Stockholders' equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Stockholders Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 16 – Stockholders' equity

Reverse stock split

On May 29, 2012, the Corporation effected a 1-for-10 reverse split of its common stock previously approved by the Corporation's stockholders on April 27, 2012. Upon the effectiveness of the reverse split, each 10 shares of authorized and outstanding common stock were reclassified and combined into one new share of common stock. Popular, Inc.'s common stock began trading on a split-adjusted basis on May 30, 2012. All share and per share information in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 1-for-10 reverse stock split.

In connection with the reverse stock split, the Corporation amended its Restated Certificate of Incorporation to reduce the number of shares of its authorized common stock from 1,700,000,000 to 170,000,000.

The reverse stock split did 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 the Corporation's consolidated statement of financial condition was reduced by dividing the amount of the stated capital prior to the reverse stock split by 10, and the additional paid-in capital (surplus) was credited with the amount by which the stated capital was reduced. This was also reflected retroactively for prior periods presented in the financial statements.

BPPR statutory reserve

The Banking Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico requires that a minimum of 10% of BPPR's net incomefor the year be transferred to a statutory reserve account until such statutory reserve equals the total of paid-in capital on common and preferred stock. Any losses incurred by a bank must first be charged to retained earnings and then to the reserve fund. Amounts credited to the reserve fund may not be used to pay dividends without the prior consent of the Puerto Rico Commissioner of Financial Institutions. The failure to maintain sufficient statutory reserves would preclude BPPR from paying dividends. BPPR's statutory reserve fund amounted to $415 million at September 30, 2012(December 31, 2011 - $415 million). There were no transfers between the statutory reserve account and the retained earnings account during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011.