Receivables - Aging Analysis of Past Due Loans (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, 1 - 29 Days Past Due			$ 7,268
Financing receivable, 30 - 89 days past due			4,832
Financing Receivable, 90+ days			6,892
Financing Receivable, Past Due, Total			18,992
Financing Receivable, Current			28,920
Total receivables	32,939		47,912	[1]	56,456
First Mortgage [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, 1 - 29 Days Past Due	4,644		5,828
Financing receivable, 30 - 89 days past due	2,759		4,028
Financing Receivable, 90+ days	2,748		6,248
Financing Receivable, Past Due, Total	10,151		16,104
Financing Receivable, Current	19,150		22,131
Total receivables	29,301	[1]	38,235	[1]
Second Mortgage [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, 1 - 29 Days Past Due	652		754
Financing receivable, 30 - 89 days past due	316		416
Financing Receivable, 90+ days	239		329
Financing Receivable, Past Due, Total	1,207		1,499
Financing Receivable, Current	2,431		2,979
Total receivables	3,638	[1]	4,478	[1]
Real estate secured [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, 1 - 29 Days Past Due	5,296	[2]	6,582	[2]
Financing receivable, 30 - 89 days past due	3,075	[2]	4,444	[2]
Financing Receivable, 90+ days	2,987	[2]	6,577	[2]
Financing Receivable, Past Due, Total	11,358	[2]	17,603	[2]
Financing Receivable, Current	21,581	[2]	25,110	[2]
Total receivables	32,939	[1],[2]	42,713	[1],[2]
Personal non-credit card [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, 1 - 29 Days Past Due			686
Financing receivable, 30 - 89 days past due			388
Financing Receivable, 90+ days			315
Financing Receivable, Past Due, Total			1,389
Financing Receivable, Current			3,807
Total receivables			5,196	[1]
Commercial and Other [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Current			3
Total receivables			$ 3	[1]

[1] The receivable balances included in this table reflects the principal amount outstanding on the loan and certain basis adjustments to the loan such as deferred fees and costs on originated loans, purchase accounting fair value adjustments and premiums or discounts on purchased loans. However, these basis adjustments on the loans are excluded in other presentations regarding delinquent account balances.

[2] Our real estate secured receivables are currently maintained on two mortgage loan servicing platforms. One platform (representing approximately two-thirds of our outstanding real estate secured receivables) establishes a qualifying payment as a payment that is within $10 of the required payment. The other platform (representing approximately one-third of our outstanding real estate secured receivables) establishes a qualifying payment as a payment that, on a life-to-date basis, leaves the total less than 50 percent of one required payment unpaid.