Name:	bpop_CashDueFromBankSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Intercompany held to maturity securities, including subordinated notes.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesIntercompany
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_InvestmentSecuritiesAvailableForSaleDueFromAffiliate
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Investment in short-term money-market instruments (such as commercial paper, banker's acceptances, repurchase agreements, government securities, certificates of deposit, and so forth) which are highly liquid (that is, readily convertible to known amounts of cash) and so near their maturity that they present an insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify as cash equivalents by definition. Original maturity means an original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three-years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_MoneyMarketInvestmentDueFromBankSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The aggregate carrying amounts, as of the balance sheet date, of assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_OtherAssetsDueFromSubsidiariesAndAffiliate
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Other investment securities, at lower of cost or realizable value from subsidiaries.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_OtherInvestmentSecuritiesFromAffiliates
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of liabilities not separately disclosed in the balance sheet.

No definition available.