Employee benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Schedule Of Allocation Of Plan Assets Table Text Block

	Minimum allotment		Maximum allotment
Equity	0	%	70	%
Debt securities	0	%	100	%
Cash and cash equivalents	0	%	100	%

(In thousands)		2014		2013
Obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies	$	210,549	$	198,992
Corporate bonds and debentures		50,708		43,885
Equity securities		241,458		238,792
Index fund - equity		27,888		33,347
Foreign commingled trust fund		9,998		-
Foreign equity fund		79,666		87,336
Foreign index fund		29,643		43,711
Commodity fund		13,480		16,451
Mortgage-backed securities		12,913		12,950
Private equity investments		546		922
Cash and cash equivalents		18,834		27,456
Accrued investment income		1,557		1,640
Total assets	$	697,240	$	705,482

		2014								2013
(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies	$	-	$	210,549	$	-	$	210,549	$	-	$	198,992	$	-	$	198,992
Corporate bonds and debentures		-		50,708		-		50,708		-		43,885		-		43,885
Equity securities		241,458		-		-		241,458		238,792		-		-		238,792
Index fund - equity		27,888		-		-		27,888		33,347		-		-		33,347
Foreign commingled trust fund		-		9,998		-		9,998		-		-		-		-
Foreign equity fund		-		79,666		-		79,666		-		87,336		-		87,336
Foreign index fund		-		29,643		-		29,643		-		43,711		-		43,711
Commodity fund		-		13,480		-		13,480		-		16,451		-		16,451
Mortgage-backed securities		-		12,913		-		12,913		-		12,950		-		12,950
Private equity investments		-		-		546		546		-		-		922		922
Cash and cash equivalents		18,834		-		-		18,834		27,456		-		-		27,456
Accrued investment income		-		-		1,557		1,557		-		-		1,640		1,640
Total assets	$	288,180	$	406,957	$	2,103	$	697,240	$	299,595	$	403,325	$	2,562	$	705,482

Schedule Of Effect Of Significant Unobservable Inputs Changes In Plan Assets Table Text Block

(In thousands)			2014		2013
Balance at beginning of year		$	2,562	$	2,848
Actual return on plan assets:
	Change in unrealized (loss) gain relating to instruments still held at the reporting date		(459)		(286)
	Actual return on plan assets (gain (loss)) relating to instruments sold during the year		-		-
Settlements			-		-
Transfers in and / or out of Level 3			-		-
Balance at end of year		$	2,103	$	2,562

Schedule Of Information Popular Inc Shares Of Common Stock Held By The Plans [Table Text Block]

		2014		2013
Shares of Popular, Inc. common stock		274,572		274,572
Fair value of shares of Popular, Inc. common stock	$	9,349,177	$	7,888,454
Dividends paid on shares of Popular, Inc. common stock held by the plan	$	-	$	-

Schedule Of Aggregate Status Of The Plans And The Amounts Recognized In The Consolidated Financial Statements [Table Text Block]

		Pension plan				Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2014		2013		2014		2013
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	653,396	$	751,605	$	36,096	$	40,051
Interest cost		29,844		27,863		1,659		1,493
Actuarial (gain) loss		131,610		(76,997)		6,238		(4,169)
Benefits paid		(37,035)		(49,075)		(1,329)		(1,279)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	777,815	$	653,396	$	42,664	$	36,096
Change in fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	671,299	$	625,519	$	34,183	$	30,616
Actual return on plan assets		28,501		94,855		1,570		4,795
Employer contributions		-		-		51		51
Benefits paid		(37,035)		(49,075)		(1,329)		(1,279)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	662,765	$	671,299	$	34,475	$	34,183
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net loss	$	289,233	$	147,677	$	13,588	$	6,928
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL)	$	289,233	$	147,677	$	13,588	$	6,928
Reconciliation of net assets (liabilities):
Net liabilities at beginning of year	$	17,903	$	(126,086)	$	(1,912)	$	(9,434)
Amount recognized in AOCL at beginning of year, pre-tax		147,677		297,765		6,928		15,055
Amount prepaid at beginning of year		165,580		171,679		5,016		5,621
Net periodic benefit income (cost)		8,603		(6,099)		332		(656)
Contributions		-		-		51		51
Amount prepaid at end of year		174,183		165,580		5,399		5,016
Amount recognized in AOCL		(289,233)		(147,677)		(13,588)		(6,928)
Net assets (liabilities) at end of year	$	(115,050)	$	17,903	$	(8,189)	$	(1,912)

Schedule Of Breakdown Of Pension And Restoration Plans Assets And Liabilities [Table Text Block]

		Pension plan				Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2014		2013		2014		2013
Non-current assets	$	-	$	17,903	$	0	$	504
Current liabilities		-		-		173		51
Non-current liabilities		115,050		-		8,016		2,365

Schedule Of Accumulated Benefit Obligations In Excess Of Fair Value Of Plan Assets Table Text Block

		Pension plan				Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2014		2013		2014		2013
Projected benefit obligation	$	777,815	$	-	$	42,664	$	2,416
Accumulated benefit obligation		777,815		-		42,664		2,416
Fair value of plan assets		662,765		-		34,475		-

Schedule Of Actuarial Assumptions Used To Determine The Benefit Obligation [Table Text Block]

	Pension plan				Benefit restoration plans
	2014		2013		2014		2013
Discount rate	3.90	%	4.70	%	3.90	%	4.70	%

Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]

	Pension plan						Benefit restoration plans
	2014		2013		2012		2014		2013		2012
Discount rate	4.70	%	3.80	%	4.40	%	4.70	%	3.80	%	4.40	%
Expected return on plan assets	7.25	%	7.25	%	7.60	%	7.25	%	7.25	%	7.60	%

Schedule Of Employer Contribution To Benefit Plan [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)		2015
Pension plan	$	-
Benefit restoration plans	$	173

Schedule Of Changes In Accumulated Postemployment Benefit Obligations Table Text Block

(In thousands)		2014		2013
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of the year	$	145,732	$	183,611
Service cost		1,457		2,257
Interest cost		6,846		6,848
Amendments		-		(18,670)
Benefits paid		(5,688)		(7,066)
Actuarial (gain) loss		13,471	$	(21,248)
Benefit obligation end of year	$	161,818		145,732
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net prior service cost	$	(14,870)	$	(18,670)
Net loss		25,817		12,346
Accumulated other comprehensive (gain) loss	$	10,947	$	(6,324)
Reconciliation of net liability:
Net liability at beginning of year	$	(145,732)	$	(183,611)
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of year, pre-tax		(6,324)		35,486
Amount accrued at beginning of year		(152,056)		(148,125)
Net periodic benefit cost		(4,503)		(10,997)
Contributions		5,688		7,066
Amount accrued at end of year		(150,871)		(152,056)
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)		(10,947)		6,324
Net liability at end of year	$	(161,818)	$	(145,732)

Schedule Of Breakdown Postretirement Health Care Benefit Plan Liabilities [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)		2014		2013
Current liabilities	$	5,820	$	6,199
Non-current liabilities		155,998		139,532

Schedule Of Discount Rate Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates Used To Determined The Benefit Obligation And Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Table Text Block]

To determine benefit obligation:		2014		2013
Discount rate		4.00	%	4.80	%
Initial health care cost trend rates		7.00	%	7.50	%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate		5.00	%	5.00	%
Year that the ultimate trend rate is reached		2019		2019
To determine net periodic benefit cost:		2014		2013		2012
Discount rate		4.80	%	3.80	%	4.40	%
Initial health care cost trend rates:
	Medicare Advantage plans	7.50	%	6.50	%	25.00	%
	All other plans	7.50		6.50		7.00
Ultimate health care cost trend rate		5.00	%	5.00	%	5.00	%
Year that the ultimate trend rate is reached		2019		2016		2016

Schedule Of Effect Of One Percentage Point Change In Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Table Text Block]

		1-percentage point		1-percentage point
(In thousands)		increase		decrease
Effect on total service cost and interest cost components	$	290	$	(363)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	$	8,449	$	(9,955)

Schedule Of Accumulated Benefit Obligations Less Than Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

		Pension plan				Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2014		2013		2014		2013
Projected benefit obligation	$	-	$	653,396	$	-	$	33,680
Accumulated benefit obligation		-		653,396		-		33,680
Fair value of plan assets		-		671,299		-		34,183

Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]

Schedule Of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Loss Table Text Block

(In thousands)			Pension plan				Benefit restoration plans
			2014		2013		2014		2013
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of year		$	147,677	$	297,765	$	6,928	$	15,055
Increase (decrease) in AOCL:
Recognized during the year:
	Amortization of actuarial losses		(8,074)		(21,452)		(431)		(1,330)
Occurring during the year:
	Net actuarial (gains) losses		149,630		(128,636)		7,091		(6,797)
Total (decrease) increase in AOCL			141,556		(150,088)		6,660		(8,127)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of year		$	289,233	$	147,677	$	13,588	$	6,928

Schedule Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Not Yet Recognized Table Text Block

(In thousands)		Pension plan		Benefit restoration plans
Net loss	$	17,859	$	1,244

Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs Table Text Block

		Pension plan						Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2014		2013		2012		2014		2013		2012
Interest cost	$	29,844	$	27,863	$	29,981	$	1,659	$	1,493	$	1,572
Expected return on plan assets		(46,521)		(43,216)		(39,240)		(2,422)		(2,167)		(2,105)
Recognized net actuarial loss		8,074		21,452		21,703		431		1,330		1,294
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost	$	(8,603)	$	6,099	$	12,444	$	(332)	$	656	$	761

Schedule Of Expected Benefit Payments Table Text Block

(In thousands)		Pension plan		Benefit restoration plans
2015	$	36,977	$	1,763
2016		37,473		1,914
2017		38,129		2,058
2018		38,786		2,161
2019		39,483		2,304
2020 - 2024		205,506		12,126

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Defined Benefit [Member]

Schedule Of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Loss Table Text Block

(In thousands)			2014		2013
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at beginning of year		$	(6,324)	$	35,486
Increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive loss :
Recognized during the year:
	Prior service credit		3,800		-
	Amortization of actuarial losses		-		(1,892)
Occurring during the year:
	Prior service cost (credit)		-		(18,670)
	Net actuarial (gains) losses		13,471		(21,248)
Total increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive loss			17,271		(41,810)
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at end of year		$	10,947	$	(6,324)

Schedule Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Not Yet Recognized Table Text Block

(In thousands)		2015
Net prior service credit	$	(3,800)
Net loss	$	996

Schedule Of Accumulated Benefit Obligations In Excess Of Fair Value Of Plan Assets Table Text Block

(In thousands)		2014		2013
Projected benefit obligation	$	161,818	$	145,732
Accumulated benefit obligation		161,818		145,732
Fair value of plan assets		-		-

Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs Table Text Block

(In thousands)		2014		2013		2012
Service cost	$	1,457	$	2,257	$	2,190
Interest cost		6,846		6,848		7,801
Amortization of prior service credit		(3,800)		-		(200)
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)		-		1,892		2,162
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4,503	$	10,997	$	11,953

Schedule Of Expected Benefit Payments Table Text Block

(In thousands)
2015	$	5,820
2016		5,998
2017		6,290
2018		6,565
2019		6,844
2020 - 2024		37,668

Schedule of Net Funded Status

(In thousands)		2014		2013
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	(161,818)	$	(145,732)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		-		-
Funded status at year end		(161,818)		(145,732)

Pensions And Benefit Restoration Plans [Member]

Schedule of Net Funded Status

	Pension Plan					Tax Qualified Restoration Plan			Benefit Restoration Plan
(In thousands)		2014		2013		2014		2013		2014		2013
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	(777,815)	$	(653,396)	$	(39,768)	$	(33,679)	$	(2,896)	$	(2,416)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		662,765		671,299		34,475		34,183		-		-
Funded status at year end	$	(115,050)	$	17,903	$	(5,293)	$	504	$	(2,896)	$	(2,416)