UPDATE ON IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Update On Effects Of Natural Disasters [Abstract]
Natural Disasters [Text Block]	NOTE 2 – UPDATE ON EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS Two strong hurricanes affected the Corporation’s service areas during September 2017. The following summarizes the more significant continuing financial repercussions of these natural disasters for the Corporation and for its major subsidiary, FirstBank. Credit Quality and Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses Relationship officers have continued to closely monitor the performance of hurricane-affected commercial loan customers during the first quarter of 2019. Information provided by these commercial loan officers and statistics on the performance of consumer and residential credits were factored into the determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses as of March 31, 2019. During the first quarter of 2019, the Corporation recorded a loan loss reserve release of approximately $6.4 million in connection with revised estimates associated with the effects of the hurricanes. The revised estimates were primarily attributable to updated payment patterns and probability of default credit risk analyses applied to consumer borrowers, and updated assessments of financial performance and repayment prospects of certain individually-assessed commercial credits. The significant overall uncertainties in the early assessments of hurricane-related credit losses have been largely addressed in the 18-month period since the hurricanes, and the hurricanes’ effect on credit quality in future periods will be reflected in the normal process for determining the allowance for loan losses and not through a separate hurricane-related qualitative reserve, which amounted to $12.6 million as of March 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018 - $19.2 million). Some uncertainties remain, however, including the resolution of insurance claims for certain individual customers. Casualty Losses and Related Insurance The Corporation incurred a variety of costs to operate in disaster response mode, and some facilities and their contents, including certain OREO properties, were damaged by the hurricanes. The Corporation maintains insurance for casualty losses, as well as for reasonable and necessary disaster response costs and certain revenue lost through business interruption. Insurance claim receivables were established for some of the individual costs, when incurred, based on management’s understanding of the underlying coverage and when realization of the claim was deemed probable. As of March 31, 2019, the Corporation had an insurance claim receivable of $2.6 million (December 31, 2018 - $3.4 million), which is included as part of “other assets” in the statement of financial condition. Management also believes that there is a possibility that some gains will be recognized with respect to casualty and lost revenue claims in future periods, but this is contingent on reaching agreements on the Corporation’s claims with the insurance carriers During the first quarter of 2019, the Corporation recorded a $2.3 million credit against employees’ compensation and benefits expenses related to an employee retention benefit payment (the “Benefit”) received by the Corporation by virtue of the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport Extension Act of 2017, as amended (the “Act”). The Benefit was available to eligible employers affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. An eligible employer, as established in the Internal Revenue Circular Letter No. 18-11 issued by the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury, is an employer that (i) on September 16, 2017 (or September 4, 2017 for Hurricane Irma) was engaged in a trade or business in Puerto Rico; (ii) whose business became inoperable on any day after such date and before January 1, 2018, due to damage caused by Hurricane Irma or Maria; and (iii) continued to pay wages to its eligible employees during the period in which the business was inoperable. For purposes of the income tax return, the Benefit will not affect the Corporation’s right to claim a deduction on wages paid and the amount of the Benefit will not be treated as taxable income.

NOTE 2 – UPDATE ON EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS

Two strong hurricanes affected the Corporation’s service areas during September 2017. The following summarizes the more significant continuing financial repercussions of these natural disasters for the Corporation and for its major subsidiary, FirstBank.

Credit Quality and Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

Relationship officers have continued to closely monitor the performance of hurricane-affected commercial loan customers during the first quarter of 2019. Information provided by these commercial loan officers and statistics on the performance of consumer and residential credits were factored into the determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses as of March 31, 2019. During the first quarter of 2019, the Corporation recorded a loan loss reserve release of approximately $6.4 million in connection with revised estimates associated with the effects of the hurricanes. The revised estimates were primarily attributable to updated payment patterns and probability of default credit risk analyses applied to consumer borrowers, and updated assessments of financial performance and repayment prospects of certain individually-assessed commercial credits.

The significant overall uncertainties in the early assessments of hurricane-related credit losses have been largely addressed in the 18-month period since the hurricanes, and the hurricanes’ effect on credit quality in future periods will be reflected in the normal process for determining the allowance for loan losses and not through a separate hurricane-related qualitative reserve, which amounted to $12.6 million as of March 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018 - $19.2 million). Some uncertainties remain, however, including the resolution of insurance claims for certain individual customers.

Casualty Losses and Related Insurance

The Corporation incurred a variety of costs to operate in disaster response mode, and some facilities and their contents, including certain OREO properties, were damaged by the hurricanes. The Corporation maintains insurance for casualty losses, as well as for reasonable and necessary disaster response costs and certain revenue lost through business interruption. Insurance claim receivables were established for some of the individual costs, when incurred, based on management’s understanding of the underlying coverage and when realization of the claim was deemed probable.

As of March 31, 2019, the Corporation had an insurance claim receivable of $2.6 million (December 31, 2018 - $3.4 million), which is included as part of “other assets” in the statement of financial condition. Management also believes that there is a possibility that some gains will be recognized with respect to casualty and lost revenue claims in future periods, but this is contingent on reaching agreements on the Corporation’s claims with the insurance carriers

During the first quarter of 2019, the Corporation recorded a $2.3 million credit against employees’ compensation and benefits expenses related to an employee retention benefit payment (the “Benefit”) received by the Corporation by virtue of the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport Extension Act of 2017, as amended (the “Act”). The Benefit was available to eligible employers affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. An eligible employer, as established in the Internal Revenue Circular Letter No. 18-11 issued by the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury, is an employer that (i) on September 16, 2017 (or September 4, 2017 for Hurricane Irma) was engaged in a trade or business in Puerto Rico; (ii) whose business became inoperable on any day after such date and before January 1, 2018, due to damage caused by Hurricane Irma or Maria; and (iii) continued to pay wages to its eligible employees during the period in which the business was inoperable. For purposes of the income tax return, the Benefit will not affect the Corporation’s right to claim a deduction on wages paid and the amount of the Benefit will not be treated as taxable income.