Goodwill and other intangible assets - Gross amount of goodwill and accumulated impairment losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Goodwill
Goodwill Gross	$ 839,334	$ 839,334
Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss	168,212	168,212
Goodwill (net amounts)	671,122	671,122
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
Goodwill
Goodwill Gross	324,049	324,049
Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss	3,801	3,801
Goodwill (net amounts)	320,248	320,248
Popular U.S.
Goodwill
Goodwill Gross	515,285	515,285
Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss	164,411	164,411
Goodwill (net amounts)	$ 350,874	$ 350,874

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(10)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Amount before accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556970&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (h)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556970&loc=d3e13816-109267

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556970&loc=d3e13816-109267

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