Impact on the Results of Operations of Transactions Between the Corporation and EVERTEC (Detail) (E V E R T E C Inc [Member], Equity Method Investee, USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011
100% | Interest income
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ 850	$ 2,787
100% | Other Interest income
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	963	2,888
100% | Interest expense
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(136)	(538)
100% | Other Fee Revenue [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	7,294	21,366
100% | Professional fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(36,185)	(111,985)
100% | Net occupancy
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	1,746	5,350
100% | Other operating expenses
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	390	1,056
100% | Total [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(25,078)	(79,076)
51% majority interest | Interest income
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Income from Transactions with related party	433	1,421
51% majority interest | Other Interest income
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Income from Transactions with related party	491	1,473
51% majority interest | Interest expense
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses from Transactions with related party	(69)	(274)
51% majority interest | Other Fee Revenue [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Income from Transactions with related party	3,720	10,897
51% majority interest | Professional fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses from Transactions with related party	(18,454)	(57,113)
51% majority interest | Net occupancy
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Income from Transactions with related party	890	2,729
51% majority interest | Other operating expenses
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Income from Transactions with related party	199	538
51% majority interest | Total [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(12,790)	(40,329)
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Interest income
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	417	1,366
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Other Interest income
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	472	1,415
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Interest expense
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(67)	(264)
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Other Fee Revenue [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	3,574	10,469
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Professional fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	(17,731)	(54,872)
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Net occupancy
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	856	2,621
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Other operating expenses
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	191	518
Popular's 49% (elimination interest) | Total [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ (12,288)	$ (38,747)