Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefits - Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
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 $235 million, $319 million, and $291 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Compensation expense for short-term incentive plans with cash payouts was $466 million, $476 million, and $469 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Stock-Based Compensation The Company provides stock-based awards through the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan and various other deferred compensation plans under which the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the authority to grant various awards such as restricted stock, phantom stock units, stock options, 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. The 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan became effective in April 2018, under which the total number of shares available for grant as awards under this plan is 17 million, less shares subject to awards granted under pre-existing plans. Pre-existing plans include the 2009 Stock Plan and the 2004 Stock Plan. At December 31, 2018, approximately 14 million shares were available for grant. All granted stock options 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 Company's deferred compensation plans. 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.

Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefits - Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

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 $235 million, $319 million, and $291 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Compensation expense for short-term incentive plans with cash payouts was $466 million, $476 million, and $469 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company provides stock-based awards through the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan and various other deferred compensation plans under which the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the authority to grant various awards such as restricted stock, phantom stock units, stock options, 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.

The 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan became effective in April 2018, under which the total number of shares

available for grant as awards under this plan is 17 million, less shares subject to awards granted under pre-existing plans. Pre-existing plans include the 2009 Stock Plan and the 2004 Stock Plan. At December 31, 2018, approximately 14 million shares were available for grant. All granted stock options 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 Company's deferred compensation plans. 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.