Income taxes - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Taxes
Valuation allowance	$ 533,654,000		$ 520,096,000
Net deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)	804,148,000		851,592,000
Net deferred tax asset	803,282,000		850,695,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Accrued	5,200,000		4,800,000
Income Tax Examination Penalties Accrued	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	10,500,000		10,200,000
Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit	13,900,000
Recognized Tax Benefits Current Interest On Income Taxes Accrued	364,000		854,000
Income tax expense	76,831,000	$ 3,097,000
Other assets
Income Taxes
Net deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)	800,000,000		900,000,000
Other liabilities
Income Taxes
Net deferred tax liabilities	866,000		897,000
Popular, Inc Holding Co
Income Taxes
Valuation allowance	119,000,000
PR
Income Taxes
Valuation allowance	118,575,000		112,871,000
Net deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)	522,000,000
Net deferred tax asset	$ 522,051,000		549,290,000
Corporate tax rate	38.00%	38.00%
Income tax expense	$ 76,831,000	$ 3,097,000
US
Income Taxes
Valuation allowance	415,079,000		407,225,000
Net deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)	281,000,000
Deferred Tax Assets	696,000,000
Net deferred tax asset	$ 281,231,000		$ 301,405,000