Segment reporting - Selected Balance Sheet information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 67,675,759	$ 67,637,917	$ 69,525,082
Deposits	60,953,888	61,227,227
Puerto Rico
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	52,973,724	53,541,427
Loans	20,970,708	20,884,442
Deposits	50,589,328	51,138,790
Popular U.S.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	13,506,272	12,718,775
Loans	10,825,221	10,643,964
Deposits	8,630,394	8,182,702
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	1,195,763	1,377,715
Loans	553,625	554,744
Deposits	$ 1,734,166	$ 1,905,735