v2.4.0.6
Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Investment Securities [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Investment Securities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Assets Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Assets Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Assets, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Assets, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Liabilities Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liabilities Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2011
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2011
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Power Generating Activities Entity [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Power Generating Activities Entity [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Power Generating Activities Entity [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Industrial Equipment Joint Venture [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Insurance Entities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trinity [Member]
May 01, 2012
Trinity [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trinity [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trinity [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trinity [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trinity [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trinity [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trinity [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trinity [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trinity [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trinity [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trinity [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trinity [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trinity [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trinity [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trinity [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trinity [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trinity [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trinity [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Other 1 [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Other 1 [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Other 1 [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Other 1 [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Other 1 [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Other 1 [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Other 1 [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Other 1 [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Other 1 [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Other 1 [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Other 1 [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Other 1 [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Other 1 [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Other 1 [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Other 1 [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Other 1 [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Equipment [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Investment Securities [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Assets, Total [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]
Liabilities, Total [Member]
Assets And Liabilities Of Consolidated VIEs [Line Items]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Principal Amount Of GICs Redeemed                                                               $ 1,981                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Assets 561,602 [1]   561,602 [1]   584,536 [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Liabilities 479,542 [1]   479,542 [1]   506,736 [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Assets VIE           40,782 37,860 4,798 5,320 4,053 3,149 49,633 46,329                         2,426 1,519   1,398 1,211       0 0 3,733 4,289 80 389 3,813 4,678                   1,832 2,973 1,065 1,031 3,479 2,250 6,376 6,254                 22,133 19,229 0 0 28 17 22,161 19,246                 12,066 10,523 0 0 332 283 12,398 10,806                 2,921 3,521 0 0 134 210 3,055 3,731                 1,830 1,614 0 0 0 0 1,830 1,614                
Liabilities VIE                           1,292 848 30,270 28,758 3,302 5,847 34,864 35,453         610   537 877 621                       0 0 0 0 1,705 4,456 1,705 4,456                   1,263 821 0 980 1,460 1,312 2,723 3,113                 0 0 16,050 14,184 116 37 16,166 14,221                 4 2 9,705 8,166 1 0 9,710 8,168                 25 25 2,936 3,659 3 19 2,964 3,703                 0 0 1,579 1,769 17 23 1,596 1,792
Total revenues of consolidated VIEs 11,369 12,015 34,269 37,491                                   1,675 1,475   4,457                                                 4,914                                                                                                                                                                
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses 1,122 961 2,728 2,893                                   414 332 784 882                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Interest And Other Financial Charges                                           97 143 344 450                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Commingled cash amounts owed to CSEs                                                                                                   5,885                                                                                                                                                                
Commingled cash receivable from CSEs                                                                                                   5,751                                                                                                                                                                
Amount Company Would Be Required To Repay If Long Term Credit Ratings Were To Fall BelowAA MinusA2 Or Short Term Credit Ratings Were To Fall BelowA Minus1 Plus PMinus1                                                             1,470                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Intercompany Advances Eliminated In Consolidation                                                             $ 2,616   $ 1,006                                                                                                                                                                                                  
[1] (a) Our consolidated assets at September 30, 2012 include total assets of $47,623 million of certain variable interest entities (VIEs) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs. These assets include net financing receivables of $40,422 million and investment securities of $4,797 million. Our consolidated liabilities at September 30, 2012 include liabilities of certain VIEs for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to GECC. These liabilities include non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities (CSEs) of $30,270 million. See Note 13.