Minimum amounts and ratios to be categorized as well-capitalized (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Capital Required to be Well Capitalized to Risk Weighted Assets	10.00%
Tier One Risk Based Capital Required to be Well Capitalized to Risk Weighted Assets	6.00%
Tier One Leverage Capital Required to be Well Capitalized to Average Assets	5.00%
Banco Popular De Puerto Rico [Member]
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Capital Required to be Well Capitalized	$ 1,769,537	$ 1,814,801
Capital Required to be Well Capitalized to Risk Weighted Assets	10.00%	10.00%
Tier One Risk Based Capital Required to be Well Capitalized	1,061,722	1,088,881
Tier One Risk Based Capital Required to be Well Capitalized to Risk Weighted Assets	6.00%	6.00%
Tier One Leverage Capital Required to be Well Capitalized	1,322,529	1,342,105
Tier One Leverage Capital Required to be Well Capitalized to Average Assets	5.00%	5.00%
Banco Popular North America [Member]
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Capital Required to be Well Capitalized	536,733	577,715
Capital Required to be Well Capitalized to Risk Weighted Assets	10.00%	10.00%
Tier One Risk Based Capital Required to be Well Capitalized	322,040	346,629
Tier One Risk Based Capital Required to be Well Capitalized to Risk Weighted Assets	6.00%	6.00%
Tier One Leverage Capital Required to be Well Capitalized	$ 407,316	$ 410,426
Tier One Leverage Capital Required to be Well Capitalized to Average Assets	5.00%	5.00%

The amount of Total Capital required to be categorized as well as capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

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- Definition

The Total risk based capital ratio (total capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized", in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-DEP

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph 3a

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-Chapter 17

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-DEP

-Paragraph 22

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-Chapter 17

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized divided by average assets as defined in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of Tier 1 Risk Based Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The Tier 1 capital ratio (Tier 1 capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

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