Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Loans	389,342	442,460	777,284	865,835
Money market investments	964	926	1,912	1,873
Investment securities	43,813	53,723	88,883	106,098
Trading account securities	5,963	9,790	11,854	18,544
Total interest income	440,082	506,899	879,933	992,350
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	48,514	70,672	100,193	147,551
Short-term borrowings	13,044	13,719	26,627	27,734
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	37,324	47,966	74,331	99,164
Total interest expense	98,882	132,357	201,151	274,449
Net interest income	341,200	374,542	678,782	717,901
Provision for loan losses	119,199	144,317	219,922	219,636
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	222,001	230,225	458,860	498,265
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	46,130	46,802	92,719	92,432
Other service fees	62,027	58,307	128,066	116,959
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	(349)	(90)	(349)	(90)
Trading account profit	(7,283)	874	(9,426)	375
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	(15,397)	(12,782)	74	(5,538)
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	(5,398)	(9,454)	(9,273)	(19,302)
F D I C Loss Share Income	2,575	38,670	(12,680)	54,705
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument	0	578	0	8,323
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	11,419	1,255	28,501	40,664
Total non-interest income	93,724	124,160	217,632	288,528
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	116,336	110,959	237,827	217,099
Occupancy Net	24,963	25,957	49,125	50,543
Equipment Expense	10,900	10,761	22,241	22,797
Taxes Other	12,074	14,623	25,512	26,595
Professional fees	52,127	49,479	100,232	96,167
Communication	6,645	7,188	13,776	14,398
Marketing And Advertising Expense	16,980	11,332	29,830	21,192
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Premium Expense	22,907	27,682	47,833	45,355
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	25,072	289	25,141	8,528
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	2,380	6,440	16,545	8,651
Other operating expenses	34,964	14,835	50,860	41,014
Amortization of intangibles	2,531	2,255	5,124	4,510
Total operating expenses	327,879	281,800	624,046	556,849
Income (loss) before income tax	(12,154)	72,585	52,446	229,944
Income tax expense	(77,893)	(38,100)	(61,701)	109,127
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	65,739	110,685	114,147	120,817
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	65,739	110,685	114,147	120,817
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	52,941	158,458	100,112	161,549
Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	81,743	95,712	164,257	155,474
Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	37,456	48,605	55,665	64,162
Popular, Inc. Holding Co.
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	5,000	0	5,000	0
Loans	1,516	2,038	3,207	5,058
Money market investments	1	5	13	5
Investment securities	4,146	4,031	8,188	8,161
Trading account securities	0	0	0	0
Total interest income	10,663	6,074	16,408	13,224
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	0	0	0	0
Short-term borrowings	0	28	0	50
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	23,817	22,784	47,344	48,332
Total interest expense	23,817	22,812	47,344	48,382
Net interest income	(13,154)	(16,738)	(30,936)	(35,158)
Provision for loan losses			349	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	(13,363)	(16,738)	(31,285)	(35,158)
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	0	0	0	0
Other service fees	0	0	0	0
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	0	0	0	0
Trading account profit	0	0	0	0
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	0	0	0	0
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	0	0	0	0
F D I C Loss Share Income	0	0	0	0
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of processing and technology business		0		0
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	1,485	2,169	4,437	20,354
Total non-interest income	1,485	2,169	4,437	20,354
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	7,449	7,006	15,353	13,862
Occupancy Net	872	898	1,733	1,704
Equipment Expense	901	808	1,781	1,580
Taxes Other	715	332	1,428	662
Professional fees	2,881	3,846	4,872	6,672
Communication	93	112	226	234
Marketing And Advertising Expense	490	385	901	808
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Premium Expense	0	0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	8,000
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(12,390)	(14,036)	(24,670)	(25,517)
Amortization of intangibles	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	1,011	(649)	1,624	8,005
Income (loss) before income tax	(12,889)	(13,920)	(28,472)	(22,809)
Income tax expense	(1,929)	1,111	(1,257)	3,137
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(10,960)	(15,031)	(27,215)	(25,946)
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	76,699	125,716	141,362	146,763
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	65,739	110,685	114,147	120,817
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	52,941	158,458	100,112	161,549
Popular, Inc. Holding Co. | Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	209	0	349	0
Popular, Inc. Holding Co. | Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
PNA Holding Co.
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Loans	0	0	0	0
Money market investments	14	2	22	3
Investment securities	80	80	161	161
Trading account securities	0	0	0	0
Total interest income	94	82	183	164
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	0	0	0	0
Short-term borrowings	(1)	242	142	556
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	8,079	7,687	16,156	15,287
Total interest expense	8,078	7,929	16,298	15,843
Net interest income	(7,984)	(7,847)	(16,115)	(15,679)
Provision for loan losses			0	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	(7,984)	(7,847)	(16,115)	(15,679)
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	0	0	0	0
Other service fees	0	0	0	0
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	0	0	0	0
Trading account profit	0	0	0	0
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	0	0	0	0
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	0	0	0	0
F D I C Loss Share Income	0	0	0	0
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of processing and technology business		0		0
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	1,698	(308)	1,529	1,388
Total non-interest income	1,698	(308)	1,529	1,388
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	0	0	0	0
Occupancy Net	1	0	2	1
Equipment Expense	0	0	0	0
Taxes Other	0	0	0	0
Professional fees	3	4	6	6
Communication	0	4	0	9
Marketing And Advertising Expense	0	0	0	0
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Premium Expense	0	0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	0
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	111	111	221	221
Amortization of intangibles	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	115	119	229	237
Income (loss) before income tax	(6,401)	(8,274)	(14,815)	(14,528)
Income tax expense	0	0	0	(264)
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(6,401)	(8,274)	(14,815)	(14,264)
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	7,208	(955)	13,214	20,444
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	807	(9,229)	(1,601)	6,180
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	(1,385)	11,380	(3,473)	24,012
PNA Holding Co. | Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
PNA Holding Co. | Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Loans	388,991	441,928	776,487	864,654
Money market investments	964	954	1,911	1,923
Investment securities	42,782	52,832	86,950	104,218
Trading account securities	5,963	9,790	11,854	18,544
Total interest income	438,700	505,504	877,202	989,339
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	48,555	70,728	100,296	147,752
Short-term borrowings	13,830	14,554	28,122	30,110
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	8,341	20,406	16,656	41,368
Total interest expense	70,726	105,688	145,074	219,230
Net interest income	367,974	399,816	732,128	770,109
Provision for loan losses			219,573	219,636
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	248,984	255,499	512,555	550,473
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	46,130	46,802	92,719	92,432
Other service fees	66,224	62,993	135,186	125,033
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	(349)	(90)	(349)	(90)
Trading account profit	(7,283)	874	(9,426)	375
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	(15,397)	(12,782)	74	(5,538)
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	(5,398)	(9,454)	(9,273)	(19,302)
F D I C Loss Share Income	2,575	38,670	(12,680)	54,705
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument	0	578	0	8,323
Gain on sale of processing and technology business		0		0
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	21,166	12,116	48,810	44,935
Total non-interest income	107,668	139,707	245,061	300,873
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	108,887	103,953	222,474	203,237
Occupancy Net	23,316	24,178	45,792	47,072
Equipment Expense	9,999	9,953	20,460	21,217
Taxes Other	11,359	14,291	24,084	25,933
Professional fees	66,863	63,870	130,992	126,319
Communication	6,552	7,072	13,550	14,155
Marketing And Advertising Expense	16,490	10,947	28,929	20,384
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Premium Expense	22,907	27,682	47,833	45,355
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	25,072	289	25,141	528
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	2,380	6,440	16,545	8,651
Other operating expenses	47,761	29,356	76,304	67,407
Amortization of intangibles	2,531	2,255	5,124	4,510
Total operating expenses	344,117	300,286	657,228	584,768
Income (loss) before income tax	12,535	94,920	100,388	266,578
Income tax expense	(75,819)	(39,208)	(60,498)	105,953
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	88,354	134,128	160,886	160,625
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	88,354	134,128	160,886	160,625
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	76,872	181,901	145,893	199,572
Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	81,534	95,712	163,908	155,474
Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	37,456	48,605	55,665	64,162
Elimination
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	(5,000)	0	(5,000)	0
Loans	(1,165)	(1,506)	(2,410)	(3,877)
Money market investments	(15)	(35)	(34)	(58)
Investment securities	(3,195)	(3,220)	(6,416)	(6,442)
Trading account securities	0	0	0	0
Total interest income	(9,375)	(4,761)	(13,860)	(10,377)
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	(41)	(56)	(103)	(201)
Short-term borrowings	(785)	(1,105)	(1,637)	(2,982)
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	(2,913)	(2,911)	(5,825)	(5,823)
Total interest expense	(3,739)	(4,072)	(7,565)	(9,006)
Net interest income	(5,636)	(689)	(6,295)	(1,371)
Provision for loan losses			0	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	(5,636)	(689)	(6,295)	(1,371)
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	0	0	0	0
Other service fees	(4,197)	(4,686)	(7,120)	(8,074)
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	0	0	0	0
Trading account profit	0	0	0	0
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	0	0	0	0
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	0	0	0	0
F D I C Loss Share Income	0	0	0	0
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of processing and technology business		0		0
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	(12,930)	(12,722)	(26,275)	(26,013)
Total non-interest income	(17,127)	(17,408)	(33,395)	(34,087)
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	0	0	0	0
Occupancy Net	774	881	1,598	1,766
Equipment Expense	0	0	0	0
Taxes Other	0	0	0	0
Professional fees	(17,620)	(18,241)	(35,638)	(36,830)
Communication	0	0	0	0
Marketing And Advertising Expense	0	0	0	0
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Premium Expense	0	0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	0
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(518)	(596)	(995)	(1,097)
Amortization of intangibles	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	(17,364)	(17,956)	(35,035)	(36,161)
Income (loss) before income tax	(5,399)	(141)	(4,655)	703
Income tax expense	(145)	(3)	54	301
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(5,254)	(138)	(4,709)	402
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(83,907)	(124,761)	(154,576)	(167,207)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(89,161)	(124,899)	(159,285)	(166,805)
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	(75,487)	(193,281)	(142,420)	(223,584)
Elimination | Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Elimination | Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0