Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flow (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	$ 279,783	$ 96,226	$ 371,107	$ 189,171
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in losses (earnings) of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			0	0
Dividends receivable form subsidiaries			0
Provision (reversal) for loan losses			131,117	93,177
Amortization of intangibles			4,649	4,689
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			25,575	23,928
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			(15,246)	(13,510)
Share-based compensation			5,445	0
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			272	0
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities	0	8,299	0	8,299
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			8,929	14,000
FDIC loss share (income) expense			(94,725)	8,732
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	527	2,930	3,453	4,896
(Earnings) losses from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			(5,400)	(6,743)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			(141,066)	52,354
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			(680)	5,517
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities			(3,602)	(12,631)
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			566	13,603
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			(112,687)	(153,085)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			29,519	58,857
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			(112,975)	(224,278)
Net decrease (increase) in:
Trading securities			218,904	334,136
Equity securities			(1,124)	(80)
Accrued income receivable			48,252	1,939
Other assets			189,540	(6,747)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable			50	(189)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			2,363	883
Other liabilities			(181,094)	(16,018)
Total adjustments			35	191,729
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			371,142	380,900
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments			(3,371,774)	(1,332,447)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			(2,767,257)	(1,738,915)
Equity			(11,176)	(4,900)
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			2,291,230	541,660
Held-to-maturity			3,030	2,860
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Equity			18,387	2,541
Net repayments on loans			61,890	5,088
Proceeds from sale of loans				0
Acquisition of loan portfolios			(326,503)	(261,987)
Acquisition of trademark				0
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements			(25,012)	(14,819)
Return of capital from equity method investments			1,519	3,362
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			0	0
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries			0
Acquisition of premises and equipment			(31,690)	(29,992)
Proceeds from insurance claims			720	0
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			5,222	5,186
Foreclosed assets			59,497	60,603
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(4,091,917)	(2,761,760)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			3,921,033	2,625,731
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase			(84,010)	(73,040)
Other short-term borrowings			(95,008)	0
Payments of notes payable			(115,749)	(35,074)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			140,000	20,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			8,818	3,831
Dividends paid to parent company			0	0
Dividends paid			(52,617)	(43,045)
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			(270)	(75,666)
Return Of Capital To Parent Company			0
Capital contribution from parent			0	0
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			(2,162)	(1,617)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			3,720,035	2,421,120
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks			(740)	40,260
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			412,629	374,196
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	411,889	414,456	411,889	414,456
Elimination
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	(296,403)	(114,664)	(413,558)	(223,497)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in losses (earnings) of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			63,595	70,636
Dividends receivable form subsidiaries			300,000
Provision (reversal) for loan losses			0	0
Amortization of intangibles			0	0
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			0	0
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			0	0
Share-based compensation			0
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			0
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities		0		0
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense			0	0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0	0	0
(Earnings) losses from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			0	0
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			43	(2)
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			0	0
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities			0	0
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			0	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			0	0
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			0	0
Net decrease (increase) in:
Trading securities			(101)	0
Equity securities			0	(8)
Accrued income receivable			189	25
Other assets			849	3,802
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable			(189)	(25)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			0	0
Other liabilities			(958)	(1,476)
Total adjustments			363,428	72,952
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(50,130)	(150,545)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments			(35,888)	(41,896)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Equity			133	0
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Held-to-maturity			0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Equity			0	0
Net repayments on loans			4,301	0
Proceeds from sale of loans				(37,864)
Acquisition of loan portfolios			0	37,864
Acquisition of trademark				0
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements			0	0
Return of capital from equity method investments			0	0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			10,000	0
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries			(13,000)
Acquisition of premises and equipment			0	0
Proceeds from insurance claims			0
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			0	0
Foreclosed assets			0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(34,454)	(41,896)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			21,629	36,478
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase			0	0
Other short-term borrowings			(4,301)
Payments of notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			0	0
Dividends paid to parent company			50,000	156,500
Dividends paid			0	0
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			(3)	0
Return Of Capital To Parent Company			13,000
Capital contribution from parent			(10,000)	(5,955)
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			70,325	187,023
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks			(14,259)	(5,418)
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			(48,178)	(48,081)
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	(62,437)	(53,499)	(62,437)	(53,499)
Popular, Inc. Holding Co.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	279,783	96,226	371,107	189,171
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in losses (earnings) of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			(37,545)	(49,008)
Dividends receivable form subsidiaries			(300,000)
Provision (reversal) for loan losses			(41)	269
Amortization of intangibles			0	0
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			360	320
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			1,043	1,043
Share-based compensation			3,711
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			0
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities		0		0
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense			0	0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0	0	0
(Earnings) losses from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			(7,497)	(6,338)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			0	0
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			(5)	(16)
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities			0	0
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			0	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			0	0
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			0	0
Net decrease (increase) in:
Trading securities			0	0
Equity securities			(739)	(630)
Accrued income receivable			(187)	(94)
Other assets			(847)	(4,120)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable			0	0
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			0	0
Other liabilities			(2,082)	(201)
Total adjustments			(343,829)	(58,775)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			27,278	130,396
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments			35,000	35,001
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Equity			0	0
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Held-to-maturity			0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Equity			0	0
Net repayments on loans			(4,040)	53
Proceeds from sale of loans				0
Acquisition of loan portfolios			0	(31,909)
Acquisition of trademark				(5,560)
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements			0	0
Return of capital from equity method investments			0	0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			(10,000)	(5,955)
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries			13,000
Acquisition of premises and equipment			(405)	(275)
Proceeds from insurance claims			0
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			9	21
Foreclosed assets			0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			33,564	(8,624)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			0	0
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase			0	0
Other short-term borrowings			0
Payments of notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			9,007	3,831
Dividends paid to parent company			0	0
Dividends paid			(52,617)	(43,045)
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			(267)	(75,666)
Return Of Capital To Parent Company			0
Capital contribution from parent			0	0
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			(2,162)	(1,617)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(46,039)	(116,497)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks			14,803	5,275
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			48,120	48,130
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	62,923	53,405	62,923	53,405
PNA Holding Co.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	6,745	11,550	20,142	19,358
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in losses (earnings) of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			(26,050)	(21,628)
Dividends receivable form subsidiaries			0
Provision (reversal) for loan losses			0	0
Amortization of intangibles			0	0
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			0	0
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			14	13
Share-based compensation			0
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			0
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities		0		0
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense			0	0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0	0	0
(Earnings) losses from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			(396)	(1,225)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			(933)	(1,222)
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			0	0
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities			0	0
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			0	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			0	0
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			0	0
Net decrease (increase) in:
Trading securities			0	0
Equity securities			0	0
Accrued income receivable			0	6
Other assets			44	37
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable			25	0
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			0	0
Other liabilities			1,006	(564)
Total adjustments			(26,290)	(24,583)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(6,148)	(5,225)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments			888	5,096
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Equity			0	0
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Held-to-maturity			0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Equity			0	0
Net repayments on loans			0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans				0
Acquisition of loan portfolios			0	0
Acquisition of trademark				0
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements			0	0
Return of capital from equity method investments			497	0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			0	0
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries			0
Acquisition of premises and equipment			0	0
Proceeds from insurance claims			0
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			0	0
Foreclosed assets			0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			1,385	5,096
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			0	0
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase			0	0
Other short-term borrowings			4,301
Payments of notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			0	0
Dividends paid to parent company			0	0
Dividends paid			0	0
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			0	0
Return Of Capital To Parent Company			0
Capital contribution from parent			0	0
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			4,301	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks			(462)	(129)
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			462	591
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	0	462	0	462
All other subsidiaries and eliminations
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	289,658	103,114	393,416	204,139
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in losses (earnings) of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			0	0
Dividends receivable form subsidiaries			0
Provision (reversal) for loan losses			131,158	92,908
Amortization of intangibles			4,649	4,689
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			25,215	23,608
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			(16,303)	(14,566)
Share-based compensation			1,734
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			272
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities		8,299		8,299
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			8,929	14,000
FDIC loss share (income) expense			(94,725)	8,732
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	527	2,930	3,453	4,896
(Earnings) losses from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			2,493	820
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			(140,176)	53,578
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			(675)	5,533
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities			(3,602)	(12,631)
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			566	13,603
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			(112,687)	(153,085)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			29,519	58,857
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			(112,975)	(224,278)
Net decrease (increase) in:
Trading securities			219,005	334,136
Equity securities			(385)	558
Accrued income receivable			48,250	2,002
Other assets			189,494	(6,466)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable			214	(164)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			2,363	883
Other liabilities			(179,060)	(13,777)
Total adjustments			6,726	202,135
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			400,142	406,274
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments			(3,371,774)	(1,330,648)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			(2,767,257)	(1,738,915)
Equity			(11,309)	(4,900)
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			2,291,230	541,660
Held-to-maturity			3,030	2,860
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Equity			18,387	2,541
Net repayments on loans			61,629	5,035
Proceeds from sale of loans				37,864
Acquisition of loan portfolios			(326,503)	(267,942)
Acquisition of trademark				5,560
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements			(25,012)	(14,819)
Return of capital from equity method investments			1,022	3,362
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			0	5,955
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries			0
Acquisition of premises and equipment			(31,285)	(29,717)
Proceeds from insurance claims			720
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			5,213	5,165
Foreclosed assets			59,497	60,603
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(4,092,412)	(2,716,336)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			3,899,404	2,589,253
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase			(84,010)	(73,040)
Other short-term borrowings			(95,008)
Payments of notes payable			(115,749)	(35,074)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			140,000	20,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			(189)	0
Dividends paid to parent company			(50,000)	(156,500)
Dividends paid			0	0
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			0	0
Return Of Capital To Parent Company			(13,000)
Capital contribution from parent			10,000	5,955
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			3,691,448	2,350,594
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks			(822)	40,532
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			412,225	373,556
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	$ 411,403	$ 414,088	$ 411,403	$ 414,088