Income taxes - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets gross	$ 1,659,519,000		$ 1,530,481,000
Valuation allowance	513,244,000		499,975,000
Net deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)	929,321,000		886,353,000
Gross deferred income liabilities	218,325,000		145,521,000
Net deferred tax asset	927,950,000		884,985,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Accrued	4,300,000		3,500,000
Income Tax Examination Penalties Accrued	0		0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	11,200,000		10,500,000
Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit	2,100,000
Recognized Tax Benefits Current Interest On Income Taxes Accrued	854,000	$ 149,000
Income tax expense	3,097,000	50,223,000
Other assets
Income Taxes
Net deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)	900,000,000		900,000,000
Other liabilities
Income Taxes
Net deferred tax liabilities	1,400,000		1,400,000
Popular, Inc Holding Co
Income Taxes
Valuation allowance	105,000,000
PUERTO RICO
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets gross	865,646,000		764,433,000
Valuation allowance	105,165,000		100,175,000
Net deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)	608,000,000
Gross deferred income liabilities	151,983,000		86,422,000
Net deferred tax asset	608,498,000		577,836,000
Income tax expense	$ 3,097,000	$ 50,223,000
Corporate tax rate	38.00%	38.00%
Tax benefit related to the tax benefit of the exempt income	$ 32,896,000	$ 26,944,000
UNITED STATES
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets gross	793,873,000		766,048,000
Valuation allowance	408,079,000		399,800,000
Net deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)	319,000,000
Gross deferred income liabilities	66,342,000		59,099,000
Deferred Tax Assets	727,000,000
Net deferred tax asset	$ 319,452,000		$ 307,149,000