Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flow (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	$ 436,296	$ 161,335
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Provision for loan losses	545,927	326,130
Amortization of intangibles	7,403	7,605
Depreciation, Nonproduction	37,056	34,953
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	(48,195)	(22,118)
Fair value adjustments of mortgage servicing rights	6,862	7,217
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	44,887	19,387
Amortization Of Prepaid F D I C Assesment	0	30,157
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	30,162	17,990
Losses (earnings) from investments under equity method	(42,740)	(28,748)
Stock Option Plan Expense	0	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(303,038)	(150,201)
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	(3,060)	(8,253)
Net Gain Loss On Sale And Valuation Adjustments On Investment Securities	0	285
Gain Loss On Sales Of Loans Net Including Mortgage Banking Activities	37,564	(18,569)
Sale of stock in equity method investee	(312,589)	0
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Other Assets	0	(2,545)
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	45,045	4,147
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	(15,335)	(288,844)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	168,046	242,088
Net disbursements on loans held-for-sale	(1,169,094)	(860,804)
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract]
Trading securities	1,193,265	849,304
Accrued income receivable	2,847	(8,735)
Other assets	(610)	(30,247)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	(9,480)	(7,553)
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	6,459	24,156
Other liabilities	(22,590)	(23,112)
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	198,792	113,690
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	635,088	275,025
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	123,792	450,511
Payments To Acquire Investments Abstract
Available-for-sale	(1,661,080)	(1,284,834)
Held-to-maturity	(250)	(250)
Other	(145,691)	(152,607)
Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments Abstract
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities	1,576,112	1,166,618
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Held To Maturity Securities	4,278	4,398
Other	132,270	119,098
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available for sale	0	8,031
Net repayments on loans	1,014,907	687,582
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	310,767	51,677
Acquisition of loan portfolios	(1,727,454)	(1,051,588)
F D I C Indemnification Asset Cash Payments Received	(52,758)	(327,739)
Proceeds From Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital	438	130,580
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries		0
Proceeds from sale of stock in equity method investee	363,492	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	(45)	(1,620)
Acquisition of premises and equipment	(27,214)	(34,336)
Proceeds from sale of: [Abstract]
Premises and equipment	9,438	20,612
Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets	0	(1,026)
Foreclosed assets	200,546	142,019
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	227,064	584,656
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Deposits	(642,427)	(1,624,634)
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	(223,544)	(196,533)
Other short-term borrowings	190,000	910,000
Payments of notes payable	(331,835)	(72,815)
Proceeds From Notes Payable	73,154	61,331
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	4,952	7,788
Net proceeds from issuance of depository shares	0	0
Dividends paid	(2,792)	(2,482)
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	433	276
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent		0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	(932,925)	(917,621)
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	(70,773)	(57,940)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	439,363	535,282
Cash and due from banks at end of period	368,590	477,342
Popular, Inc. Holding Co.
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	436,296	161,335
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	(144,498)	(207,370)
Provision for loan losses	32	267
Amortization of intangibles	0	0
Depreciation, Nonproduction	482	484
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	23,798	21,624
Fair value adjustments of mortgage servicing rights	0	0
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	0	0
Amortization Of Prepaid F D I C Assesment	0	0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0
Losses (earnings) from investments under equity method	(23,376)	(3,079)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(10,256)	(14,755)
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	6	1
Early extinguishment of debt		0
Net Gain Loss On Sale And Valuation Adjustments On Investment Securities		0
Gain Loss On Sales Of Loans Net Including Mortgage Banking Activities	0	0
Sale of stock in equity method investee	(312,589)
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Other Assets	0	0
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	0	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Net disbursements on loans held-for-sale	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract]
Trading securities	(118)	0
Accrued income receivable	1,548	(1,168)
Other assets	2,996	4,693
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	0	0
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	0	0
Other liabilities	(5,090)	(1,347)
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	(467,065)	(200,650)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	(30,769)	(39,315)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	(5,147)	24,008
Payments To Acquire Investments Abstract
Available-for-sale	0	0
Held-to-maturity	0	0
Other	0	0
Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments Abstract
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities	35,000	0
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Held To Maturity Securities	0	0
Other	0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available for sale	0	0
Net repayments on loans	(327,910)	(71,042)
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios	0	0
F D I C Indemnification Asset Cash Payments Received	0	0
Proceeds From Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital	0	129,744
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries	(31,500)	(50,000)
Proceeds from sale of stock in equity method investee	363,492
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	0	0
Acquisition of premises and equipment	(285)	(637)
Proceeds from sale of: [Abstract]
Premises and equipment	33	24
Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets	0	0
Foreclosed assets	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	33,683	32,097
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Deposits	0	0
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	0	0
Other short-term borrowings	0	0
Payments of notes payable	0	0
Proceeds From Notes Payable	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	4,952	7,788
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	0
Dividends paid	(2,792)	(2,482)
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	433	276
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	1,727	5,030
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	4,641	(2,188)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	1,103	6,365
Cash and due from banks at end of period	5,744	4,177
PNA Holding Co.
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	37,984	(5,645)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	(59,718)	(18,417)
Provision for loan losses	0	0
Amortization of intangibles	0	0
Depreciation, Nonproduction	2	2
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	444	84
Fair value adjustments of mortgage servicing rights	0	0
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	0	0
Amortization Of Prepaid F D I C Assesment	0	0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0
Losses (earnings) from investments under equity method	(3,361)	(379)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	(66)	0
Early extinguishment of debt		0
Net Gain Loss On Sale And Valuation Adjustments On Investment Securities		0
Gain Loss On Sales Of Loans Net Including Mortgage Banking Activities	0	0
Sale of stock in equity method investee	0
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Other Assets	0	0
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	0	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Net disbursements on loans held-for-sale	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract]
Trading securities	0	0
Accrued income receivable	81	81
Other assets	130	213
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	(3,158)	2,527
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	0	0
Other liabilities	(2,330)	(20)
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	(67,976)	(15,909)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	(29,992)	(21,554)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	508	(88)
Payments To Acquire Investments Abstract
Available-for-sale	0	0
Held-to-maturity	0	0
Other	0	0
Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments Abstract
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities	0	0
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Held To Maturity Securities	0	0
Other	0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available for sale	0	0
Net repayments on loans	0	0
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios	0	0
F D I C Indemnification Asset Cash Payments Received	0	0
Proceeds From Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital	438	836
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries	0	0
Proceeds from sale of stock in equity method investee	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	0	0
Acquisition of premises and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of: [Abstract]
Premises and equipment	180	0
Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets	0	0
Foreclosed assets	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	1,126	748
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Deposits	0	0
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	0	0
Other short-term borrowings	0	(29,500)
Payments of notes payable	(236,200)	0
Proceeds From Notes Payable	233,560	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	0
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	0	0
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent	31,500	50,000
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	28,860	20,500
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	(6)	(306)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	624	932
Cash and due from banks at end of period	618	626
Other Subsidiaries
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	165,732	235,576
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Provision for loan losses	545,895	325,863
Amortization of intangibles	7,403	7,605
Depreciation, Nonproduction	36,572	34,467
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	(72,437)	(43,339)
Fair value adjustments of mortgage servicing rights	6,862	7,217
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument		0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	44,887	19,387
Amortization Of Prepaid F D I C Assesment	0	30,157
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	30,162	17,990
Losses (earnings) from investments under equity method	(16,003)	(25,290)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(292,898)	(135,709)
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	(3,000)	(8,254)
Early extinguishment of debt		0
Net Gain Loss On Sale And Valuation Adjustments On Investment Securities		285
Gain Loss On Sales Of Loans Net Including Mortgage Banking Activities	37,564	(18,569)
Sale of stock in equity method investee	0
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Other Assets	0	(2,545)
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	45,045	4,147
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	(15,335)	(288,844)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	168,046	242,088
Net disbursements on loans held-for-sale	(1,169,094)	(860,804)
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract]
Trading securities	1,193,383	849,304
Accrued income receivable	1,468	(7,728)
Other assets	(1,562)	(28,508)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	(6,257)	(10,114)
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	6,459	24,156
Other liabilities	(17,043)	(22,837)
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	530,117	110,125
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	695,849	345,701
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	124,039	450,564
Payments To Acquire Investments Abstract
Available-for-sale	(1,661,080)	(1,284,834)
Held-to-maturity	(250)	(250)
Other	(145,691)	(152,607)
Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments Abstract
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities	1,541,112	1,166,618
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Held To Maturity Securities	4,278	4,398
Other	132,270	119,098
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available for sale	0	8,031
Net repayments on loans	959,455	687,866
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	310,767	51,677
Acquisition of loan portfolios	(1,727,454)	(1,051,588)
F D I C Indemnification Asset Cash Payments Received	52,758	327,739
Proceeds From Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital	0	0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries	0	0
Proceeds from sale of stock in equity method investee	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	(45)	(1,620)
Acquisition of premises and equipment	(26,929)	(33,699)
Proceeds from sale of: [Abstract]
Premises and equipment	9,225	20,588
Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets	0	1,026
Foreclosed assets	200,546	142,019
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	(226,999)	455,026
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Deposits	(638,820)	(1,631,309)
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	(218,644)	(220,593)
Other short-term borrowings	573,361	1,010,400
Payments of notes payable	(95,635)	(72,815)
Proceeds From Notes Payable	(160,406)	61,331
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	0
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	(5,000)
Dividends paid	0	0
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	0	0
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	(540,144)	(857,986)
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	(71,294)	(57,259)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	439,552	534,796
Cash and due from banks at end of period	368,258	477,537
Elimination
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	(203,716)	(229,931)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	204,216	225,787
Provision for loan losses	0	0
Amortization of intangibles	0	0
Depreciation, Nonproduction	0	0
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	0	(487)
Fair value adjustments of mortgage servicing rights	0	0
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	0	0
Amortization Of Prepaid F D I C Assesment	0	0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0
Losses (earnings) from investments under equity method	0	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	116	263
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	0	0
Early extinguishment of debt		0
Net Gain Loss On Sale And Valuation Adjustments On Investment Securities		0
Gain Loss On Sales Of Loans Net Including Mortgage Banking Activities	0	0
Sale of stock in equity method investee	0
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Other Assets	0	0
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	0	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Net disbursements on loans held-for-sale	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract]
Trading securities	0	0
Accrued income receivable	(250)	80
Other assets	(2,174)	(6,645)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	(65)	34
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	0	0
Other liabilities	1,873	1,092
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	203,716	220,124
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	0	(9,807)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	4,392	(23,973)
Payments To Acquire Investments Abstract
Available-for-sale	0	0
Held-to-maturity	0	0
Other	0	0
Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments Abstract
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities	0	0
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Held To Maturity Securities	0	0
Other	0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available for sale	0	0
Net repayments on loans	383,362	70,758
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios	0	0
F D I C Indemnification Asset Cash Payments Received	0	0
Proceeds From Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital	0	0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries	31,500	50,000
Proceeds from sale of stock in equity method investee	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	0	0
Acquisition of premises and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of: [Abstract]
Premises and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets	0	0
Foreclosed assets	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	419,254	96,785
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Deposits	(3,607)	6,675
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	(4,900)	24,060
Other short-term borrowings	(383,361)	(70,900)
Payments of notes payable	0	0
Proceeds From Notes Payable	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	0
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	5,000
Dividends paid	0	0
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	0	0
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent	(31,500)	(50,000)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	(423,368)	(85,165)
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	(4,114)	1,813
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	(1,916)	(6,811)
Cash and due from banks at end of period	$ (6,030)	$ (4,998)