Supplemental Information About The Credit Quality Of Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses On Financing Receivables (Real Estate) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	$ 273,936	$ 295,037
Nonaccrual Financing Receivables [Abstract]
Allowance for losses as a percent of nonaccrual financing receivables	25.00%	32.40%
Allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning financing receivables	36.00%	44.30%
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	273,936	295,037
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	20,946	32,749
General reserves	132	267
Total impaired loans	5,693	8,747
Allowance for losses (specific reserves)	188	822
Past Due Financing Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Equal to Greater than 30 Days Past Due	2.30%	2.80%
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investments, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due	2.20%	2.50%
Nonaccrual Financing Receivables [Abstract]
Nonaccrual loans	4,885	6,949
Amount of nonaccrual loans currently paying in accordance with contractual terms	4,461	6,061
Nonearning financing receivables	444	790
Allowance for losses as a percent of nonaccrual financing receivables	6.60%	15.70%
Allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning financing receivables	72.10%	137.80%
Impaired Loans
Total impaired loans	5,693	8,747
Allowance for losses (specific reserves)	188	822
Impaired Loans And Leases Receivable Interest Income Recognized	329	399
Interest income recognized on a cash basis	237	339
Average investment during the period	7,525	9,678
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Recorded Investment	5,146	7,006
Changes In Loans Modified As Troubled Debt Restructurings	4,351	3,965
Loans Modified As Troubled Debt Restructuring That Have Subsequently Experienced Payment Default	210	140
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	20,946	32,749
Loan To Value Ratio Of Real Estate Loans Paying In Accordance With Contractual Terms	95.00%
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Performing Financing Receivable [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Non-impaired financing receivables	15,253	24,002
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| No Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Total impaired loans	3,491	3,790
Impaired Loans
Total impaired loans	3,491	3,790
Unpaid principal balance	3,712	3,846
Average investment during the period	3,773	3,783
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Total impaired loans	2,202	4,957
Allowance for losses (specific reserves)	188	822
Impaired Loans
Total impaired loans	2,202	4,957
Unpaid principal balance	2,807	5,049
Allowance for losses (specific reserves)	188	822
Average investment during the period	3,752	5,895
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Debt Real Estate [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	19,746	24,501
Past Due Financing Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Equal to Greater than 30 Days Past Due	1.70%	2.40%
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investments, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due	1.70%	2.30%
Nonaccrual Financing Receivables [Abstract]
Nonaccrual loans	4,576	6,351
Nonearning financing receivables	321	541
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	19,746	24,501
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Debt Real Estate [Member] \| Loan To Value Ratio Less Than 80 Percent [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	13,570	14,454
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	13,570	14,454
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Debt Real Estate [Member] \| Loan To Value Ratio From 80 To 95 Percent [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	2,572	4,593
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	2,572	4,593
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Debt Real Estate [Member] \| Loan To Value Ratio Greater Than 95 Percent [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	3,604	5,454
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	3,604	5,454
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Debt Real Estate [Member] \| No Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Total impaired loans	3,294	3,558
Impaired Loans
Total impaired loans	3,294	3,558
Unpaid principal balance	3,515	3,614
Average investment during the period	3,575	3,568
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Debt Real Estate [Member] \| Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Total impaired loans	2,077	4,560
Allowance for losses (specific reserves)	156	717
Impaired Loans
Total impaired loans	2,077	4,560
Unpaid principal balance	2,682	4,652
Allowance for losses (specific reserves)	156	717
Average investment during the period	3,455	5,435
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Business Properties Real Estate [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	1,200	8,248
Past Due Financing Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Equal to Greater than 30 Days Past Due	10.80%	3.90%
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investments, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due	10.20%	3.00%
Nonaccrual Financing Receivables [Abstract]
Nonaccrual loans	309	598
Nonearning financing receivables	123	249
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	1,200	8,248
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Business Properties Real Estate [Member] \| Secured Credit Quality Indicator Low Risk [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	956	7,628
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	956	7,628
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Business Properties Real Estate [Member] \| Secured Credit Quality Indicator Moderate Risk [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	25	110
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	25	110
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Business Properties Real Estate [Member] \| Secured Credit Quality Indicator High Risk [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	219	510
Credit Quality Indicators [Abstract]
Loans and leases receivable, Gross	219	510
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Business Properties Real Estate [Member] \| No Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Total impaired loans	197	232
Impaired Loans
Total impaired loans	197	232
Unpaid principal balance	197	232
Average investment during the period	198	215
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] \| Business Properties Real Estate [Member] \| Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivables And Allowance For Losses [Abstract]
Total impaired loans	125	397
Allowance for losses (specific reserves)	32	105
Impaired Loans
Total impaired loans	125	397
Unpaid principal balance	125	397
Allowance for losses (specific reserves)	32	105
Average investment during the period	$ 297	$ 460

The amount of losses established as a percentage nonaccrual financing receivables.

No definition available.

Name:	gecc_AllowanceForLossesAsPercentOfNonaccrualFinancingReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of losses established as a percentage nonearning financing receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_AllowanceForLossesAsPercentOfNonearningFinancingReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of financing receivables that are categorized as non accrual that are currently paying in accordance with the contractual terms.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_AmountOfNonaccrualLoansCurrentlyPayingInAccordanceWithContractualTerms
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Loans that were modified as troubled debt restructurings during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_ChangesInLoansModifiedAsTroubledDebtRestructurings
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	gecc_CreditQualityIndicatorsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Financing receivables that are equal to or greater than 30 days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan30DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Financing receivables that are 90 days or more past due, or for which collection is otherwise doubtful.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentNonearningOfInterest
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Financing receivables that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentsEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	gecc_FinancingReceivablesAndAllowanceForLossesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	gecc_ImpairedLoansAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the amount of interest income on impaired and nonperforming loans that was recognized as income during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_ImpairedLoansAndLeasesReceivableInterestIncomeRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Financing receivable amounts that are not impaired at the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNonImpairedAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Loans that were modified by troubled debt restructurings that experienced a payment default after being classified as a troubled debt restructuring.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_LoansModifiedAsTroubledDebtRestructuringThatHaveSubsequentlyExperiencedPaymentDefault
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The loan to value rations of the real estate debt financing receivables that are paying in accordance with contractual terms.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gecc_LoanToValueRatioOfRealEstateLoansPayingInAccordanceWithContractualTerms
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	gecc_NonaccrualFinancingReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	gecc_PastDueFinancingReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were collectively evaluated for impairment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953423-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the outstanding recorded investment related to financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6951948&loc=d3e18845-111554

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsRecordedInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Recorded investment in financing receivables that are on nonaccrual status as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5111-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentNonaccrualStatus
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Average amount of investment of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5212-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 17

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5258-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of interest income recognized on a cash-basis method of accounting that the financing receivables (with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses) were impaired.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeCashBasisMethod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of investment of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 14A

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953550-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of allowance for credit losses related to recorded investment.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of unpaid principal balance of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without related allowance for credit losses.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableUnpaidPrincipalBalance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allowance and after deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher OTS

-Name Federal Regulation (FR)

-Number Title 12

-Section 563c.102

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph e

-Chapter V

-Subsection I

-LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-DEP

-Paragraph 116

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-Chapter 8

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5074-111524

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6375948&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 01-6

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetOfDeferredIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant