Financing Receivables and Allowance For Losses On Financing Receivables (Net Investment in Financing Leases) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	$ 277,003	$ 295,037
Less allowance for losses	(5,380)	(6,190)	(6,512)	(7,919)
Financing receivables	271,623	288,847
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	138,814	148,570
Less allowance for losses	(1,249)	(1,530)	(1,646)	(2,045)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Americas CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	74,488	80,505
Less allowance for losses	(567)	(889)	(995)	(1,288)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Europe CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	34,916	36,899
Less allowance for losses	(574)	(400)	(403)	(429)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Asia CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	11,597	11,635
Less allowance for losses	(72)	(157)	(150)	(222)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Other CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	659	436
Less allowance for losses	(2)	(4)	(5)	(6)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	121,660	129,475
Less allowance for losses	(1,215)	(1,450)	(1,553)	(1,945)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Energy Financial Services Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	4,989	5,912
Less allowance for losses	(13)	(26)	(36)	(22)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | GECAS Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	11,628	11,901
Less allowance for losses	(12)	(17)	(14)	(20)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Other Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	537	1,282
Less allowance for losses	(9)	(37)	(43)	(58)
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	26,294	32,749
Less allowance for losses	(736)	(1,089)	(1,141)	(1,488)
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] | Debt Real Estate [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	21,225	24,501
Less allowance for losses	(631)	(949)	(978)	(1,292)
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] | Business Properties Real Estate [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	5,069	8,248
Less allowance for losses	(105)	(140)	(163)	(196)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	111,895	113,718
Less allowance for losses	(3,395)	(3,571)	(3,725)	(4,386)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US residential mortgages [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	33,855	35,550
Less allowance for losses	(467)	(546)	(622)	(689)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US installment and revolving credit [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	18,504	18,544
Less allowance for losses	(654)	(717)	(816)	(937)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | US installment and revolving credit [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	46,939	46,689
Less allowance for losses	(2,030)	(2,008)	(1,953)	(2,333)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US auto [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	4,601	5,691
Less allowance for losses	(73)	(101)	(123)	(168)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Consumer Other Financing Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	7,996	7,244
Less allowance for losses	$ (171)	$ (199)	$ (211)	$ (259)