v2.4.0.6
Financing Receivables and Allowance For Losses On Financing Receivables (Allowance for Losses on Financing Receivables ) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance $ 5,205 $ 6,931 $ 6,190 $ 7,919
Provision charged 1,606 1,932    
Other (100) 91    
Gross write-offs (3,273) (3,823)    
Recoveries 782 812    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 1,290 1,847 1,530 2,045
Provision charged 269 389    
Other (69) (32)    
Gross write-offs (537) (670)    
Recoveries 97 115    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Americas CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 662 1,124 889 1,288
Provision charged 57 219    
Other (30) (72)    
Gross write-offs (306) (366)    
Recoveries 52 55    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Europe CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 484 433 400 429
Provision charged 158 73    
Other (15) 30    
Gross write-offs (95) (133)    
Recoveries 36 34    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Asia CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 87 180 157 222
Provision charged 13 77    
Other (3) 10    
Gross write-offs (89) (147)    
Recoveries 9 18    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Other CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 1 6 4 6
Provision charged 0 0    
Other (1) 0    
Gross write-offs (2) 0    
Recoveries 0 0    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 1,234 1,743 1,450 1,945
Provision charged 228 369    
Other (49) (32)    
Gross write-offs (492) (646)    
Recoveries 97 107    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Energy Financial Services Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 12 35 26 22
Provision charged 10 11    
Other 0 (1)    
Gross write-offs (24) (4)    
Recoveries 0 7    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | GECAS Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 32 15 17 20
Provision charged 26 (2)    
Other 0 0    
Gross write-offs (11) (3)    
Recoveries 0 0    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Other Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 12 54 37 58
Provision charged 5 11    
Other (20) 1    
Gross write-offs (10) (17)    
Recoveries 0 1    
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 787 1,276 1,089 1,488
Provision charged 45 176    
Other (15) 10    
Gross write-offs (339) (411)    
Recoveries 7 13    
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] | Debt Real Estate [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 682 1,092 949 1,292
Provision charged 17 122    
Other (8) 9    
Gross write-offs (281) (341)    
Recoveries 5 10    
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] | Business Properties Real Estate [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 105 184 140 196
Provision charged 28 54    
Other (7) 1    
Gross write-offs (58) (70)    
Recoveries 2 3    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 3,128 3,808 3,571 4,386
Provision charged 1,292 1,367    
Other (16) 113    
Gross write-offs (2,397) (2,742)    
Recoveries 678 684    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US residential mortgages [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 481 667 546 689
Provision charged 65 30    
Other (2) 32    
Gross write-offs (165) (112)    
Recoveries 37 28    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US installment and revolving credit [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 665 934 717 937
Provision charged 220 311    
Other (8) 64    
Gross write-offs (543) (664)    
Recoveries 279 286    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | US installment and revolving credit [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 1,724 1,846 2,008 2,333
Provision charged 937 941    
Other (5) 1    
Gross write-offs (1,488) (1,688)    
Recoveries 272 259    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US auto [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 79 143 101 168
Provision charged 15 26    
Other (9) 12    
Gross write-offs (77) (126)    
Recoveries 49 63    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Consumer Other Financing Receivable [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 179 218 199 259
Provision charged 55 59    
Other 8 4    
Gross write-offs (124) (152)    
Recoveries $ 41 $ 48