Gross amount of goodwill and accumulated impairment losses by reportable segment and corporate group (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Goodwill [Line Items] |
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Goodwill Gross |
$ 630,087us-gaap_GoodwillGross |
$ 812,168us-gaap_GoodwillGross |
$ 812,168us-gaap_GoodwillGross |
Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss |
164,411us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss |
164,411us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss |
164,411us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss |
Goodwill (net amounts) |
465,676us-gaap_Goodwill |
647,757us-gaap_Goodwill |
647,757us-gaap_Goodwill |
Banco Popular De Puerto Rico [Member] |
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Goodwill [Line Items] |
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Goodwill Gross |
250,109us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularDePuertoRicoMember |
245,679us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularDePuertoRicoMember |
245,679us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularDePuertoRicoMember |
Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss |
0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularDePuertoRicoMember |
0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularDePuertoRicoMember |
0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularDePuertoRicoMember |
Goodwill (net amounts) |
250,109us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularDePuertoRicoMember |
245,679us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularDePuertoRicoMember |
245,679us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularDePuertoRicoMember |
Banco Popular North America [Member] |
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Goodwill [Line Items] |
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Goodwill Gross |
379,978us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularNorthAmericaMember |
566,489us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularNorthAmericaMember |
566,489us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularNorthAmericaMember |
Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss |
164,411us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularNorthAmericaMember |
164,411us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularNorthAmericaMember |
164,411us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularNorthAmericaMember |
Goodwill (net amounts) |
$ 215,567us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularNorthAmericaMember |
$ 402,078us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularNorthAmericaMember |
$ 402,078us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = bpop_BancoPopularNorthAmericaMember |