Income taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)		2012		2011		2010
Current income tax expense:
Puerto Rico	$	108,090	$	107,343	$	119,729
Federal and States		998		1,722		628
Subtotal		109,088		109,065		120,357
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense:
Puerto Rico		(138,632)		(99,636)		(510)
Federal and States		3,141		2,211		(11,617)
Adjustment for enacted changes in income tax laws		-		103,287		-
Subtotal		(135,491)		5,862		(12,127)
Total income tax (benefit) expense	$	(26,403)	$	114,927	$	108,230

Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities Table Text Block

(In thousands)			2012		2011
Deferred tax assets:
Tax credits available for carryforward		$	2,666	$	3,459
Net operating loss and other carryforward available			1,201,174		1,174,488
Postretirement and pension benefits			97,276		104,663
Deferred loan origination fees			6,579		6,788
Allowance for loan losses			592,664		605,105
Deferred gains			10,528		11,763
Accelerated depreciation			6,699		5,527
Intercompany deferred gains			3,891		4,344
Other temporary differences			31,864		27,341
	Total gross deferred tax assets		1,953,341		1,943,478
Deferred tax liabilities:
Differences between the assigned values and the tax basis of assets and liabilities
	recognized in purchase business combinations		37,281		32,293
Difference in outside basis between financial and tax reporting on sale of a business			6,400		20,721
FDIC-assisted transaction			53,351		142,000
Unrealized net gain on trading and available-for-sale securities			51,002		73,991
Deferred loan origination costs			3,459		4,277
Other temporary differences			10,142		6,187
	Total gross deferred tax liabilities		161,635		279,469
Valuation allowance			1,260,542		1,259,358
Net deferred tax asset		$	531,164	$	404,651

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)
2013	$	1,447
2016		7,263
2017		8,542
2018		15,505
2019		230
2021		76
2022		971
2023		1,248
2027		65,165
2028		510,675
2029		195,014
2030		193,707
2031		136,657
2032		25,914
	$	1,162,414

Summary Of Income Tax Contingencies Text Block

(In millions)
Balance at January 1, 2011	$	26.3
Additions for tax positions related to 2011		3.7
Additions for tax positions taken in prior years		2.1
Reduction as a result of lapse of statute of limitations		(6.0)
Reduction as a result of settlements		(6.6)
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	19.5
Additions for tax positions related to 2012		1.1
Reduction for tax positions of current year		(0.2)
Reduction as a result of lapse of statute of limitations		(6.3)
Reduction for tax positions of prior years		(0.7)
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	13.4

PUERTO RICO

Schedule Of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Table Text Block

			2012				2011				2010
(In thousands)			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income
Computed income tax at statutory rates		$	65,662	30	%	$	79,876	30	%	$	100,586	41	%
Benefit of net tax exempt interest income			(25,540)	(12)			(31,379)	(12)			(7,799)	(3)
Effect of income subject to preferential
	tax rate [1]		(78,132)	(36)			(1,852)	(1)			(143,844)	(59)
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance			166	-			7,192	3			143,754	59
Non-deductible expenses			23,093	11			21,756	8			28,130	11
Difference in tax rates due to multiple
	jurisdictions		(6,034)	(3)			(8,555)	(3)			13,908	6
Initial adjustment in deferred tax due to
	change in tax rate		-	-			103,287	39			-	-
Recognition of tax benefits from previous
	years [2]		-	-			(53,615)	(20)			0	0
Unrecognized tax benefits			(8,985)	(4)			(5,160)	(2)			-	-
Others			3,367	2			3,377	1			(26,505)	(11)
Income tax (benefit) expense		$	(26,403)	(12)	%	$	114,927	43	%	$	108,230	44	%

			2012				2011				2010
(In thousands)			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income
Computed income tax at statutory rates		$	65,662	30	%	$	79,876	30	%	$	100,586	41	%
Benefit of net tax exempt interest income			(25,540)	(12)			(31,379)	(12)			(7,799)	(3)
Effect of income subject to preferential
	tax rate [1]		(78,132)	(36)			(1,852)	(1)			(143,844)	(59)
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance			166	-			7,192	3			143,754	59
Non-deductible expenses			23,093	11			21,756	8			28,130	11
Difference in tax rates due to multiple
	jurisdictions		(6,034)	(3)			(8,555)	(3)			13,908	6
Initial adjustment in deferred tax due to
	change in tax rate		-	-			103,287	39			-	-
Recognition of tax benefits from previous
	years [2]		-	-			(53,615)	(20)			0	0
Unrecognized tax benefits			(8,985)	(4)			(5,160)	(2)			-	-
Others			3,367	2			3,377	1			(26,505)	(11)
Income tax (benefit) expense		$	(26,403)	(12)	%	$	114,927	43	%	$	108,230	44	%