Cost of equity to discount the cash flow using the ibbotson build-up method.

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]

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The percentage of goodwill from two subsidiaries to total goodwill as of the balance sheet date if other than 100 percent.

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The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

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The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date.

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Gross carrying amount before accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date to an asset acquired in a business combination representing a favorable existing relationship with customers having a finite beneficial life.

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Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of increase (decrease) of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of fair value of reporting unit in excess of carrying amount.

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Percentage of fair value of reporting unit in excess of carrying amount.

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Goodwill and other intangible assets - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2019
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Amortization Of Intangible Assets	$ 2,473,000	$ 2,312,000
Identifiable intangible assets	6,100,000		$ 6,100,000
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill	$ 0	$ 0
Discounted cash flow approach \| Minimum
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Cost of equity discount rate	10.27%
Discounted cash flow approach \| Maximum
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Cost of equity discount rate	11.01%
Customer relationship
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Finite-Lived Customer Relationships, Gross	$ 42,909,000		$ 42,909,000
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Step 1 Fair Value Excess Over Carrying Amount	$ 761,000,000			$ 1,200,000,000
Percentage excess of fair value of reporting unit over equity value	25.00%			37.00%
Goodwill impairment charge	$ 0
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico \| Exclude comparable transactions approach
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Step 1 Fair Value Excess Over Carrying Amount	$ 589,000,000
Percentage excess of fair value of reporting unit over equity value	19.00%
Popular U.S.
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Step 1 Fair Value Excess Over Carrying Amount	$ 85,000,000			$ 338,000,000
Percentage excess of fair value of reporting unit over equity value	5.00%			21.00%
Goodwill impairment charge	$ 0
Popular U.S. \| Exclude comparable transactions approach
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Step 1 Fair Value Excess Over Carrying Amount	$ 26,000,000
Percentage excess of fair value of reporting unit over equity value	2.00%
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and Popular Bank
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Percentage Of Goodwill	91.00%