Basis of Presentation (Policy)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Certain amounts reported in prior periods' consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the determination of the ACL, determination of fair value for financial instruments, valuation of MSRs, goodwill, intangible assets and other purchase accounting related adjustments, benefit plan obligations and expenses, and tax assets, liabilities and expense.

Changes in Accounting Principles and Effects of New Accounting Pronouncements



Standard/Adoption Date	Description	Effects on the Financial Statements
Standards Adopted During the Current Year
Leases Jan 1, 2019	Requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities related to certain operating leases on the balance sheet, requires additional disclosures by lessees, and contains targeted changes to accounting by lessors.	BB&T established ROU assets of $860 million and lease liabilities of $997 million. The net impact to equity was a reduction of $40 million. There was no material impact to its Consolidated Statements of Income. BB&T adopted the guidance on a prospective basis and did not reassess whether any expired or existing contract contains a lease, the classification of leases or the initial direct costs.
Standards Not Yet Adopted
Credit Losses Jan 1, 2020	Replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology with an expected credit loss methodology and requires consideration of a broader range of information to determine credit loss estimates. Financial assets measured at amortized cost will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected by using an allowance for credit losses. Purchased credit deteriorated loans will receive an allowance for expected credit losses. Any credit impairment on AFS debt securities for which the fair value is less than cost will be recorded through an allowance for expected credit losses. The standard also requires expanded disclosures related to credit losses and asset quality.	BB&T expects that the ACL could be materially higher; however, the magnitude of the increase, which is highly dependent on existing and forecasted economic conditions at the time of adoption, has not yet been quantified. Model development and fit-for-purpose testing is substantially complete for most portfolios, and significant progress has been made on testing designed to evaluate the sensitivity of the models to economic forecasts, length of the reasonable and supportable period and reversion to historical loss information. BB&T expects to continue limited parallel testing in the second quarter of 2019, with plans for a more comprehensive parallel testing program in the second half of the year that will include consideration of new or modified internal controls.

Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block]

Leases - Lessee

BB&T has operating and finance leases for data centers, corporate offices, branches, retail centers, and certain equipment. BB&T determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases with an original lease term in excess of one year are included in other assets and accounts payable and other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance leases are included in premises and equipment and long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. BB&T uses an implicit interest rate in determining the present value of lease payments when readily determinable, and a collateralized incremental borrowing rate when an implicit rate is not available. Lease terms consider options to extend or terminate based on the determination of whether such renewal or termination options are deemed reasonably certain. Rent expense and rental income on operating leases is generally recorded using the straight-line method over the appropriate lease terms.

Lease agreements that contain non-lease components are generally accounted for as a single lease component. Variable costs, such as maintenance expenses, property and sales taxes, association dues and index based rate increases, are expensed as they are incurred.

Lessor, Leases [Policy Text Block]

Leases - Lessor

BB&T's commercial lease portfolio consists of dealer-based financing of equipment for small businesses and commercial equipment leasing. The fair market value of the leased asset is generally equal to the original capitalized cost. Assets under operating leases are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Depreciation expense for assets under operating leases is generally recorded using the straight-line method over the appropriate lease terms in other expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.