Impact on the results of operations of transactions between the Corporation and EVERTEC (Detail) (Equity Method Investee Member, E V E R T E C Inc [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
100% | Interest Income Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ 823	$ 1,056
100% | Other Interest Income Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	963	963
100% | Interest Expense Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(110)	(295)
100% | Other Fee Revenue [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	5,853	6,793
100% | Professional fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(36,659)	(38,678)
100% | Occupancy Net Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	1,682	1,807
100% | Other Operating Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	213	369
100% | Total [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(27,235)	(27,985)
51% majority interest | Interest Income Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction Revenues From Transactions With Related Party	420	538
51% majority interest | Other Interest Income Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction Revenues From Transactions With Related Party	491	491
51% majority interest | Interest Expense Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction Expenses From Transactions With Related Party	(56)	(150)
51% majority interest | Other Fee Revenue [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction Revenues From Transactions With Related Party	2,985	3,465
51% majority interest | Professional fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction Expenses From Transactions With Related Party	(18,696)	(19,726)
51% majority interest | Occupancy Net Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction Revenues From Transactions With Related Party	858	921
51% majority interest | Other Operating Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction Revenues From Transactions With Related Party	108	188
51% majority interest | Total [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(13,890)	(14,273)
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Interest Income Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	403	518
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Other Interest Income Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	472	472
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Interest Expense Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(54)	(145)
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Other Fee Revenue [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	2,868	3,328
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Professional fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(17,963)	(18,952)
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Occupancy Net Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	824	886
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Other Operating Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	105	181
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Total [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ (13,345)	$ (13,712)