Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flow (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	$ (362,332)	$ 436,296
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	215,378	545,927
Amortization of intangibles	7,351	7,403
Depreciation, Nonproduction	35,407	37,056
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	298,318	(48,195)
FDIC loss share (income) expense	84,331	44,887
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	27,281	30,162
Losses (earnings) from investments under equity method	(31,930)	(42,740)
Stock Option Plan Expense	0	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	34,175	(303,038)
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	(2,578)	(3,060)
Net Gain Loss On Sale And Valuation Adjustments On Investment Securities	1,763	0
Gain Loss On Sales Of Loans Net Including Mortgage Banking Activities	(69,391)	37,564
Sale of stock in equity method investee	0	(312,589)
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	13,147	45,045
Disposal of discontinued business	(28,025)	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	(232,430)	(15,335)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	97,638	168,046
Net disbursements on loans held-for-sale	(512,521)	(1,169,094)
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract]
Trading securities	883,035	1,193,265
Accrued income receivable	11,437	2,847
Other assets	124,669	(610)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	(11,747)	(9,480)
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	(4,478)	6,459
Other liabilities	33,821	(22,590)
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	1,179,586	198,792
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	817,254	635,088
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	(194,668)	123,792
Payments To Acquire Investments Abstract
Available-for-sale	(1,825,654)	(1,661,080)
Held-to-maturity	(1,000)	(250)
Other	(97,301)	(145,691)
Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments Abstract
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities	1,327,672	1,576,112
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Held To Maturity Securities	29,834	4,278
Other	90,530	132,270
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available for sale	91,298	0
Proceeds From Sale Of Other Investments	27,356	0
Net repayments on loans	628,571	1,014,907
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	233,527	310,767
Acquisition of loan portfolios	(356,710)	(1,727,454)
Net Payments From FDIC Under Loss Sharing Agreements	179,250	52,758
Proceeds From Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital	0	438
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries		0
Proceeds From Sale Of Stock In Equity Method Investee	0	363,492
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries	0
Net cash disbursed from disposal of discontinued business	(233,967)	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	0	(45)
Acquisition of premises and equipment	(39,604)	(27,214)
Proceeds from sale of: [Abstract]
Premises and equipment	12,144	9,438
Foreclosed assets	110,677	200,546
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	(18,045)	227,064
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Deposits	(212,264)	(642,427)
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	(8,580)	(223,544)
Other short-term borrowings	(400,000)	190,000
Payments of notes payable	(1,047,546)	(331,835)
Proceeds From Notes Payable	781,905	73,154
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	4,323	4,952
Dividends paid	(2,792)	(2,792)
Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants	(3,000)	0
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	(3,052)	(433)
Return Of Capital To Parent Company	0
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent		0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	(891,006)	(932,925)
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	(91,797)	(70,773)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	423,211	439,363
Cash and due from banks at end of period, including discontinued operations	331,414	368,590
Cash from discontinued operations	9,500	0
Cash and due from banks at end of period	321,914	368,590
Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Provision for loan losses	(6,764)	(1,345)
Goodwill Written Off Related To Business Unit To Be Disposed	186,511	0
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Cash from discontinued operations	9,500
Mortgage Banking Activities [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Mortgage Servicing Rights MSR Impairment Recovery	18,424	6,862
Popular, Inc. Holding Co.
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	(362,332)	436,296
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	(113,176)	(144,498)
Provision for loan losses	(195)	32
Goodwill Written Off Related To Business Unit To Be Disposed	0
Amortization of intangibles	0	0
Depreciation, Nonproduction	490	482
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	404,461	23,798
Mortgage Servicing Rights MSR Impairment Recovery	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	0	0
Amortization Of Prepaid F D I C Assesment		0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0
Losses (earnings) from investments under equity method	(9,301)	(23,376)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	7,857	(10,256)
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	1	6
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	(312,589)
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	0	0
Disposal of discontinued business	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	(247)	(118)
Accrued income receivable	9	1,548
Other assets	4,554	2,996
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	(809)	0
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	0	0
Other liabilities	(4,954)	(5,090)
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	288,690	(467,065)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	(73,642)	(30,769)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	(997)	(5,147)
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	35,000
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Held To Maturity Securities	0	0
Other	1,000	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available for sale	0
Proceeds From Sale Of Other Investments	0
Net repayments on loans	448,285	(327,910)
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios	0	0
Net Payments From FDIC Under Loss Sharing Agreements	0	0
Proceeds From Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital	0	0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries	(100,000)	(31,500)
Proceeds From Sale Of Stock In Equity Method Investee		363,492
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries	210,000
Net cash disbursed from disposal of discontinued business	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	0	0
Acquisition of premises and equipment	(415)	(285)
Proceeds from sale of: [Abstract]
Premises and equipment	24	33
Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets		0
Foreclosed assets	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	557,897	33,683
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	(936,000)	0
Proceeds From Notes Payable	450,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	4,323	4,952
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	0
Dividends paid	(2,792)	(2,792)
Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants	(3,000)
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	(3,052)	(433)
Return Of Capital To Parent Company	0
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	(490,521)	1,727
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	(6,266)	4,641
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	10,595	1,103
Cash and due from banks at end of period, including discontinued operations	4,329
Cash from discontinued operations	0
Cash and due from banks at end of period	4,329	5,744
Popular, Inc. Holding Co. | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	132,066	(28,656)
PNA Holding Co.
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	(90,397)	37,984
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	81,156	(59,718)
Provision for loan losses	0	0
Goodwill Written Off Related To Business Unit To Be Disposed	0
Amortization of intangibles	0	0
Depreciation, Nonproduction	0	2
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	0	444
Mortgage Servicing Rights MSR Impairment Recovery	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	0	0
Amortization Of Prepaid F D I C Assesment		0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0
Losses (earnings) from investments under equity method	(371)	(3,361)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	0	(66)
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	0
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	0	0
Disposal of discontinued business	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	83	81
Other assets	(7,168)	130
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	(2,669)	(3,158)
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	0	0
Other liabilities	(31,996)	(2,330)
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	39,035	(67,976)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	(51,362)	(29,992)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	3,230	508
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
Proceeds From Sale Of Other Investments	0
Net repayments on loans	0	0
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios	0	0
Net Payments From FDIC Under Loss Sharing Agreements	0	0
Proceeds From Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital	0	438
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries	0	0
Proceeds From Sale Of Stock In Equity Method Investee		0
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries	250,000
Net cash disbursed from disposal of discontinued business	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	0	0
Acquisition of premises and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of: [Abstract]
Premises and equipment	0	180
Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets		0
Foreclosed assets	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	253,230	1,126
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Deposits	0	0
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	0	0
Other short-term borrowings	8,126	233,560
Payments of notes payable	0	(236,200)
Proceeds From Notes Payable	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	0
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants	0
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	0	0
Return Of Capital To Parent Company	(210,000)
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent	0	31,500
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	(201,874)	28,860
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	(6)	(6)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	616	624
Cash and due from banks at end of period, including discontinued operations	610
Cash from discontinued operations	0
Cash and due from banks at end of period	610	618
PNA Holding Co. | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	132,066	(28,656)
Other Subsidiaries
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	121,992	165,732
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	215,573	545,895
Goodwill Written Off Related To Business Unit To Be Disposed	186,511
Amortization of intangibles	7,351	7,403
Depreciation, Nonproduction	34,917	36,572
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	(106,143)	(72,437)
Mortgage Servicing Rights MSR Impairment Recovery	18,424	6,862
FDIC loss share (income) expense	84,331	44,887
Amortization Of Prepaid F D I C Assesment		0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	27,281	30,162
Losses (earnings) from investments under equity method	(22,258)	(16,003)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	26,046	(292,898)
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	(2,579)	(3,000)
Net Gain Loss On Sale And Valuation Adjustments On Investment Securities	1,763
Gain Loss On Sales Of Loans Net Including Mortgage Banking Activities	(69,391)	37,564
Sale of stock in equity method investee	0	0
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	13,147	45,045
Disposal of discontinued business	(28,025)
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	(232,430)	(15,335)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	97,638	168,046
Net disbursements on loans held-for-sale	(512,521)	(1,169,094)
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract]
Trading securities	883,282	1,193,383
Accrued income receivable	11,349	1,468
Other assets	155,043	(1,562)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	(8,273)	(6,257)
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	(4,478)	6,459
Other liabilities	43,708	(17,043)
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	820,266	530,117
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	942,258	695,849
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	(194,671)	124,039
Payments To Acquire Investments Abstract
Available-for-sale	(1,825,654)	(1,661,080)
Held-to-maturity	(1,000)	(250)
Other	(97,301)	(145,691)
Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments Abstract
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities	1,327,672	1,541,112
Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Held To Maturity Securities	29,834	4,278
Other	89,530	132,270
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available for sale	91,298
Proceeds From Sale Of Other Investments	27,356
Net repayments on loans	628,860	959,455
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	233,527	310,767
Acquisition of loan portfolios	(356,710)	(1,727,454)
Net Payments From FDIC Under Loss Sharing Agreements	179,250	52,758
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
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries	0
Net cash disbursed from disposal of discontinued business	(233,967)
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	0	(45)
Acquisition of premises and equipment	(39,189)	(26,929)
Proceeds from sale of: [Abstract]
Premises and equipment	12,120	9,225
Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets		0
Foreclosed assets	110,677	200,546
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	(18,368)	(226,999)
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Deposits	(220,680)	(638,820)
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	(8,580)	(218,644)
Other short-term borrowings	(856,700)	339,801
Payments of notes payable	(111,546)	(95,635)
Proceeds From Notes Payable	331,905	73,154
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	0
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants	0
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	0	0
Return Of Capital To Parent Company	(250,000)
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent	100,000	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	(1,015,601)	(540,144)
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	(91,711)	(71,294)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	422,967	439,552
Cash and due from banks at end of period, including discontinued operations	331,256
Cash from discontinued operations	9,500
Cash and due from banks at end of period	321,756	368,258
Other Subsidiaries | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Elimination
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract
Net Income	(31,595)	(203,716)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	32,020	204,216
Provision for loan losses	0	0
Goodwill Written Off Related To Business Unit To Be Disposed	0
Amortization of intangibles	0	0
Depreciation, Nonproduction	0	0
Net (accretion of discounts) amortization of premiums and deferred fees	0	0
Mortgage Servicing Rights MSR Impairment Recovery	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	0	0
Amortization Of Prepaid F D I C Assesment		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)	272	116
Loss Gain [Abstract]
Disposition of premises and equipment	0	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	0
Gains Losses On Sales Of Other Real Estate	0	0
Disposal of discontinued business	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	(4)	(250)
Other assets	(27,760)	(2,174)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest payable	4	(65)
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	0	0
Other liabilities	27,063	1,873
Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	31,595	203,716
Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract
Change In Money Market Investments	(2,230)	4,392
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
Proceeds From Sale Of Other Investments	0
Net repayments on loans	(448,574)	383,362
Proceeds From Sale Of Loans Receivable	0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios	0	0
Net Payments From FDIC Under Loss Sharing Agreements	0	0
Proceeds From Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital	0	0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries	100,000	31,500
Proceeds From Sale Of Stock In Equity Method Investee		0
Return Of Capital From Wholly Owned Subsidiaries	(460,000)
Net cash disbursed from disposal of discontinued business	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
Foreclosed assets	0	0
Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities	(810,804)	419,254
Net Increase Decrease In [Abstract]
Deposits	8,416	(3,607)
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	0	(4,900)
Other short-term borrowings	448,574	(383,361)
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	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants	0
Net Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock	0	0
Return Of Capital To Parent Company	460,000
Proceeds From Contributions From Parent	(100,000)	(31,500)
Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities	816,990	(423,368)
Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease	6,186	(4,114)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	(10,967)	(1,916)
Cash and due from banks at end of period, including discontinued operations	(4,781)
Cash from discontinued operations	0
Cash and due from banks at end of period	(4,781)	(6,030)
Elimination | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	$ (264,132)	$ 57,312