Subsequent events	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Subsequent events [Text Block]	Note 31 ─ Subsequent events Subsequent events are events and transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. The effects of subsequent events and transactions are recognized in the financial statements when they provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the balance sheet date. The Corporation has evaluated events and transactions occurring subsequent to March 31, 2012. Such evaluation resulted in no adjustments or additional disclosures in the consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, other than information updated in the legal proceedings in Note 18 and the disclosures included below. Approval of reverse stock split On April 27, 2012, the stockholders of Popular, Inc. approved an amendment to the Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Corporation's common stock of 1-for-10, together with a corresponding reduction in the number of authorized shares of its common stock. The amendment will become effective upon the filing of a certificate of amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Puerto Rico Department of State or at such later date and time specified in that certificate of amendment (the “effective date”). The reverse split is expected to become effective at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time on May 29, 2012. If effective on that date, Popular, Inc.'s common stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis when the market opens on May 30, 2012. In connection with the reverse stock split, the Corporation will amend its Restated Certificate of Incorporation to reduce the number of shares of its authorized common stock. At the effective date, the number of authorized shares of common stock will be reduced from 1,700,000,000 to 170,000,000. The reverse stock split will not affect the par value of a share of the Corporation's common stock. At the effective date of the reverse stock split, the stated capital attributable to common stock on its statement of financial condition will be reduced by dividing the amount of the stated capital prior to the reverse stock split by 10 (including a retroactive adjustment of prior periods), and the additional paid-in capital will be credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Reported per share net income or loss (both basic and diluted) and dividends per common share, if declared in the future, will be higher because there will be fewer shares of common stock outstanding. Basic earnings per share data will be retroactively adjusted for changes for all prior periods presented. Dividend received from Carib Holdings In early May 2012, EVERTEC completed a $40 million add-on notes offering and a $170 million add-on term loan as part of an amendment to its existing credit facility and used the proceeds, together with cash on hand, to pay approximately $270 million cash distribution to its parent company Carib Holdings, which in turn paid a cash dividend of $131 million to the Corporation, in its capacity as a shareholder of Carib Holdings' ultimate parent. As a result of the dividend, the Corporation's investment in the entity, which as of March 31, 2012 amounted to $192 million (net of intra-entity eliminations), was reduced by the amount of the dividend. The Corporation's participation interest on the entity continues to be 49%.

Subsequent events

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Note 31 ─ Subsequent events

Subsequent events are events and transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. The effects of subsequent events and transactions are recognized in the financial statements when they provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the balance sheet date. The Corporation has evaluated events and transactions occurring subsequent to March 31, 2012. Such evaluation resulted in no adjustments or additional disclosures in the consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, other than information updated in the legal proceedings in Note 18 and the disclosures included below.

Approval of reverse stock split

On April 27, 2012, the stockholders of Popular, Inc. approved an amendment to the Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Corporation's common stock of 1-for-10, together with a corresponding reduction in the number of authorized shares of its common stock. The amendment will become effective upon the filing of a certificate of amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Puerto Rico Department of State or at such later date and time specified in that certificate of amendment (the “effective date”). The reverse split is expected to become effective at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time on May 29, 2012. If effective on that date, Popular, Inc.'s common stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis when the market opens on May 30, 2012.

In connection with the reverse stock split, the Corporation will amend its Restated Certificate of Incorporation to reduce the number of shares of its authorized common stock. At the effective date, the number of authorized shares of common stock will be reduced from 1,700,000,000 to 170,000,000.

The reverse stock split will not affect the par value of a share of the Corporation's common stock. At the effective date of the reverse stock split, the stated capital attributable to common stock on its statement of financial condition will be reduced by dividing the amount of the stated capital prior to the reverse stock split by 10 (including a retroactive adjustment of prior periods), and the additional paid-in capital will be credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Reported per share net income or loss (both basic and diluted) and dividends per common share, if declared in the future, will be higher because there will be fewer shares of common stock outstanding. Basic earnings per share data will be retroactively adjusted for changes for all prior periods presented.

Dividend received from Carib Holdings

In early May 2012, EVERTEC completed a $40 million add-on notes offering and a $170 million add-on term loan as part of an amendment to its existing credit facility and used the proceeds, together with cash on hand, to pay approximately $270 million cash distribution to its parent company Carib Holdings, which in turn paid a cash dividend of $131 million to the Corporation, in its capacity as a shareholder of Carib Holdings' ultimate parent. As a result of the dividend, the Corporation's investment in the entity, which as of March 31, 2012 amounted to $192 million (net of intra-entity eliminations), was reduced by the amount of the dividend. The Corporation's participation interest on the entity continues to be 49%.