Income taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

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

(In thousands)		2016		2015		2014
Current income tax expense:
Puerto Rico	$	11,031	$	16,675	$	7,814
Federal and States		7,059		7,281		6,953
Subtotal		18,090		23,956		14,767
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Puerto Rico		36,423		63,808		12,569
Federal and States		24,271		(582,936)		2,861
Valuation allowance - Initial recognition		-		-		8,034
Adjustment for enacted changes in income tax laws		-		-		20,048
Subtotal		60,694		(519,128)		43,512
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	78,784	$	(495,172)	$	58,279

Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities Table Text Block

(In thousands)			December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Deferred tax assets:
Tax credits available for carryforward		$	18,510	$	13,651
Net operating loss and other carryforward available			1,238,222		1,262,197
Postretirement and pension benefits			94,741		116,036
Deferred loan origination fees			6,622		6,420
Allowance for loan losses			649,107		670,592
Deferred gains			4,884		5,966
Accelerated depreciation			9,828		8,335
Intercompany deferred gains			2,496		2,743
Differences between the assigned values and the tax basis of assets and liabilities
	recognized in purchase business combinations		13,160		12,684
Other temporary differences			31,127		29,208
	Total gross deferred tax assets		2,068,697		2,127,832
Deferred tax liabilities:
FDIC-assisted transaction			58,363		90,778
Indefinite-lived intangibles			73,974		63,573
Unrealized net gain on trading and available-for-sale securities			21,335		22,281
Other temporary differences			8,477		6,670
	Total gross deferred tax liabilities		162,149		183,302
Valuation allowance			664,287		642,727
Net deferred tax asset		$	1,242,261	$	1,301,803

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)
2018	$	5,116
2019		1,080
2021		108
2022		2,071
2023		1,444
2024		9,548
2025		14,057
2026		13,359
2027		42,062
2028		504,976
2029		170,691
2030		171,897
2031		134,106
2032		25,043
2033		1,757
2034		66,268
	$	1,163,583

Summary Of Income Tax Contingencies Text Block

(In millions)
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	8.0
Additions for tax positions related to 2015		1.5
Reduction as a result of settlements		(0.5)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	9.0
Additions for tax positions related to 2016		1.1
Additions for tax positions taken in prior years		0.3
Reduction as a result of lapse of statute of limitations		(3.0)
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	7.4

PUERTO RICO

Schedule Of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Table Text Block

			2016				2015				2014
(In thousands)			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income
Computed income tax at statutory rates		$	114,792	39	%	$	155,542	39	%		(51,570)	39	%
Benefit of net tax exempt interest income			(63,053)	(22)			(60,049)	(15)			(67,636)	51
Effect of income subject to preferential
	tax rate [1]		11,155	4			(10,010)	(3)			(21,909)	18
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance			16,585	6			(586,159)	(147)			(4,281)	3
Non-deductible expenses [2]			-	-			-	-			178,219	(135)
Difference in tax rates due to multiple
	jurisdictions		(4,092)	(1)			(3,008)	(1)			(2,403)	2
Initial adjustment in deferred tax due to
	change in tax rate		-	-			-	-			20,048	(16)
Unrecognized tax benefits			(4,442)	(2)			-	-			(3,601)	3
State and local taxes			9,081	3			4,543	1			6,248	(5)
Others			(1,242)	-			3,969	1			5,164	(4)
Income tax expense (benefit)		$	78,784	27	%	$	(495,172)	(125)	%	$	58,279	(44)	%