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		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 WMC Discontinued Operations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Consumer RV Marine [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer Mexico [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Consumer Mexico [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer Mexico [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Consumer Mexico [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer Mexico [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Consumer Singapore [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Australian Home Lending [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer Ireland [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Consumer Ireland [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consumer Ireland [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Consumer Ireland [Member]
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Pending Repurchase Claims Based Upon Representations And Warranties						$ 4,075		$ 4,075		$ 705	$ 347
Reserves Related to Unmet Contractual Representations and Warranties						608		608
Adverse Percentage Change In Assumptions That Would Effect Claims For Unmet Representations And Warranties						10.00%
Percentage Increase To Estimates Of Future Loan Repurchase Requests And Estimated Percentage Of Loans Repurchased						50.00%		50.00%
Increase To Reserve For Claims For Unmet Representations And Warranties For Adverse Effect In Assumptions	550					117
Revenues from discontinued operations						(117)	(21)	(475)	(21)						11		1	1	1	68		(1)	(1)				30	3	33	4	248		1	4	7	12
Discontinued Operation Revenue Insignificant Amount												insignificant amount	insignificant amount	insignificant amount												insignificant amount
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(111)	(64)	(881)	166		(78)	(15)	(314)	(18)						2		(4)	1	(8)	34		1	7			2	333	2	15	4	(65)		8	65	194	109
Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity Insignificant Amount												insignificant amount	insignificant amount	insignificant amount
Agreed Upon Selling Price Of Disposal Business																									692				4,577
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation	1,199		1,199		1,669
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation	1,777		1,777		1,471
Incremental loss on disposal																								(319)								148			121
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business																2,365					1,943												227		227
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(111)	(64)	(881)	166
Breach Of Contract Claims On Mortgage Loans Original Unpaid Principal Balance Amount						$ 950		$ 950
Number Of Lawsuits Involving Repurchase Claims On Loans								ten
Number Of Securitizations Related To Lawsuits Involving repurchase Claims On Loans In Which Adverse Parties Are Securitization Trustees								eight
Number Of Lawsuits Involving Repurchase Claims On Loans Based On Breach Of Contract Claims On Mortgage Loans								three
Number Of Lawsuits Involving Repurchase Claims On Loans Initiated By Divested Business								three