Assets and Liabilities of Businesses Held For Sale and Discontinued Operations (WMC and GE Industrial) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent									$ (1,186)	$ (74)	$ (965)
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation	1,126				1,669				1,126	1,669
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation	2,275				1,471				2,275	1,471
Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax	(305)	(111)	(553)	(217)	(240)	(64)	195	35	(1,186)	(74)	(965)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	124	78	102	187	65	59	346	429	491	899	(985)
WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Pending Repurchase Claims Based Upon Representations And Warranties	5,357				705				5,357	705	347
Reserves Related to Unmet Contractual Representations and Warranties	633								633
Adjustment For Pending Claims For Unmet Representations And Warranties	25
Increase To Reserve For Claims For Unmet Representations And Warranties For Adverse Effect In Assumptions									700
Revenues from discontinued operations									(500)	(42)	(4)
Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax									(337)	(34)	(7)
Number Of Lawsuits Involving Repurchase Claims On Loans									15
Number Of Securitizations Related To Lawsuits Involving repurchase Claims On Loans In Which Adverse Parties Are Securitization Trustees									12
Number Of Lawsuits Involving Repurchase Claims On Loans Initiated By Divested Business									four
Percentage Increase To Estimates Of Future Loan Repurchase Requests	50.00%								50.00%
Percentage Increase To Estimated Loss On Loans Tendered	100.00%								100.00%
Litigation Claims									eight
Number Of Litigation Claims That Are Samplings Based Claims									two
Sampling Based Litigation Claims Amount Of Mortgages	900								900
Number Of Litigation Claims Based On Alleged Failure To Provide Notice On Defective Loans Breach Of Corporate Representation And Warranty On Non Specific Claims for Recessionary Damages									six
Liabilities Related To Remaining Litigation Claims	3,100								3,100
Consumer RV Marine [Member]
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues from discontinued operations									1	11	210
Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity Insignificant Amount									an insignificant amount
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business								2,365
Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax										2	(99)
Consumer Mexico [Member]
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues from discontinued operations									2	67	228
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business							1,943
Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax									(12)	30	(59)
Consumer Singapore [Member]
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues from discontinued operations										30	108
Discontinued Operation Revenue Insignificant Amount									an insignificant amount
Agreed Upon Selling Price Of Disposal Business								692
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business							319
Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax									2	333	36
Australian Home Lending [Member]
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues from discontinued operations									4	250	510
Incremental loss on disposal										(148)
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business						4,577
Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax									6	(65)	70
Consumer Ireland [Member]
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues from discontinued operations									7	13	25
Incremental loss on disposal									(121)
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business		227
Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax									$ (195)	$ (153)	$ (96)