Income taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)		2014		2013		2012
Current income tax expense:
Puerto Rico	$	7,814	$	27,118	$	108,090
Federal and States		6,953		10,309		998
Subtotal		14,767		37,427		109,088
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Puerto Rico		12,569		(90,796)		(138,632)
Federal and States		2,861		(491)		3,141
Valuation allowance-Initial recognition		8,034		-		-
Adjustment for enacted changes in income tax laws		20,048		(197,467)		-
Subtotal		43,512		(288,754)		(135,491)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	58,279	$	(251,327)	$	(26,403)

Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities Table Text Block

(In thousands)			December 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
Deferred tax assets:
Tax credits available for carryforward		$	12,056	$	8,195
Net operating loss and other carryforward available			1,261,413		1,269,523
Postretirement and pension benefits			111,677		51,742
Deferred loan origination fees			7,720		7,164
Allowance for loan losses			710,666		760,956
Deferred gains			7,500		9,313
Accelerated depreciation			7,915		7,577
Intercompany deferred gains			2,988		3,235
Other temporary differences			27,755		34,443
	Total gross deferred tax assets		2,149,690		2,152,148
Deferred tax liabilities:
Differences between the assigned values and the tax basis of assets and liabilities
	recognized in purchase business combinations		37,804		37,938
FDIC-assisted transaction			81,335		79,381
Unrealized net gain on trading and available-for-sale securities			20,817		3,822
Other temporary differences			18,093		13,387
	Total gross deferred tax liabilities		158,049		134,528
Valuation allowance			1,212,748		1,257,977
Net deferred tax asset		$	778,893	$	759,643

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)
2016	$	-
2017	$	3,312
2018		14,928
2019		1
2020		-
2021		76
2022		971
2023		1,248
2024		10,963
2027		51,452
2028		511,561
2029		198,224
2030		197,090
2031		139,512
2032		25,276
2033		1,757
	$	1,156,371

Summary Of Income Tax Contingencies Text Block

(In millions)
Balance at January 1, 2013	$	13.4
Additions for tax positions related to 2013		1.2
Additions for tax positions taken in prior years		0.9
Reduction as a result of lapse of statute of limitations		(5.7)
Balance at December 31, 2013	$	9.8
Additions for tax positions related to 2014		1.1
Reduction as a result of lapse of statute of limitations		(2.5)
Reduction for tax positions of prior years		(0.4)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	8.0

PUERTO RICO

Schedule Of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Table Text Block

			2014				2013				2012
(In thousands)			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income
Computed income tax at statutory rates		$	(51,570)	39	%	$	135,720	39	%	$	65,662	30	%
Benefit of net tax exempt interest income			(55,862)	43			(36,993)	(11)			(25,540)	(12)
Effect of income subject to preferential
	tax rate [1]		(21,909)	18			(137,793)	(40)			(78,132)	(36)
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance			(4,281)	3			(32,990)	(9)			166	-
Non-deductible expenses [2]			178,219	(135)			32,115	9			23,093	11
Difference in tax rates due to multiple
	jurisdictions		(14,178)	10			(12,029)	(3)			(6,034)	(3)
Initial adjustment in deferred tax due to
	change in tax rate		20,048	(16)			(197,467)	(57)			-	-
Recognition of tax benefits from previous
Unrecognized tax benefits			(3,601)	3			(7,727)	(2)			(8,985)	(4)
Others			11,413	(9)			5,837	2			3,367	2
Income tax expense (benefit)		$	58,279	(44)	%	$	(251,327)	(72)	%	$	(26,403)	(12)	%

			2014				2013				2012
(In thousands)			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income			Amount	% of pre-tax income
Computed income tax at statutory rates		$	(51,570)	39	%	$	135,720	39	%	$	65,662	30	%
Benefit of net tax exempt interest income			(55,862)	43			(36,993)	(11)			(25,540)	(12)
Effect of income subject to preferential
	tax rate [1]		(21,909)	18			(137,793)	(40)			(78,132)	(36)
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance			(4,281)	3			(32,990)	(9)			166	-
Non-deductible expenses [2]			178,219	(135)			32,115	9			23,093	11
Difference in tax rates due to multiple
	jurisdictions		(14,178)	10			(12,029)	(3)			(6,034)	(3)
Initial adjustment in deferred tax due to
	change in tax rate		20,048	(16)			(197,467)	(57)			-	-
Recognition of tax benefits from previous
Unrecognized tax benefits			(3,601)	3			(7,727)	(2)			(8,985)	(4)
Others			11,413	(9)			5,837	2			3,367	2
Income tax expense (benefit)		$	58,279	(44)	%	$	(251,327)	(72)	%	$	(26,403)	(12)	%