Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31
	2013		2012		2011
Dividend yield	1.28	%	0.91	%	0.75	%
Expected stock price volatility	30.98		39.88		34.87
Risk-free interest rate (weighted average)	1.02		1.07		2.48
Expected life of options	6 years		6 years		6 years

Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table Text Block]

	Stock Options					Restricted Stock							Restricted Stock Units
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)	Shares		Price Range	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Shares		Deferred Compensation			Weighted Average Grant Price		Shares		Weighted Average Grant Price
Balance, January 1, 2011	17,142,500		$9.06 - 150.45		$51.17	4,620,809			$43			$25.32	65,190			$26.96
Granted	813,265		19.98 - 32.27	29.70		1,400,305		44			31.27		344,590		37.57
Exercised/vested	(20,000	)	9.06	9.06		(1,085,252	)	—			50.37		—		—
Cancelled/expired/forfeited	(2,066,348	)	9.06 - 140.40	63.40		(313,695	)	(7		)	22.07		(4,305	)	26.96
Amortization of restricted stock compensation	—		—	—		—		(32		)	—		—		—
Balance, December 31, 2011	15,869,417		9.06 - 150.45	48.53		4,622,167		48			21.46		405,475		35.98
Granted	859,390		21.67 - 23.68	21.92		1,737,202		38			21.97		1,717,148		22.65
Exercised/vested	(973,048	)	9.06 - 22.69	9.90		(2,148,764	)	—			14.62		(109,149	)	27.73
Cancelled/expired/forfeited	(2,444,107	)	9.06 - 85.06	45.73		(524,284	)	(8		)	19.91		(82,828	)	22.79
Amortization of restricted stock compensation	—		—	—		—		(30		)	—		—		—
Balance, December 31, 2012	13,311,652		9.06 - 150.45	50.15		3,686,321		48			25.56		1,930,646		25.16
Granted	552,998		27.41	27.41		1,314,277		39			29.58		593,093		24.65
Exercised/vested	(712,981	)	9.06 - 27.79	16.94		(821,636	)	—			25.95		(41,790	)	28.73
Cancelled/expired/forfeited	(2,222,298	)	21.67 - 118.18	56.55		(195,424	)	(5		)	27.41		14,229		20.54
Amortization of restricted stock compensation	—		—	—		—		(32		)	—		—		—
Balance, December 31, 2013	10,929,371		$9.06 - 150.45		$49.86	3,983,538			$50			$27.04	2,496,178			$26.69
Exercisable, December 31, 2013	9,351,182				$53.89

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
	Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number Outstanding at December 31, 2013	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Total Aggregate Intrinsic Value		Number Exercisable at December 31, 2013	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Total Aggregate Intrinsic Value
$9.06 to 49.46	4,548,172		$19.57	6.22		$78	2,969,983		$16.14	5.22		$61
$49.47 to 64.57	424,131	56.16		0.07	—		424,131	56.16		0.07	—
$64.58 to 150.45	5,957,068	72.54		1.37	—		5,957,068	72.54		1.37	—
	10,929,371		$49.86	3.34		$78	9,351,182		$53.89	2.54		$61

Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized in Noninterest Expense

(Dollars in millions)	2013		2012		2011
Stock-based compensation expense:
Stock options		$6		$11		$15
Restricted stock	32		30		32
RSUs	18		27		10
Total stock-based compensation expense		$56		$68		$57

Postretirement Benefit Obligation [Table Text Block]

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
(Dollars in millions)	2013			2012			2013			2012
Benefit obligation, beginning of year		$2,838			$2,661			$167			$173
Interest cost	113			119			6			7
Plan participants’ contributions	—			—			21			22
Actuarial loss/(gain)	(195		)	242			1			(2		)
Benefits paid	(181		)	(184		)	(41		)	(36		)
Less federal Medicare drug subsidy	—			—			3			3
Plan amendments	—			—			(76		)	—
Benefit obligation, end of year		$2,575			$2,838			$81			$167

Schedule of Accumulated and Projected Benefit Obligations [Table Text Block]

(Dollars in millions)	2013		2012
Projected benefit obligation		$80		$2,701
Accumulated benefit obligation	79		2,701

Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]

	Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
(Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations, end of year)	2013		2012		2013		2012
Discount rate	4.98	%	4.08	%	4.15	%	3.45	%

Schedule of Changes in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
(Dollars in millions)	2013			2012			2013			2012
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year		$2,742			$2,550			$164			$161
Actual return on plan assets	304			350			14			17
Employer contributions	8			26			—			—
Plan participants’ contributions	—			—			21			22
Benefits paid	(181		)	(184		)	(41		)	(36		)
Fair value of plan assets, end of year		$2,873			$2,742			$158			$164

Net Pension Plan Assets at Fair Value Disclosure [Table Text Block]

			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013 using 1
(Dollars in millions)	Assets Measured at Fair Value at December 31, 2013		Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Money market funds		$83		$83		$—		$—
Equity securities:
Consumer	297		297		—		—
Energy and utilities	163		163		—		—
Financials	268		268		—		—
Healthcare	166		166		—		—
Industrials	157		157		—		—
Information technology	244		244		—		—
Materials	51		51		—		—
Telecommunications services	28		28		—		—
Futures contracts	8		—		8		—
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasuries	157		157		—		—
Corporate - investment grade	932		—		932		—
Foreign bonds	183		—		183		—
Government agencies	2		—		2		—
Foreign governments	4		—		4		—
Municipal taxable	53		—		53		—
Corporate obligations CMO and REMIC	56		—		56		—
Other assets
Other assets	2		2		—		—
Total plan assets		$2,854		$1,616		$1,238		$—

¹ Schedule does not include accrued income amounting to less than 0.7% of total plan assets.

			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012 using 1
(Dollars in millions)	Assets Measured at Fair Value at December 31, 2012		Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Money market funds		$48		$48		$—		$—
Mutual funds:
International diversified funds	401		401		—		—
Equity securities:
Consumer	218		218		—		—
Energy and utilities	127		127		—		—
Financials	136		136		—		—
Healthcare	111		111		—		—
Industrials	197		197		—		—
Information technology	199		199		—		—
Materials	45		45		—		—
Telecommunications Services	17		17		—		—
Exchange traded funds	172		172		—		—
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasuries	534		534		—		—
Corporate - investment grade	412		—		412		—
Foreign bonds	77		—		77		—
Preferred Securities - Domestic	33		—		33		—
Preferred Securities - Foreign	2		—		2		—
Total plan assets		$2,729		$2,205		$524		$—

¹ Schedule does not include accrued income amounting to less than 0.5% of total plan assets.

Fair Value Measurement Disclosure of Other Postretirement Benefits [Table Text Block]

(Dollars in millions)			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013 1
	Assets Measured at Fair Value at December 31, 2013		Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Mutual funds:
Equity index fund		$52		$52		$—		$—
Tax exempt municipal bond funds	85		85		—		—
Taxable fixed income index funds	14		14		—		—
Money market funds	7		7		—		—
Total plan assets		$158		$158		$—		$—

¹Schedule does not include accrued income.

(Dollars in millions)			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012 1
	Assets Measured at Fair Value at December 31, 2012		Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Mutual funds:
Equity index fund		$49		$49		$—		$—
Tax exempt municipal bond funds	86		86		—		—
Taxable fixed income index funds	14		14		—		—
Money market funds	15		15		—		—
Total plan assets		$164		$164		$—		$—

¹Schedule does not include accrued income.

Allocation of Assets Related to Pension Plan Disclosure [Table Text Block]

	Target Allocation		Percentage of Plan Assets at December 31
Asset Category	2014		2013		2012
Equity securities	0-60	%	48	%	59	%
Debt securities	40-100		49		39
Cash equivalents	0-10		3		2
Total			100	%	100	%

Allocation of Assets Related to Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Table Text Block]

	Target Allocation		Percentage of Plan Assets at December 31
Asset Category	2014		2013		2012
Equity securities	20-40	%	33	%	30	%
Debt securities	50-70		62		61
Cash equivalents	5-15		5		9
Total			100	%	100	%

Pension and Other Retirement Benefits Funded Status Disclosure [Table Text Block]

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits 2
(Dollars in millions)	2013			2012			2013			2012
Fair value of plan assets		$2,873			$2,742			$158			$164
Benefit obligations 1	(2,575		)	(2,838		)	(81		)	(167		)
Funded status		$298			($96	)		$77			($3	)

¹ Includes $80 million and $91 million of benefit obligations for the unfunded nonqualified supplemental pension plans at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

² Plan remeasured at December 31, 2013 due to plan amendment

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Adjustments to Other Comprehensive Loss Income Disclosure [Table Text Block]

	Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
(Dollars in millions)	2013		2012		2013			2012
Net actuarial loss/(gain)		$807		$1,145		($1	)		$5
Prior service credit	—		—		(76		)	—
Total AOCI, pre-tax		$807		$1,145		($77	)		$5

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Employer Contributions and Expected Benefit Payments Disclosure [Table Text Block]

(Dollars in millions)	Pension Benefits1,2		Other Postretirement Benefits (excluding   Medicare Subsidy) 3		Value to Company of Expected Medicare Subsidy
Employer Contributions
2014 (expected) to plan trusts		$—		$—		$—
2014 (expected) to plan participants	7		—		(1		)
Expected Benefit Payments
2014	171		12		(1		)
2015	153		9		—
2016	153		8		—
2017	155		8		—
2018	155		7		—
2019-2023	817		25		—

¹ At this time, the Company anticipates contributions to the Retirement Plan will be permitted (but not required) during 2014 based on the funded status and contribution limitations under the ERISA.

² The expected benefit payments for the SERP will be paid directly from the Company's corporate assets.

³ Expected benefit payments under Other Postretirement Benefits Plans are shown net of participant contributions.

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]

	Pension Benefits											Other Postretirement Benefits
(Dollars in millions)	2013			2012				2011				2013				2012				2011
Service cost	$	—		$	—			$	62			$	—			$	—			$	—
Interest cost	113			119				128				6				7				9
Expected return on plan assets	(187		)	(173		)		(188		)		(6		)		(7		)		(7		)
Amortization of prior service credit	—			—				(16		)		—				—				—
Recognized net actuarial loss	26			25				39				—				—				1
Curtailment gain	—			—				(88		)		—				—				—
Settlement loss	—			2				—				—				—				—
Net periodic (benefit)/cost		($48	)		($27	)			($63	)			$—				$—				$3
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net (benefit)/cost:
Discount rate	4.08		%	4.63		%	1	5.59		%	2	3.45		%		4.10		%		5.10		%
Expected return on plan assets	7.00			7.00				7.72			3	3.25			4	4.06			4	4.39			4
Rate of compensation increase 5	N/A			N/A				4.00				N/A				N/A				N/A

¹Interim remeasurement was required on September 15, 2012, for the SunTrust SERP to reflect settlement accounting.

² Interim remeasurement was required on November 14, 2011 due to plan amendments adopted at that time. The discount rate as of the remeasurement date was selected based on economic conditions on that date.

³As part of the interim remeasurement on November 14, 2011, the expected return on plan assets was reduced from 7.75% to 7.25% for the SunTrust Pension Plan and the NCF Retirement Plan.

⁴ The weighted average shown for the Other Postretirement Benefit plan is determined on an after-tax basis.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Loss Income Disclosure [Table Text Block]

(Dollars in millions)	Pension Benefits			Other Postretirement Benefits
Current year actuarial gain		($312	)		($6	)
Recognition of actuarial loss	(26		)	—
Amortization of prior service credit	—			(76		)
Total recognized in OCI, pre-tax		($338	)		($82	)
Total recognized in net periodic (benefit)/cost and OCI, pre-tax		($386	)		($82	)