operating expense	(984)		(1,021)		(883)
IFRS based Profit (loss) before tax	(1,201)		(3,524)		(4,279)
IFRS based Intersegment Revenues	6		70		73
IFRS based Depreciation and Amortization	1		1		2
IFRS based Expenditures for long-lived assets	0		0		0
IFRS based Customer loans (Receivables)	37,496		48,075		56,725
IFRS based Assets	40,215		46,859		57,531
All Other
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
IFRS based Net Interest Income	190		425		743
IFRS based Other operating income (Total other revenues)	(942)		(504)		(328)
IFRS based Total operating income (loss)	(752)		(79)		415
IFRS based Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)	0		(2)		5
IFRS Based Operating Income, Net	(752)		(81)		420
IFRS based Operating expense	(37)		(168)		(110)
IFRS based Profit (loss) before tax	(789)		(249)		310
IFRS based Intersegment Revenues	1		(45)		(51)
IFRS based Depreciation and Amortization	12		14		17
IFRS based Expenditures for long-lived assets	3		4		10
IFRS based Customer loans (Receivables)	60		60		2,250
IFRS based Assets	7,605		6,671		10,282
Adjustments Reconciling Items
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
IFRS based Net Interest Income	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
IFRS based Other operating income (Total other revenues)	(7)	[1]	(25)	[1]	(22)	[1]
IFRS based Total operating income (loss)	(7)	[1]	(25)	[1]	(22)	[1]
IFRS based Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
IFRS Based Operating Income, Net	(7)	[1]	(25)	[1]	(22)	[1]
IFRS based Operating expense	7	[1]	25	[1]	22	[1]
IFRS based Profit (loss) before tax	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
IFRS based Intersegment Revenues	(7)	[1]	(25)	[1]	(22)	[1]
IFRS based Depreciation and Amortization	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
IFRS based Expenditures for long-lived assets	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
IFRS based Customer loans (Receivables)	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
IFRS based Assets	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
IFRS Basis Consolidated Totals
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
IFRS based Net Interest Income	2,540		2,881		3,069
IFRS based Other operating income (Total other revenues)	(960)		(577)		(380)
IFRS based Total operating income (loss)	1,580		2,304		2,689
IFRS based Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)	(2,556)		(4,913)		(5,687)
IFRS Based Operating Income, Net	(976)		(2,609)		(2,998)
IFRS based Operating expense	(1,014)		(1,164)		(971)
IFRS based Profit (loss) before tax	(1,990)		(3,773)		(3,969)
IFRS based Intersegment Revenues	0		0		0
IFRS based Depreciation and Amortization	13		15		19
IFRS based Expenditures for long-lived assets	3		4		10
IFRS based Customer loans (Receivables)	37,556		48,135		58,975
IFRS based Assets	47,820		53,530		67,813
IFRS Adjustments
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
IFRS based Net Interest Income	(500)		(522)		(261)
IFRS based Other operating income (Total other revenues)	(1,609)		3		(69)
IFRS based Total operating income (loss)	(2,109)		(519)		(330)
IFRS based Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)	332		495		341
IFRS Based Operating Income, Net	(1,777)		(24)		11
IFRS based Operating expense	(44)		40		(44)
IFRS based Profit (loss) before tax	(1,821)		16		(33)
IFRS based Intersegment Revenues	0		0		0
IFRS based Depreciation and Amortization	0		8		3
IFRS based Expenditures for long-lived assets	0		0		0
IFRS based Customer loans (Receivables)	(4,557)		(162)		(270)
IFRS based Assets	(3,074)		(2,974)		(3,408)
IFRS Reclassifications
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
IFRS based Net Interest Income	(394)	[2]	(583)	[2]	(772)	[2]
IFRS based Other operating income (Total other revenues)	450	[2]	714	[2]	933	[2]
IFRS based Total operating income (loss)	56	[2]	131	[2]	161	[2]
IFRS based Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
IFRS Based Operating Income, Net	56	[2]	131	[2]	161	[2]
IFRS based Operating expense	(56)	[2]	(131)	[2]	(161)	[2]
IFRS based Profit (loss) before tax	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
IFRS based Intersegment Revenues	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
IFRS based Depreciation and Amortization	(6)	[2]	(4)	[2]	0	[2]
IFRS based Expenditures for long-lived assets	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
IFRS based Customer loans (Receivables)	(60)	[2]	(61)	[2]	(2,249)	[2]
IFRS based Assets	$ 0	[2]	$ 110	[2]	$ (60)	[2]

[1] Eliminates intersegment revenues.

[2] Represents differences in balance sheet and income statement presentation between IFRS and U.S. GAAP.