Quantitative information by loan class for loans modified as T D R (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 loans
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	1,877
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	$ 95,169
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	96,955
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	5,929
Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	5
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	4,423
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	4,423
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	(38)
Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	10
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	3,212
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	3,212
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	(37)
Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	48
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	6,373
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	6,373
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	21
Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	3
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	2,670
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	2,670
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	52
Mortgages
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	484
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	64,937
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	65,621
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	5,122
Legacy [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	2
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	951
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	951
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	28
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	510
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	486
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	50
Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	887
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	7,225
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	8,366
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	40
Home Equity Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
Personal [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	397
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	4,782
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	4,788
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	720
Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	2
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	45
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	24
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	(1)
Consumer Other Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	11
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	41
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	41
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
PUERTO RICO
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	1,846
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	86,079
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	87,775
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	5,451
PUERTO RICO | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	4
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	878
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	878
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	(38)
PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	10
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	3,212
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	3,212
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	(37)
PUERTO RICO | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	48
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	6,373
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	6,373
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	21
PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	2
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	1,097
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	1,097
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	52
PUERTO RICO | Mortgages
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	457
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	61,916
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	62,510
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	4,644
PUERTO RICO | Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	28
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	510
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	486
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	50
PUERTO RICO | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	887
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	7,225
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	8,366
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	40
PUERTO RICO | Home Equity Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
PUERTO RICO | Personal [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	397
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	4,782
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	4,788
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	720
PUERTO RICO | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	2
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	45
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	24
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	(1)
PUERTO RICO | Consumer Other Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	11
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	41
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	41
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	31
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	9,090
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	9,180
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	478
UNITED STATES | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	1
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	3,545
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	3,545
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	1
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	1,573
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	1,573
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Mortgages
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	27
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	3,021
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	3,111
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	478
UNITED STATES | Legacy [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	2
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	951
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	951
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Home Equity Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Personal [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	0
UNITED STATES | Consumer Other Financing Receivable Member
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Modifications Number Of Contracts	0
Financing Receivable Modifications Pre Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivable Post Modification Recorded Investment 1	0
Financing Receivables, Impaired, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Write-down	$ 0