Name:	bpop_ClaimsRfcAndRescapLiquidatingTrustLitigation
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Legal Matters And Contingencies [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_LegalMattersAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The aggregate claimed damages that the plaintiffs seek in legal matters.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_LossContingencyAggregateClaimsDamagesSought
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Claimed damages in a particular legal matter in which broker dealers in Puerto Rico including Popular Securities are co-defendants.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_LossContingencyClaimDamagesSought
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The difference between the maximum amount of estimated loss and the amount recorded as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 05
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6395354&loc=d3e12631-108344

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossPortionNotAccrued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bpop_BpnaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	bpop_LossContingenciesByTypeOfCaseAxis=bpop_MultipleArbitrationProceedingsAgainstPopularSecuritiesAndTwoOtherPrBrokerDealersMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bpop_PopularSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	bpop_LossContingenciesByTypeOfCaseAxis=bpop_AggregateArbitrationsWithClaimedDamagesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	bpop_LossContingenciesByTypeOfCaseAxis=bpop_OneArbitrationWithClaimedDamagesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: