T D R that subsequently defaulted (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 loans
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	524
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	$ 33,177
Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	2
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	3,705
Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	7
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	1,746
Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	7
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	1,070
Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
Mortgages
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	162
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	23,501
Legacy [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	9
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	369
Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	240
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	2,046
Home Equity Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
Personal [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	96
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	739
Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
Consumer Other Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	1
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	1
PUERTO RICO
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	520
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	30,829
PUERTO RICO | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	1
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	1,770
PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	7
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	1,746
PUERTO RICO | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	7
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	1,070
PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
PUERTO RICO | Mortgages
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	159
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	23,088
PUERTO RICO | Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	9
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	369
PUERTO RICO | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	240
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	2,046
PUERTO RICO | Home Equity Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
PUERTO RICO | Personal [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	96
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	739
PUERTO RICO | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
PUERTO RICO | Consumer Other Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	1
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	1
UNITED STATES
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	4
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	2,348
UNITED STATES | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	1
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	1,935
UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
UNITED STATES | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
UNITED STATES | Mortgages
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	3
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	413
UNITED STATES | Legacy [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
UNITED STATES | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
UNITED STATES | Home Equity Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
UNITED STATES | Personal [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
UNITED STATES | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	0
UNITED STATES | Consumer Other Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number of Contracts that Default	0
Financing Receivable Modifications That Defaulted	$ 0