Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefits - Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company sponsors various compensation and benefit programs to attract and retain talent. Aligned with a pay for performance culture, the Company's plans and programs include short-term incentives, AIP, and various LTI plans. All incentive awards are subject to clawback provisions. Compensation expense for AIP and LTI plans with cash payouts was $319 million, $291 million, and $245 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Compensation expense for short-term incentive plans with cash payouts was $476 million, $469 million, and $448 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company provides stock-based awards through the 2009 Stock Plan and various other deferred compensation plans under which the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the authority to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, phantom stock units, and RSUs to key employees of the Company. Award vesting may be conditional based upon individual, business unit, Company, and/or performance relative to peer group metrics.

Effective January 1, 2014, following approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board, shareholders approved an amendment to the 2009 Stock Plan to remove the sub-limit on shares available for grant that may be issued as restricted stock or RSUs. Accordingly, all 17 million remaining authorized shares previously under the Stock Plan became available for grant as stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, or RSUs. Prior to the amendment, only a portion of such shares were available to be granted as either restricted stock or RSUs. At December 31, 2017, approximately 16 million shares were available for grant. All stock option grants are exercisable for 10 years after the grant date.

Shares or units of restricted stock may be granted to employees and directors. Generally, grants to employees either cliff vest after three years or vest pro-rata annually over three years. Restricted stock and RSU grants may be subject to one or more criteria, including employment, performance, or other conditions as established by the Compensation Committee at the time of grant. Any shares of restricted stock that are forfeited will again become available for issuance under the Stock Plan. An employee or director has the right to vote the shares of restricted stock after grant until they are forfeited. Compensation cost for restricted stock and RSUs is generally equal to the fair market value of the shares on the grant date of the award and is amortized over the vesting period. Dividends are paid on awarded, unvested restricted stock. The Company accrues and reinvests dividends in equivalent shares of SunTrust common stock for unvested RSU awards, which are paid out when the underlying RSU award vests. RSU awards are generally classified as equity.

Consistent with the Company's 2014 decision to discontinue the issuance of stock options, no stock options were granted during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015.