Regulatory Requirements and Other Restrictions (Summary information regarding regulatory capital) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
BB&T [Member]
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Tier 1 actual capital ratio	11.00%	[1]	12.00%	[1]
Tier 1 actual capital amount	$ 14,373	[1]	$ 14,913	[1]
Tier 1 minimum capital requirements	5,244	[1]	4,980	[1]
Tier 1 well-capitalized requirements	7,866	[1]	7,470	[1]
Total actual capital ratio	13.90%	[1]	15.10%	[1]
Total actual capital amount	18,204	[1]	18,862	[1]
Total minimum capital requirements	10,488	[1]	9,961	[1]
Total well-capitalized requirements	13,110	[1]	12,451	[1]
Actual leverage capital ratio	8.20%		9.00%
Actual leverage capital amount	14,373		14,913
Leverage capital minimum requirements	7,001		6,614
Leverage capital well-capitalized requirements	8,751		8,267
Branch Bank [Member]
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Tier 1 actual capital ratio	11.60%	[1]	12.80%	[1]
Tier 1 actual capital amount	14,587	[1]	15,274	[1]
Tier 1 minimum capital requirements	5,011	[1]	4,759	[1]
Tier 1 well-capitalized requirements	7,516	[1]	7,138	[1]
Total actual capital ratio	13.40%	[1]	15.10%	[1]
Total actual capital amount	16,809	[1]	17,915	[1]
Total minimum capital requirements	10,022	[1]	9,517	[1]
Total well-capitalized requirements	12,527	[1]	11,897	[1]
Actual leverage capital ratio	8.60%		9.50%
Actual leverage capital amount	14,587		15,274
Leverage capital minimum requirements	5,086		4,801
Leverage capital well-capitalized requirements	$ 8,476		$ 8,002

[1] The Company has revised its calculation of risk-weighted assets and adjusted the applicable ratios.