Long-Term Debt (Schedule of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Long-term debt	$ 23,380		$ 21,730
Federal Home Loan Bank advances weighted average cost	3.70%
Federal Home Loan Bank advances weighted average maturity (in years)	6.0
Effective interest rate on floating rate senior notes	3.25%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	0.94%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	3.69%
Senior Notes 3.10% Due 2011 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	3.10%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2011
Long-term debt	250		250
Senior Notes 3.85% Due 2012 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	3.85%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2012
Long-term debt	1,000		1,000
Senior Notes 3.38% Due 2013 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	3.38%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2013
Long-term debt	500		500
Senior Notes 5.70% Due 2014 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	5.70%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term debt	509		510
Senior Notes 2.05% Due 2014 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	2.05%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term debt	700	[1]		[1]
Floating Rate Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term debt	300	[2]		[2]
Senior Notes 3.95% Due 2016 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	3.95%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
Long-term debt	499		499
Senior Notes 3.20% Due 2016 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	3.20%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
Long-term debt	999	[1]		[1]
Senior Notes 6.85% Due 2019 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	6.85%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2019
Long-term debt	538	[1]	538	[1]
Subordinated Notes 6.50% Due 2011 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	6.50%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2011
Long-term debt	611	[3]	610	[3]
Subordinated Notes 4.75% Due 2012 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	4.75%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2012
Long-term debt	490	[3]	490	[3]
Subordinated Notes 5.20% Due 2015 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	5.20%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2015
Long-term debt	932	[3]	932	[3]
Subordinated Notes 4.90% Due 2017 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	4.90%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2017
Long-term debt	341	[1],[3]	339	[1],[3]
Subordinated Notes 5.25% Due 2019 [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Interest Rate	5.25%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2019
Long-term debt	586	[1],[3]	586	[1],[3]
Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Due 2016 [Member] | Branch Bank [Member]
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
Long-term debt	350	[3],[4]	350	[3],[4]
Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Due 2017 [Member] | Branch Bank [Member]
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2017
Long-term debt	261	[3],[4]	261	[3],[4]
Subordinated Notes 4.875% Due 2013 [Member] | Branch Bank [Member]
Interest Rate	4.875%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2013
Long-term debt	222	[3]	222	[3]
Subordinated Notes 5.625% Due 2016 [Member] | Branch Bank [Member]
Interest Rate	5.625%
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2016
Long-term debt	386	[1],[3]	386	[1],[3]
Varying maturities to 2034 [Member] | Federal Home Loan Bank Advances to Branch Bank [Member]
Debt instrument, year of maturity	Dec. 31, 2034
Long-term debt	9,889	[5]	10,243	[5]
Other Long-Term Debt [Member]
Long-term debt	108		123
Fair Value Hedge-Related Basis Adjustments [Member]
Long-term debt	639		622
Floating-Rate Securities [Member]
Effective interest rate on floating rate senior notes	0.97%
Junior Subordinated Debt to Unconsolidated Trusts [Member]
Long-term debt	$ 3,270	[6]	$ 3,269	[6]

[1] These fixed rate notes were swapped to floating rates based on LIBOR. At June 30, 2011, the effective rates paid on these borrowings ranged from 0.94% to 3.69%.

[2] These floating-rate senior notes are based on LIBOR and had an effective rate of 0.97% at June 30, 2011.

[3] Subordinated notes that qualify under the risk-based capital guidelines as Tier 2 supplementary capital, subject to certain limitations.

[4] These floating-rate securities are based on LIBOR, but the majority of the cash flows have been swapped to a fixed rate. The effective rate paid on these securities including the effect of cash flow hedges was 3.25% at June 30, 2011.

[5] Certain of these advances have been swapped to floating rates from fixed rates and from fixed rates to floating rates. At June 30, 2011, the weighted average rate paid on these advances including the effect of hedges was 3.70%, and the weighted average maturity was 6.0 years.

[6] Securities that qualify under the risk-based capital guidelines as Tier 1 capital, subject to certain limitations. Refer to BB&T's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 for additional information.