Long-Term Debt (Schedule of Junior Subordinated Debt to Unconsolidated Trusts) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
BB&T Capital Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	August 2005
Trust securities	$ 515		$ 514
Stated maturity	August 2035
Interest rate	5.85
Redemption period	Anytime
BB&T Capital Trust II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	June 2006
Trust securities	599		598
Stated maturity	June 2036
Interest rate	6.75
Redemption period	Anytime
BB&T Capital Trust IV [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	June 2007
Trust securities	600	[1]	600	[1]
Stated maturity	June 2057
Final maturity	June 2077
Interest rate	6.82
Redemption period	Anytime
BB&T Capital Trust V [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	September 2008
Trust securities	450	[2],[3]	450	[2],[3]
Stated maturity	September 2063
Final maturity	September 2068
Interest rate	8.95
Redemption period	after 09/15/13
Junior Subordinated Debt To Unconsolidated Trusts Swapped To Floating Rate	360
Junior Subordinated Debt To Unconsolidated Trusts Swapped To Floating Rate Effective Rate	3.92%
BB&T Capital Trust VI [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	July 2009
Trust securities	575	[2]	575	[2]
Stated maturity	August 2064
Final maturity	August 2069
Interest rate	9.60
Redemption period	after 08/01/14
BB&T Capital Trust VII [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	October 2009
Trust securities	350		350
Stated maturity	November 2064
Final maturity	November 2069
Interest rate	8.10
Redemption period	after 11/01/14
Mason Dixon Capital Trust [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	July 1997
Trust securities	21		21
Stated maturity	June 2027
Interest rate	10.07
Redemption period	after 06/15/07
Main Street Capital Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	November 1997
Trust securities	48		48
Stated maturity	December 2027
Interest rate	8.90
Redemption period	after 12/01/07
Premier Capital Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	November 1997
Trust securities	30		30
Stated maturity	December 2027
Interest rate	9.00
Redemption period	after 12/31/07
Main Street Banks Statutory Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	November 2002
Trust securities	5		5
Stated maturity	November 2032
Interest rate	Variable
Redemption period	after 11/15/07
Main Street Banks Statutory Trust II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	May 2003
Trust securities	46		46
Stated maturity	June 2033
Interest rate	Variable
Redemption period	after 06/30/08
Coastal Financial Capital Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	July 2003
Trust securities	15		15
Stated maturity	July 2033
Interest rate	Variable
Redemption period	after 07/03/08
First Citizens Bancorp Statutory Trust I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	December 2003
Trust securities	10		10
Stated maturity	December 2033
Interest rate	Variable
Redemption period	after 12/17/08
First Citizens Bancorp StatutoryTrust II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance date	June 2005
Trust securities	$ 7		$ 7
Stated maturity	June 2035
Interest rate	Variable
Redemption period	after 06/15/10

[1] These securities are fixed rate through June 12, 2037 and then switch to a floating rate based on LIBOR.

[2] These securities are fixed rate through initial maturity and then switch to a floating rate based on LIBOR if extended.

[3] $360 million of this issuance was swapped to a floating rate based on LIBOR. At December 31, 2011, the effective rate on the swapped portion was 3.92%