Regulatory Requirements and Other Restrictions - Regulatory Requirements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
BB&T Corporation:
CET1 Capital:
Actual Capital, Ratio	10.20%	10.20%
Actual Capital, Amount	$ 18,051	$ 18,050
Capital Requirements, Minimum	7,975	7,926
Capital Requirements, Well-Capitalized	$ 11,519	$ 11,449
Tier 1 Capital:
Actual Capital, Ratio	11.90%	12.00%
Actual Capital, Amount	$ 21,102	$ 21,102
Capital Requirements, Minimum	10,633	10,568
Capital Requirements, Well-Capitalized	$ 14,177	$ 14,091
Total Capital:
Actual Capital, Ratio	13.90%	14.10%
Actual Capital, Amount	$ 24,653	$ 24,872
Capital Requirements, Minimum	14,177	14,091
Capital Requirements, Well-Capitalized	$ 17,722	$ 17,614
Leverage Capital:
Actual Capital, Ratio	9.90%	10.00%
Actual Capital, Amount	$ 21,102	$ 21,102
Capital Requirements, Minimum	8,567	8,460
Capital Requirements, Well-Capitalized	$ 10,708	$ 10,576
Branch Bank
CET1 Capital:
Actual Capital, Ratio	11.30%	11.50%
Actual Capital, Amount	$ 19,480	$ 19,839
Capital Requirements, Minimum	7,752	7,730
Capital Requirements, Well-Capitalized	$ 11,197	$ 11,166
Tier 1 Capital:
Actual Capital, Ratio	11.30%	11.50%
Actual Capital, Amount	$ 19,480	$ 19,839
Capital Requirements, Minimum	10,336	10,307
Capital Requirements, Well-Capitalized	$ 13,781	$ 13,743
Total Capital:
Actual Capital, Ratio	13.30%	13.60%
Actual Capital, Amount	$ 22,915	$ 23,289
Capital Requirements, Minimum	13,781	13,743
Capital Requirements, Well-Capitalized	$ 17,226	$ 17,179
Leverage Capital:
Actual Capital, Ratio	9.40%	9.60%
Actual Capital, Amount	$ 19,480	$ 19,839
Capital Requirements, Minimum	8,315	8,249
Capital Requirements, Well-Capitalized	$ 10,394	$ 10,311