Condensed consolidating financial information of guarantor and issuers of registered guaranteed securities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011
Banco Popular De Puerto Rico [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Amount Available For Dividend Distribution With Approval From Regulatory Agencies	$ 239	$ 243	$ 70
Bpna [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Amount Available For Dividend Distribution With Approval From Regulatory Agencies	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

The amount of dividends that can be declared or paid with approval of relevant regulatory agencies.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 4

-Section 08

-Paragraph e

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Name:	us-gaap_AmountAvailableForDividendDistributionWithApprovalFromRegulatoryAgencies
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant