Note Trust preferred securities (Trust preferred securities - Additional Information) (Detail) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Disclosure - Trust Preferred Securities - Additional Information [Abstract]
Trust Preferred Securities Subject To Phase Out Provision Of Dodd Frank Act	$ 427

Amount of trust preferred securities subject to phase out provision of Dodd Frank Act.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_TrustPreferredSecuritiesSubjectToPhaseOutProvisionOfDoddFrankAct
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant