Cover	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 shares
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Entity File Number	1-10853
Entity Registrant Name	BB&T CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NC
Entity Tax Identification Number	56-0939887
Entity Address, Address Line One	200 West Second Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Winston-Salem,
Entity Address, State or Province	NC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	27101
City Area Code	(336)
Local Phone Number	733-2000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	766,010,180
Entity Central Index Key	0000092230
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Transition Report	false
Common Stock
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $5 par value
Trading Symbol	BBT
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series D
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares of Series D Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1)	[1]
Trading Symbol	BBT PrD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series E
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares of Series E Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1)	[1]
Trading Symbol	BBT PrE
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series F
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares of Series F Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1)	[1]
Trading Symbol	BBT PrF
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series G
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares of Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1)	[1]
Trading Symbol	BBT PrG
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series H
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares of Series H Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1)	[1]
Trading Symbol	BBT PrH
Security Exchange Name	NYSE

[1] (1) Each depositary share represents a 1/1,000th interest in a share of the respective series of preferred stock