Stockholders' equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Puerto Rico Laws Restrictions On Banks Net Income	a minimum of 10% of BPPR’s net income
Equity Restrictions	$ 415,000,000	$ 402,000,000	$ 415,000,000
Transfers To Statutory Reserve	$ 0	$ 0

The minimum amount of the net income of banks in Puerto Rico to be transferred to a reserve fund until such fund equals the total of paid-in-capital on common and preferred stock. Any losses incurred by the bank must first be charged to retained earnings and then to the reserve fund. Amounts credited to the reserve fund may not be used to pay dividends without the prior consent of local regulators. The failure to maintain sufficient statutory reserves would preclude BPPR from paying dividends.

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