Organization, consolidation and basis of presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization, Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]

Nature Of Operations [Policy Text Block]

Nature of Operations

Popular, Inc. (the “Corporation”) is a diversified, publicly-owned financial holding company subject to the supervision and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Corporation has operations in Puerto Rico, the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America. In Puerto Rico, the Corporation provides retail and commercial banking services through its principal banking subsidiary, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (“BPPR”), as well as mortgage banking, investment banking, broker-dealer, auto and equipment leasing and financing, and insurance services through specialized subsidiaries.In the U.S. mainland, the Corporation operates Banco Popular North America (“BPNA”), including its wholly-owned subsidiary E-LOAN. BPNA focuses efforts and resources on the core community banking business. BPNA operates branches in New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey and Florida. E-LOAN markets deposit accounts under its name for the benefit of BPNA. The BPNA branches operate under the name of Popular Community Bank.Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements presents information about the Corporation's business segments.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared without audit. The consolidated statement of financial condition data at December 31, 2011 was derived from audited financial statements. The unaudited interim financial statements are, in the opinion of management, a fair statement of the results for the periods reported and include all necessary adjustments, all of a normal recurring nature, for a fair statement of such results.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2011 consolidated financial statements and notes to the financial statements to conform with the 2012 presentation.

On May 29, 2012, the Corporation effected a 1-for-10 reverse split of its common stock. The reverse split is described further in Note 16 to these consolidated financial statements. All share and per share information in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been adjusted to retroactively reflect the 1-for-10 reverse stock split.

Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted from the unaudited financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2011, included in the Corporation's 2011 Annual Report (the “2011 Annual Report”). Operating results for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any future period.

Use Of Estimates

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.