Employee benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Schedule Of Allocation Of Plan Assets Table Text Block

	Minimum allotment		Maximum allotment
Equity	0	%	70	%
Debt securities	0	%	100	%
Cash and cash equivalents	0	%	100	%

Schedule Of Information Popular Inc Shares Of Common Stock Held By The Plans [Table Text Block]

		2012		2011
Shares of Popular, Inc. common stock		274,572		274,572
Fair value of shares of Popular, Inc. common stock	$	5,708,352	$	3,816,551
Dividends paid on shares of Popular, Inc. common stock held by the plan	$	-	$	-

Schedule Of Aggregate Status Of The Plans And The Amounts Recognized In The Consolidated Financial Statements [Table Text Block]

		Pension plans				Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2012		2011		2012		2011
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	706,449	$	603,254	$	36,439	$	30,301
Interest cost		29,981		31,139		1,572		1,581
Termination benefit loss		-		15,559		-		-
Actuarial loss		64,103		87,403		3,287		5,695
Benefits paid		(48,928)		(30,906)		(1,247)		(1,138)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	751,605	$	706,449	$	40,051	$	36,439
Change in fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	551,141	$	442,566	$	28,382	$	22,012
Actual return on plan assets		65,302		14,929		3,430		757
Employer contributions		58,000		124,552		51		6,751
Benefits paid		(48,928)		(30,906)		(1,247)		(1,138)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	625,515	$	551,141	$	30,616	$	28,382
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net loss	$	297,765	$	281,431	$	15,055	$	14,387
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL)	$	297,765	$	281,431	$	15,055	$	14,387
Reconciliation of net liabilities:
Net liabilities at beginning of year	$	(155,308)	$	(160,688)	$	(8,057)	$	(8,289)
Amount recognized in AOCL at beginning of year, pre-tax		281,431		176,910		14,387		8,237
Amount prepaid (accrued) at beginning of year		126,123		16,222		6,330		(52)
Net periodic benefit (cost) credit		(12,444)		908		(761)		(369)
Additional benefit cost		-		(15,559)		-		-
Contributions		58,000		124,552		51		6,751
Amount prepaid at end of year		171,679		126,123		5,620		6,330
Amount recognized in AOCL		(297,765)		(281,431)		(15,055)		(14,387)
Net liabilities at end of year	$	(126,086)	$	(155,308)	$	(9,435)	$	(8,057)

Schedule Of Breakdown Of Pension And Restoration Plans Liabilities [Table Text Block]

		Pension plans				Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2012		2011		2012		2011
Current liabilities	$	-	$	-	$	51	$	50
Non-current liabilities		126,086		155,308		9,384		8,007

Schedule Of Accumulated Benefit Obligations In Excess Of Fair Value Of Plan Assets Table Text Block

		Pension plans				Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2012		2011		2012		2011
Projected benefit obligation	$	751,605	$	706,449	$	40,051	$	36,439
Accumulated benefit obligation		751,605		706,449		40,051		36,439
Fair value of plan assets		625,515		551,141		30,616		28,382

Schedule Of Actuarial Assumptions Used To Determine The Benefit Obligation [Table Text Block]

	2012		2011
Discount rate	3.80	%	4.40	%
Rate of compensation increase - weighted average	-		-

Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]

	Pension plans						Benefit restoration plans
	2012		2011		2010		2012		2011		2010
Discount rate	4.40	%	5.30	%	5.90	%	4.40	%	5.30	%	5.90	%
Expected return on plan assets	7.60	%	8.00	%	8.00	%	7.60	%	8.00	%	8.00	%

Schedule Of Employer Contribution To Benefit Plan [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)		2013
Pension plan	$	-
Benefit restoration plans	$	51

Schedule Of Changes In Accumulated Postemployment Benefit Obligations Table Text Block

(In thousands)		2012		2011
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of the year	$	180,989	$	164,313
Service cost		2,190		2,016
Interest cost		7,801		8,543
Temporary deviation loss		-		437
Benefits paid		(7,348)		(6,108)
Actuarial (gain) loss		(21)	$	11,788
Benefit obligation end of year	$	183,611		180,989
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net prior service cost	$	-	$	(200)
Net loss		35,486		37,669
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	35,486	$	37,469
Reconciliation of net liability:
Net liability at beginning of year	$	(180,989)	$	(164,313)
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of year, pre-tax		37,469		25,788
Amount accrued at beginning of year		(143,520)		(138,525)
Additional benefit cost		-		(437)
Net periodic benefit cost		(11,953)		(10,666)
Contributions		7,348		6,108
Amount accrued at end of year		(148,125)		(143,520)
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss		(35,486)		(37,469)
Net liability at end of year	$	(183,611)	$	(180,989)

Schedule Of Breakdown Postretirement Health Care Benefit Plan Liabilities [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)		2012		2011
Current liabilities	$	6,811	$	6,939
Non-current liabilities		176,800		174,050

Schedule Of Discount Rate Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates Used To Determined The Benefit Obligation And Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Table Text Block]

To determine benefit obligation:		2012		2011
Discount rate		3.80	%	4.40	%
Initial health care cost trend rates:
	Medicare Advantage plans	6.50	%	25.00	%
	All other plans	6.50		7.00
Ultimate health care cost trend rate		5.00	%	5.00	%
Year that the ultimate trend rate is reached		2016		2016
To determine net periodic benefit cost:		2012		2011		2010
Discount rate		4.40	%	5.30	%	5.90	%
Initial health care cost trend rates:
	Medicare Advantage plans	25.00	%	25.00	%	7.00	%
	All other plans	7.00		6.50		7.00
Ultimate health care cost trend rate		5.00	%	5.00	%	5.00	%
Year that the ultimate trend rate is reached		2016		2014		2014

Schedule Of Effect Of One Percentage Point Change In Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Table Text Block]

		1-percentage point		1-percentage point
(In thousands)		increase		decrease
Effect on total service cost and interest cost components	$	389	$	(435)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	$	8,247	$	(8,735)

Excluding Interest In Master Trust [Member]

Schedule Of Allocation Of Plan Assets Table Text Block

	2012								2011
(In thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Equity securities	$	5,708	$	-	$	-	$	5,708	$	3,817	$	-	$	-	$	3,817
Private equity investments		-		-		714		714		-		-		937		937
Cash and cash equivalents		7		-		-		7		96		-		-		96
Total assets, excluding interest in Master Trust	$	5,715	$	-	$	714	$	6,429	$	3,913	$	-	$	937	$	4,850

Schedule Of Effect Of Significant Unobservable Inputs Changes In Plan Assets Table Text Block

(In thousands)			2012		2011
Balance at beginning of year		$	937	$	836
Actual return on plan assets:
	Change in unrealized (loss) gain relating to instruments still held at the reporting date		(223)		101
	Actual return on plan assets (gain (loss)) relating to instruments sold during the year		-		-
Transfers in and / or out of Level 3			-		-
Balance at end of year		$	714	$	937

Master Trust [Member]

Schedule Of Allocation Of Plan Assets Table Text Block

		2012								2011
(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies	$	-	$	162,542	$	-	$	162,542	$	-	$	182,892	$	-	$	182,892
Corporate bonds and debentures		-		43,006		-		43,006		-		44,463		-		44,463
Equity securities		262,961		-		-		262,961		239,754		-		-		239,754
Index fund - equity		31,133		-		-		31,133		39,897		-		-		39,897
Index fund - fixed income		-		2,548		-		2,548		-		2,396		-		2,396
Foreign equity fund		-		86,947		-		86,947		-		59,699		-		59,699
Foreign index fund		-		19,847		-		19,847		-		24,676		-		24,676
Commodity fund		-		19,088		-		19,088		-		14,568		-		14,568
Mortgage-backed securities		-		10,479		-		10,479		-		10,570		-		10,570
Private equity investments		-		-		714		714		-		-		937		937
Cash and cash equivalents		16,766		-		-		16,766		10,490		-		-		10,490
Accrued investment income		-		-		1,420		1,420		-		-		1,574		1,574
Total assets	$	310,860	$	344,457	$	2,134	$	657,451	$	290,141	$	339,264	$	2,511	$	631,916

Schedule Of Effect Of Significant Unobservable Inputs Changes In Plan Assets Table Text Block

(In thousands)			2012		2011
Balance at beginning of year		$	2,511	$	2,491
Actual return on plan assets:
	Change in unrealized (loss) gain relating to instruments still held at the reporting date		(223)		101
Settlements			(154)		(81)
Balance at end of year		$	2,134	$	2,511

Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]

Schedule Of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Loss Table Text Block

(In thousands)			Pension plans				Benefit restoration plans
			2012		2011		2012		2011
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of year		$	281,431	$	176,910	$	14,387	$	8,237
Increase (decrease) in AOCL:
Recognized during the year:
	Amortization of actuarial losses		(21,703)		(11,314)		(1,294)		(591)
Occurring during the year:
	Net actuarial losses		38,037		115,835		1,962		6,741
Total increase in AOCL			16,334		104,521		668		6,150
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of year		$	297,765	$	281,431	$	15,055	$	14,387

Schedule Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Not Yet Recognized Table Text Block

(In thousands)		Pension plans		Benefit restoration plans
Net loss	$	21,452	$	1,330

Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs Table Text Block

		Pension plans						Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2012		2011		2010		2012		2011		2010
Interest cost	$	29,981	$	31,139	$	31,513	$	1,572	$	1,581	$	1,537
Expected return on plan assets		(39,240)		(43,361)		(30,862)		(2,105)		(1,803)		(1,614)
Recognized net actuarial loss		21,703		11,314		8,745		1,294		591		397
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost		12,444		(908)		9,396		761		369		320
Settlement loss		-		-		4,229		-		-		-
Termination benefit loss		-		15,559		-		-		-		-
Total benefit cost	$	12,444	$	14,651	$	13,625	$	761	$	369	$	320

Schedule Of Expected Benefit Payments Table Text Block

(In thousands)		Pension plan		Benefit restoration plans
2013	$	36,729	$	1,516
2014		35,959		1,643
2015		36,254		1,883
2016		36,849		1,992
2017		37,558		2,095
2018 - 2022		196,475		11,388

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Defined Benefit [Member]

Schedule Of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Loss Table Text Block

(In thousands)			2012		2011
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of year		$	37,469	$	25,788
Increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive loss :
Recognized during the year:
	Prior service credit		200		961
	Amortization of actuarial losses		(2,162)		(1,068)
Occurring during the year:
	Net actuarial (gains) losses		(21)		11,788
Total increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss			(1,983)		11,681
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of year		$	35,486	$	37,469

Schedule Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Not Yet Recognized Table Text Block

(In thousands)		2013
Net prior service credit	$	-
Net loss	$	1,892

Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs Table Text Block

(In thousands)		2012		2011		2010
Service cost	$	2,190	$	2,016	$	1,727
Interest cost		7,801		8,543		6,434
Amortization of prior service credit		(200)		(961)		(1,046)
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)		2,162		1,068		(1,175)
Net periodic benefit cost		11,953		10,666		5,940
Temporary deviation loss		-		437		86
Termination benefit loss		-		-		671
Total benefit cost	$	11,953	$	11,103	$	6,697

Schedule Of Expected Benefit Payments Table Text Block

(In thousands)
2013	$	6,811
2014		6,949
2015		7,091
2016		7,352
2017		7,703
2018 - 2022		43,223

Pensions And Benefit Restoration Plans [Member]

Schedule Of Allocation Of Plan Assets Table Text Block

(In thousands)			2012		2011
Investments, at fair value:
	Allocated share of Master Trust net assets	$	649,702	$	574,673
	Popular, Inc. common stock		5,708		3,817
	Private equity investment		714		937
	Total investments		656,124		579,427
Cash and cash equivalents			7		96
Total assets		$	656,131	$	579,523