Summary of significant accounting policies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Summary of significant accounting policies	Note 1 – Summary of significant accounting policies Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Popular, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Corporation”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In accordance with the consolidation guidance for variable interest entities, the Corporation would also consolidate any variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which it has a controlling financial interest and therefore is the primary beneficiary. Assets held in a fiduciary capacity are not assets of the Corporation and, accordingly, are not included in the consolidated statements of condition. The results of operations of companies or assets acquired are included only from the dates of acquisition. Unconsolidated investments, in which there is at least 20% ownership, are generally accounted for by the equity method. These investments are included in other assets and the Corporation’s proportionate share of income or loss is included in other operating income. Investments, in which there is less than 20% ownership, are generally carried under the cost method of accounting, unless significant influence is exercised. Under the cost method, the Corporation recognizes income when dividends are received. Limited partnerships are accounted for by the equity method unless the Corporation’s interest is so “minor” that it may have virtually no influence over partnership operating and financial policies. Statutory business trusts that are wholly-owned by the Corporation and are issuers of trust preferred securities are not consolidated in the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements. The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared without audit. The consolidated statement of condition data at December 31, 2010 was derived from audited financial statements. The unaudited interim financial statements are, in the opinion of management, a fair statement of the results for the periods reported and include all necessary adjustments, all of a normal recurring nature, for a fair statement of such results. Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2010 consolidated financial statements and notes to the financial statements to conform with the 2011 presentation. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted from the unaudited financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2010, included in the Corporation’s 2010 Annual Report (the "2010 Annual Report"). Operating results for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any future period. Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Nature of Operations The Corporation is a diversified, publicly-owned financial holding company subject to the supervision and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Corporation has operations in Puerto Rico, the continental United States, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, the Corporation provides retail and commercial banking services through its principal banking subsidiary, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (“BPPR”), as well as auto and equipment leasing and financing, mortgage loans, investment banking, broker-dealer and insurance services through specialized subsidiaries. In the United States, the Corporation operates Banco Popular North America (“BPNA”), including its wholly-owned subsidiary E-LOAN. BPNA focuses efforts and resources on the core community banking business. BPNA operates branches in New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey and Florida. E-LOAN markets deposit accounts under its name for the benefit of BPNA. As part of the rebranding of the BPNA franchise, some of its branches operate under a new name, Popular Community Bank. Note 30 to the consolidated financial statements presents information about the Corporation’s business segments. The Corporation has a 49% interest in EVERTEC, which provides transaction processing services throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, including servicing many of Popular’s system infrastructures and transaction processing businesses. On April 30, 2010, BPPR acquired certain assets and assumed certain deposits and liabilities of Westernbank Puerto Rico (“Westernbank”) from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”). The transaction is referred to herein as the “Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction”. Refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements and to the Corporation’s 2010 Annual Report for information on this business combination. Assets subject to loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, including loans and other real estate owned, are labeled “covered” on the consolidated statements of condition and applicable notes to the consolidated financial statements. Loans acquired in the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction, except for credit cards, and other real estate owned are considered “covered” because the Corporation will be reimbursed for 80% of any future losses on these assets subject to the terms of the FDIC loss sharing agreements.

Note 1 – Summary of significant accounting policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Popular, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Corporation”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In accordance with the consolidation guidance for variable interest entities, the Corporation would also consolidate any variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which it has a controlling financial interest and therefore is the primary beneficiary. Assets held in a fiduciary capacity are not assets of the Corporation and, accordingly, are not included in the consolidated statements of condition. The results of operations of companies or assets acquired are included only from the dates of acquisition.

Unconsolidated investments, in which there is at least 20% ownership, are generally accounted for by the equity method. These investments are included in other assets and the Corporation’s proportionate share of income or loss is included in other operating income. Investments, in which there is less than 20% ownership, are generally carried under the cost method of accounting, unless significant influence is exercised. Under the cost method, the Corporation recognizes income when dividends are received. Limited partnerships are accounted for by the equity method unless the Corporation’s interest is so “minor” that it may have virtually no influence over partnership operating and financial policies.

Statutory business trusts that are wholly-owned by the Corporation and are issuers of trust preferred securities are not consolidated in the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared without audit. The consolidated statement of condition data at December 31, 2010 was derived from audited financial statements. The unaudited interim financial statements are, in the opinion of management, a fair statement of the results for the periods reported and include all necessary adjustments, all of a normal recurring nature, for a fair statement of such results.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2010 consolidated financial statements and notes to the financial statements to conform with the 2011 presentation.

Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted from the unaudited financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2010, included in the Corporation’s 2010 Annual Report (the "2010 Annual Report"). Operating results for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any future period.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Nature of Operations

The Corporation is a diversified, publicly-owned financial holding company subject to the supervision and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Corporation has operations in Puerto Rico, the continental United States, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, the Corporation provides retail and commercial banking services through its principal banking subsidiary, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (“BPPR”), as well as auto and equipment leasing and financing, mortgage loans, investment banking, broker-dealer and insurance services through specialized subsidiaries. In the United States, the Corporation operates Banco Popular North America (“BPNA”), including its wholly-owned subsidiary E-LOAN. BPNA focuses efforts and resources on the core community banking business. BPNA operates branches in New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey and Florida. E-LOAN markets deposit accounts under its name for the benefit of BPNA. As part of the rebranding of the BPNA franchise, some of its branches operate under a new name, Popular Community Bank. Note 30 to the consolidated financial statements presents information about the Corporation’s business segments. The Corporation has a 49% interest in EVERTEC, which provides transaction processing services throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, including servicing many of Popular’s system infrastructures and transaction processing businesses.

On April 30, 2010, BPPR acquired certain assets and assumed certain deposits and liabilities of Westernbank Puerto Rico (“Westernbank”) from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”). The transaction is referred to herein as the “Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction”. Refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements and to the Corporation’s 2010 Annual Report for information on this business combination. Assets subject to loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, including loans and other real estate owned, are labeled “covered” on the consolidated statements of condition and applicable notes to the consolidated financial statements. Loans acquired in the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction, except for credit cards, and other real estate owned are considered “covered” because the Corporation will be reimbursed for 80% of any future losses on these assets subject to the terms of the FDIC loss sharing agreements.