Capital Ratios (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Tier 1 common	$ 14,602	$ 13,509
Tier 1 capital	16,073	14,975
Total capital	19,052	18,131
Tier 1 common	9.82%	10.04%
Tier 1 capital	10.81%	11.13%
Total capital	12.81%	13.48%
Tier 1 leverage	9.58%	8.91%
Sun Trust Bank [Member]
Tier 1 capital	16,059	15,121
Total capital	18,810	18,056
Tier 1 capital	10.96%	11.38%
Total capital	12.84%	13.59%
Tier 1 leverage	9.78%	9.23%
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Amount		627
Tier one risk based capital [Member] | Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Amount		627
Tier one risk based capital [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member] | Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Amount	$ 627