Note Segment reporting (Geographic information) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue	[1]	$ 478,545	$ 429,665	$ 1,447,784	$ 1,364,761
PUERTO RICO
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue	[1]	378,790	333,006	1,157,324	1,097,944
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue	[1]	81,652	77,816	234,778	209,999
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue	[1]	$ 18,103	$ 18,843	$ 55,682	$ 56,818

[1] Total revenues include net interest income (expense) , service charges on deposit accounts, other service fees, mortgage banking activities, net gain (loss) and valuation adjustments on investment securities, trading account (loss) profit, net (loss) gain on sale of loans and valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale, adjustments to indemnity reserves on loans sold, FDIC loss share ( expense ) income and other operating income .