Restrictions on cash and due from banks and highly liquid securities	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents [Text Block]	Note 3 - Restrictions on cash and due from banks and certain securities The Corporation's banking subsidiaries, BPPR and BPNA, are required by federal and state regulatory agencies to maintain average reserve balances with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Fed”) or other banks. Those required average reserve balances amounted to $877 million at March 31, 2012 (December 31, 2011 - $838 million; March 31, 2011 - $843 million). Cash and due from banks, as well as other short-term, highly liquid securities, are used to cover the required average reserve balances. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Corporation held $36 million in restricted assets in the form of cash and funds deposited in money market accounts (March 31, 2011 - $51 million).

Restrictions on cash and due from banks and highly liquid securities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents [Text Block]

Note 3 - Restrictions on cash and due from banks and certain securities

The Corporation's banking subsidiaries, BPPR and BPNA, are required by federal and state regulatory agencies to maintain average reserve balances with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Fed”) or other banks. Those required average reserve balances amounted to $877 million at March 31, 2012 (December 31, 2011 - $838 million; March 31, 2011 - $843 million). Cash and due from banks, as well as other short-term, highly liquid securities, are used to cover the required average reserve balances.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Corporation held $36 million in restricted assets in the form of cash and funds deposited in money market accounts (March 31, 2011 - $51 million).