Information Popular Inc. shares of common stock held by the plans (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Number of Shares of Equity Securities Issued by Employer and Related Parties Included in Plan Assets	274,572	274,572
Defined Benefit Plan, Amount of Employer and Related Party Securities Included in Plan Assets	$ 5,708,352	$ 3,816,551
Defined Benefit Plan Amount Of Dividends Received On Employer And Related Party Securities	$ 0	$ 0

The amount of employer securities or securities of parties related to the employer that are included in plan assets.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (n)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph n

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountOfEmployerAndRelatedPartySecuritiesIncludedInPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant