Investment Securities (Contractual maturities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
Amortized Cost [Member]
Investment [Line Items]
2013	$ 1,937
2014-2017	7,167
2018-2022	4,782
2023 and later	17,901
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Investment [Line Items]
2013	1,960
2014-2017	7,180
2018-2022	5,283
2023 and later	$ 21,998

This item represents debt securities (excluding mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities), at cost, net of adjustments made for accretion, amortization, other-than-temporary impairments, and hedging, if any, which are expected to mature after five years and through ten years from the balance sheet date and which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.

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