Loans in non-performing status and accruing loans past-due 90 days or more by loan class (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	$ 0		$ 78,140
Mortgages [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	419		53
Legacy [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	1,680		2,080
Non Covered Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	617,573	[1]	1,425,133	[2]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	413,872	[1]	387,904	[2]
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	31,173		34,251
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	96,567		144,805
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	124,029		347,465
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	64,271		138,768
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	806		529
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	28,782		43,350
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Mortgages [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	203,208	[3],[4]	630,130
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	392,650	[3],[4]	364,387
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	3,716		4,865
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Legacy [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	24,206		40,741
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	482		505
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	19,785		22,184
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Home Equity Line of Credit [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	7,676		7,454
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	43		312
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Personal [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	18,817		21,205
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	41		23
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	9,467		8,555
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Consumer Other Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	5,179		3,039
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	547		469
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	441,253	[1]	1,191,979	[2]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	413,872	[1]	387,904	[2]
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	9,394		15,816
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	41,860		66,665
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	97,237		315,534
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	56,078		124,717
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	806		529
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	23,019		37,390
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Mortgages [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	177,835	[3],[4]	596,105
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	392,650	[3],[4]	364,387
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	3,716		4,865
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Legacy [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	0		0
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer [Member] | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	0		0
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	19,785		22,184
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer [Member] | Home Equity Line of Credit [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	0		0
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	43		312
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer [Member] | Personal [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	17,477		19,300
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	41		23
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer [Member] | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	9,464		8,551
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | PUERTO RICO | Consumer [Member] | Consumer Other Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	5,173		3,036
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	547		469
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	176,320	[1]	233,154	[2]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0	[1]	0	[2]
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial Multi Family [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	21,779		18,435
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Non Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	54,707		78,140
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Owner Occupied [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	26,792		31,931
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial And Industrial Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	8,193		14,051
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Commercial Real Estate Construction Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	5,763		5,960
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Mortgages [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	25,373	[3],[4]	34,025
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0	[3],[4]	0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Finance Leases Portfolio Segment Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	0		0
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Legacy [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	24,206		40,741
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer [Member] | Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	482		505
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer [Member] | Home Equity Line of Credit [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	7,676		7,454
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer [Member] | Personal [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	1,340		1,905
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer [Member] | Consumer Loans Auto Financing Receivable [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	3		4
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	0		0
Non Covered Loans [Member] | UNITED STATES | Consumer [Member] | Consumer Other Financing Receivable Member
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Non-accrual loans	6		3
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment 90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing	$ 0		$ 0

[1] For purposes of this table non-performing loans exclude $ 2 million in non-performing loans held-for-sale.

[2] For purposes of this table non-performing loans exclude $ 96 million in non-performing loans held-for-sale.

[3] Non-covered loans accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30 are excluded from the above table as they are considered to be performing due to the application of the accretion method, in which these loans will accrete interest income over the remaining life of the loans using estimated cash flow analysis.

[4] It is the Corporation’s policy to report delinquent residential mortgage loans insured by FHA or guaranteed by the VA as accruing loans past due 90 days or more as opposed to non-performing since the principal repayment is insured. These balances include $113 million of residential mortgage loans in Puerto Rico insured by FHA or guaranteed by the VA that are no longer accruing interest as of September 30, 2013. Furthermore, the Corporation has approximately $25 million in reverse mortgage loans in Puerto Rico which are guaranteed by FHA, but which are currently not accruing interest. Due to the guaranteed nature of the loans, it is the Corporation’s policy to exclude these balances from non-performing assets.