INCOME TAXES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
INCOME TAXES (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2024
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	The components of income tax expense are summarized below for the indicated periods: Year Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 (In thousands) Current income tax expense $ 78,352 $ 88,467 $ 88,296 Deferred income tax expense 14,131 6,105 54,216 Total income tax expense $ 92,483 $ 94,572 $ 142,512
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	The Corporation maintains an effective tax rate lower than the Puerto Rico maximum statutory tax rate of 37.5 %. The differences between the income tax expense applicable to income before the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory tax rate in Puerto Rico were as follows for the indicated periods: Year Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Amount % of Pretax Income Amount % of Pretax Income Amount % of Pretax Income (Dollars in thousands) Computed income tax at statutory rate $ 146,702 37.5 % $ 149,038 37.5 % $ 167,844 37.5 % Federal and state taxes 10,690 2.7 % 10,008 2.4 % 10,268 2.2 % Benefit of net exempt income (40,599) (10.4) % (35,153) (8.8) % (31,266) (7.0) % Disallowed NOL carryforward resulting from net exempt income (1) - - % - - % 14,221 3.2 % Deferred tax valuation allowance (1) - - % - - % (8,410) (1.9) % Share-based compensation windfall (823) (0.2) % (2,134) (0.5) % (1,492) (0.3) % Preferential tax treatment on qualified investing and lending activities (19,642) (5.0) % (19,125) (4.8) % (4,500) (1.0) % Other permanent differences (4,284) (1.1) % (5,138) (1.3) % (3,147) (0.7) % Tax return to provision adjustments 23 - % (1,709) (0.4) % (519) (0.1) % Other-net 416 0.1 % (1,215) (0.3) % (487) (0.1) % Total income tax expense $ 92,483 23.6 % $ 94,572 23.8 % $ 142,512 31.8 % (1) During 2022 the Corporation fully utilized certain NOLs which under the PR Tax Code were disallowed for carryforward purposes; therefore, there was no adjustment in 2023 and 2024 in the amount of disallowed NOL carryforward and any related deferred tax valuation allowance.
Schedule of Significant Components Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their tax bases. Significant components of the Corporation's deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows: As of December 31, 2024 2023 (In thousands) Deferred tax asset: NOL and capital loss carryforwards $ 36,721 $ 48,633 Allowance for credit losses 88,149 102,005 Alternative Minimum Tax credits available for carryforward 33,220 39,898 Unrealized loss on OREO valuation 4,126 6,360 Share-based compensation cost 4,763 3,569 Legal and other reserves 3,121 4,059 Reserve for insurance premium cancellations 746 824 Differences between the assigned values and tax bases of assets and liabilities recognized in purchase business combinations 8,007 6,690 Unrealized loss on available-for-sale debt securities, net 76,616 82,944 Other 8,808 4,264 Total gross deferred tax assets $ 264,277 $ 299,246 Deferred tax liabilities: Servicing assets 8,282 9,002 Pension Plan assets 472 832 Other 87 97 Total gross deferred tax liabilities 8,841 9,931 Valuation allowance (119,080) (139,188) Net deferred tax asset $ 136,356 $ 150,127