Borrowings - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Apr. 30, 2010 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Year	Jun. 30, 2011 Popular North America Senior Notes 6.85 Percent Due 2012	Jun. 30, 2011 Popular North America Senior Notes 7.47 Percent Due 2014	Jun. 30, 2011 Popular North America Senior Notes 7.66 Percent Due 2015	Jun. 30, 2011 Popular North America Senior Notes 7.86 Percent Due 2016
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Investment securities available-for-sale Pledged for repurchase agreements	$ 1,827,262,000	$ 1,981,931,000	$ 2,031,123,000
Trading securities pledged for repurchase agreements	734,826,000	371,619,000	492,183,000
Other assets pledged for repurchase agreements	37,000,000
Securities purchased underlying agreements to resell pledged for repurchase agreements	264,000,000	177,000,000	172,000,000
Senior Notes exchanged						233,200,000
Notes Payable, amount					5,800,000,000	275,000,000	78,000,000	35,200,000	120,000,000
Notes Payable, description of maturity date				five years from issuance (April 30, 2015), or such date as such amount may become due and payable pursuant to the terms of the note
Notes Payable, due date				Apr. 30, 2015
Notes Payable, maturity					5
Notes Payable, interest rate term				Borrowings under the note bear interest at an annual fixed rate of 2.50% and are paid monthly. If the Corporation fails to pay any interest as and when due, such interest shall accrue interest at the note interest rate plus 2.00% per annum
Notes payable, interest rate					2.50%	6.85%	7.47%	7.66%	7.86%
Notes Payable, amount of note prepaid	$ 1,177,306,000	$ 189,780,000		$ 480,000,000
Notes payable, due date						2012	2014	2015	2016
Notes payable, issuance date						2007-12-21