Regulatory capital requirements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Schedule of Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Table Text Block]

		Actual				Capital adequacy minimum requirement
(Dollars in thousands)		Amount	Ratio			Amount	Ratio
		2012
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
Corporation	$	4,357,148	18.63	%	$	1,871,326	8	%
BPPR		2,699,339	15.25			1,415,630	8
BPNA		1,290,343	24.04			429,387	8
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
Corporation	$	4,058,242	17.35	%	$	935,663	4	%
BPPR		2,288,076	12.93			707,815	4
BPNA		1,221,893	22.77			214,693	4
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
Corporation	$	4,058,242	11.52	%	$	1,056,785	3	%
						1,409,047	4
BPPR		2,288,076	8.65			793,517	3
						1,058,023	4
BPNA		1,221,893	15.00			244,390	3
						325,853	4

		Actual				Capital adequacy minimum requirement
(Dollars in thousands)		Amount	Ratio			Amount	Ratio
		2011
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
Corporation	$	4,212,070	17.25	%	$	1,953,146	8	%
BPPR		2,595,068	14.30			1,451,841	8
BPNA		1,256,906	21.76			462,172	8
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
Corporation	$	3,899,593	15.97	%	$	976,573	4	%
BPPR		2,177,865	12.00			725,920	4
BPNA		1,182,642	20.47			231,086	4
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
Corporation	$	3,899,593	10.90	%	$	1,073,512	3	%
						1,431,350	4
BPPR		2,177,865	8.11			805,263	3
						1,073,684	4
BPNA		1,182,642	14.41			246,256	3
						328,341	4

Schedule Of Minimum Amount And Ratios To Be Categorized As Well Capitalized [Table Text Block]

		2012				2011
(In thousands)		Amount	Ratio			Amount	Ratio
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
BPPR	$	1,769,537	10	%	$	1,814,801	10	%
BPNA		536,733	10			577,715	10
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
BPPR	$	1,061,722	6	%	$	1,088,881	6	%
BPNA		322,040	6			346,629	6
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
BPPR	$	1,322,529	5	%	$	1,342,105	5	%
BPNA		407,316	5			410,426	5