Loans in non-performing status and accruing loans past-due 90 days or more by loan class (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	$ 160,102		$ 236,045
Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	53		59
Legacy [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	425		468
Non Covered Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	1,562,816	[1]	1,737,850	[2]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	320,488	[1]	307,960	[2]
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	36,756		29,331
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	153,121		131,833
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	398,768		445,029
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	179,294		223,899
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	585		675
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	67,538		96,286
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	632,900		686,502
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	296,264		280,912
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	5,045		5,642
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Legacy [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	54,730		75,660
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	401		735
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	22,889		25,748
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Home Equity Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	8,693		10,065
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	230		157
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Personal [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	17,660		20,833
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	6,099		6,864
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Other
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	1,811		5,171
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	520		468
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	1,276,293	[1]	1,371,242	[2]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	320,488	[1]	307,960	[2]
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	14,268		15,396
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	62,163		51,013
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	358,498		385,303
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	156,863		179,459
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	585		675
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	55,534		53,859
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	600,082		649,279
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	296,264		280,912
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	5,045		5,642
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Legacy [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	0		0
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	0		0
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	22,889		25,748
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Home Equity Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	0		0
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	230		157
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Personal [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	15,989		19,317
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	6,055		6,830
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Other
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	1,796		5,144
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	520		468
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	286,523	[1]	366,608	[2]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0	[1]	0	[2]
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	22,488		13,935
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	90,958		80,820
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	40,270		59,726
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	22,431		44,440
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	12,004		42,427
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	32,818		37,223
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	0		0
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Legacy [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	54,730		75,660
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	401		735
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Home Equity Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	8,693		10,065
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Personal [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	1,671		1,516
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	44		34
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer Portfolio Segment Member | Other
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	15		27
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	$ 0		$ 0

[1] For purposes of this table non-performing loans exclude $ 179 million in non-performing loans held-for-sale.

[2] For purposes of this table non-performing loans exclude $ 262 million in non-performing loans held-for-sale.