Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses			$ 116,269,000	$ 134,750,000
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold			(4,107,000)	(17,801,000)
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Amortization of intangibles			4,985,000	5,007,000
Restructuring Charges					$ 26,700,000
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries			0
Net Income	$ 597,452,000	$ (511,314,000)	672,278,000	(424,905,000)
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	572,821,000	(485,330,000)	683,119,000	(366,451,000)
Restructuring Charges Member
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	2,866,000		12,232,000
Occupancy Net	2,660,000		3,046,000
Equipment Expense	66,000		224,000
Professional fees	315,000		781,000
Other operating expenses	267,000		644,000
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Loans	374,133,000	380,986,000	729,764,000	758,588,000
Money market investments	1,845,000	1,131,000	3,291,000	2,104,000
Investment securities	31,297,000	33,989,000	61,598,000	69,116,000
Trading account securities	3,026,000	5,344,000	5,722,000	10,601,000
Total interest income	410,301,000	421,450,000	800,375,000	840,409,000
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	26,258,000	26,223,000	52,122,000	53,081,000
Short-term borrowings	1,863,000	8,892,000	3,597,000	17,932,000
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	19,627,000	445,716,000	38,908,000	477,606,000
Total interest expense	47,748,000	480,831,000	94,627,000	548,619,000
Net interest income	362,553,000	(59,381,000)	705,748,000	291,790,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	286,319,000	(121,059,000)	589,479,000	150,276,000
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	40,138,000	39,237,000	79,155,000	78,596,000
Other service fees	59,421,000	56,468,000	113,047,000	109,286,000
Mortgage banking activities	21,325,000	3,788,000	34,177,000	7,466,000
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	5,000	0	5,000	0
Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net	(14,445,000)	0	(14,445,000)	0
Trading account profit	(3,108,000)	1,055,000	(2,694,000)	3,032,000
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	681,000	9,659,000	602,000	14,052,000
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	419,000	(7,454,000)	(4,107,000)	(17,801,000)
F D I C Loss Share Income	19,075,000	(55,261,000)	23,214,000	(79,467,000)
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	17,248,000	15,297,000	27,040,000	43,657,000
Total non-interest income	140,759,000	62,789,000	255,994,000	158,821,000
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	120,977,000	99,100,000	237,435,000	203,401,000
Occupancy Net	23,286,000	20,267,000	44,995,000	41,627,000
Equipment Expense	15,925,000	12,044,000	29,336,000	23,456,000
Taxes Other	11,113,000	13,543,000	19,687,000	27,206,000
Professional fees	78,449,000	67,024,000	153,977,000	134,023,000
Communication	6,153,000	6,425,000	12,329,000	13,110,000
Marketing And Advertising Expense	13,776,000	16,038,000	24,589,000	27,424,000
FDIC deposit insurance	8,542,000	10,480,000	14,940,000	21,458,000
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	44,816,000	3,410,000	67,885,000	9,850,000
Other operating expenses	31,082,000	20,509,000	48,430,000	42,858,000
Amortization of intangibles	2,881,000	2,025,000	4,985,000	4,051,000
Total operating expenses	363,174,000	275,439,000	675,515,000	553,038,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	63,904,000	(333,709,000)	169,958,000	(243,941,000)
Income tax expense	(533,533,000)	(4,124,000)	(500,964,000)	19,140,000
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	597,437,000	(329,585,000)	670,922,000	(263,081,000)
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	597,437,000	(329,585,000)	670,922,000	(263,081,000)
Net Income	597,437,000	(329,585,000)	670,922,000	(263,081,000)
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Restructuring Charges Member
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Restructuring Charges	6,174,000	4,574,000	16,927,000	4,574,000
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	60,468,000	50,074,000	90,179,000	104,196,000
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	15,766,000	11,604,000	26,090,000	37,318,000
Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Net interest income	0	19,092,000	0	40,889,000
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	(6,764,000)
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	0	9,388,000,000	0	19,921,000,000
Total non-interest income	0	9,388,000,000	0	19,921,000,000
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	(9,000)	12,117,000	(9,000)	20,969,000
Occupancy Net	0	2,845,000	0	7,176,000
Professional fees	(7,000)	5,903,000	(1,348,000)	8,696,000
Other operating expenses	1,000	2,833,000	1,000	6,046,000
Total operating expenses	(15,000)	210,209,000	(1,356,000)	229,398,000
Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax	15,000	(181,729,000)	1,356,000	(161,824,000)
Equity In Undistributed Earnings Losses Of Discontinued Operations			0	0
Popular, Inc. Holding Co.
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses			227,000	(176,000)
Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net			0
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold			0	0
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Amortization of intangibles			0	0
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries			691,084,000	39,498,000
Net Income	597,452,000	(511,314,000)	672,278,000	(424,905,000)
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	572,821,000	(485,330,000)	683,119,000	(366,451,000)
Popular, Inc. Holding Co. | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	1,500,000	0	3,000,000	0
Loans	169,000	498,000	309,000	1,060,000
Money market investments	2,000	5,000	4,000	12,000
Investment securities	190,000	165,000	333,000	331,000
Trading account securities	0	0	0	0
Total interest income	1,861,000	668,000	3,646,000	1,403,000
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	0	0	0	0
Short-term borrowings	0	0	0	0
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	13,117,000	440,133,000	26,235,000	466,187,000
Total interest expense	13,117,000	440,133,000	26,235,000	466,187,000
Net interest income	(11,256,000)	(439,465,000)	(22,589,000)	(464,784,000)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	(11,483,000)	(439,497,000)	(22,816,000)	(464,608,000)
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	0	0	0	0
Other service fees	0	0	0	0
Mortgage banking activities	0	0	0	0
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	0	0	0	0
Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net	0		0
Trading account profit	(18,000)	52,000	22,000	73,000
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	0	0	0	0
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	0	0	0	0
F D I C Loss Share Income	0	0	0	0
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument			0
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	3,423,000	3,108,000	6,391,000	6,509,000
Total non-interest income	3,405,000	3,160,000	6,413,000	6,582,000
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	14,470,000	8,201,000	26,378,000	16,510,000
Occupancy Net	787,000	1,013,000	1,767,000	1,945,000
Equipment Expense	472,000	1,079,000	1,017,000	2,020,000
Taxes Other	652,000	176,000	(806,000)	360,000
Professional fees	2,323,000	2,266,000	5,097,000	5,312,000
Communication	108,000	122,000	225,000	249,000
Marketing And Advertising Expense	408,000	439,000	844,000	850,000
FDIC deposit insurance	0	0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			0	0
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(15,184,000)	(15,251,000)	(32,119,000)	(29,019,000)
Amortization of intangibles	0	0	0	0
Restructuring Charges	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	4,036,000	(1,955,000)	2,403,000	(1,773,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(12,114,000)	(434,382,000)	(18,806,000)	(456,253,000)
Income tax expense	(47,000)	8,984,000	0	8,150,000
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(12,067,000)	(443,366,000)	(18,806,000)	(464,403,000)
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	609,504,000	113,781,000	689,728,000	201,322,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	597,437,000	(329,585,000)	670,922,000	(263,081,000)
Popular, Inc. Holding Co. | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	227,000	32,000	227,000	(176,000)
Popular, Inc. Holding Co. | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Popular, Inc. Holding Co. | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	15,000	(181,729,000)
Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax	0	0	0	0
Equity In Undistributed Earnings Losses Of Discontinued Operations			1,356,000	(161,824,000)
PNA Holding Co.
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses			0	0
Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net			0
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold			0	0
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Amortization of intangibles			0	0
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries			561,651,000	(96,533,000)
Net Income	556,685,000	(138,057,000)	555,234,000	(103,753,000)
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	545,987,000	(125,882,000)	557,827,000	(80,011,000)
PNA Holding Co. | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Loans	2,000	0	2,000	0
Money market investments	1,000	2,000	3,000	5,000
Investment securities	80,000	81,000	161,000	161,000
Trading account securities	0	0	0	0
Total interest income	83,000	83,000	166,000	166,000
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	0	0	0	0
Short-term borrowings	127,000	89,000	228,000	306,000
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	2,695,000	2,706,000	5,390,000	5,413,000
Total interest expense	2,822,000	2,795,000	5,618,000	5,719,000
Net interest income	(2,739,000)	(2,712,000)	(5,452,000)	(5,553,000)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	(2,739,000)	(2,712,000)	(5,452,000)	(5,553,000)
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	0	0	0	0
Other service fees	0	0	0	0
Mortgage banking activities	0	0	0	0
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	0	0	0	0
Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net	0		0
Trading account profit	0	0	0	0
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	0	0	0	0
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	0	0	0	0
F D I C Loss Share Income	0	0	0	0
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument			0
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	524,000	(1,348,000)	(305,000)	(687,000)
Total non-interest income	524,000	(1,348,000)	(305,000)	(687,000)
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	0	0	0	0
Occupancy Net	0	0	0	0
Equipment Expense	0	0	0	0
Taxes Other	0	0	0	0
Professional fees	32,000	(241,000)	442,000	763,000
Communication	0	0	0	0
Marketing And Advertising Expense	0	0	0	0
FDIC deposit insurance	0	0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			0	0
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	109,000	108,000	218,000	217,000
Amortization of intangibles	0	0	0	0
Restructuring Charges	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	141,000	(133,000)	660,000	980,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(2,356,000)	(3,927,000)	(6,417,000)	(7,220,000)
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(2,356,000)	(3,927,000)	(6,417,000)	(7,220,000)
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	559,026,000	47,599,000	560,295,000	65,291,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	556,670,000	43,672,000	553,878,000	58,071,000
PNA Holding Co. | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
PNA Holding Co. | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
PNA Holding Co. | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	15,000	(181,729,000)
Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax	0	0	0	0
Equity In Undistributed Earnings Losses Of Discontinued Operations			1,356,000	(161,824,000)
Other Subsidiaries
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses			116,042,000	134,926,000
Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net			(14,445,000)
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold			(4,107,000)	(17,801,000)
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Amortization of intangibles			4,985,000	5,007,000
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries			0	0
Net Income	613,715,000	(63,673,000)	700,457,000	46,674,000
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	589,116,000	(37,918,000)	711,194,000	106,214,000
Other Subsidiaries | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Loans	374,109,000	380,966,000	729,722,000	758,547,000
Money market investments	1,844,000	1,131,000	3,288,000	2,103,000
Investment securities	31,027,000	33,743,000	61,104,000	68,624,000
Trading account securities	3,026,000	5,344,000	5,722,000	10,601,000
Total interest income	410,006,000	421,184,000	799,836,000	839,875,000
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	26,260,000	26,226,000	52,126,000	53,086,000
Short-term borrowings	1,883,000	9,285,000	3,638,000	18,656,000
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	3,815,000	2,877,000	7,283,000	6,006,000
Total interest expense	31,958,000	38,388,000	63,047,000	77,748,000
Net interest income	378,048,000	382,796,000	736,789,000	762,127,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	302,041,000	321,150,000	620,747,000	620,437,000
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	40,138,000	39,237,000	79,155,000	78,596,000
Other service fees	60,661,000	57,719,000	114,375,000	110,604,000
Mortgage banking activities	21,325,000	3,788,000	34,177,000	7,466,000
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	5,000	0	5,000	0
Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net	(14,445,000)		(14,445,000)
Trading account profit	(3,090,000)	1,003,000	(2,716,000)	2,959,000
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	681,000	9,659,000	602,000	14,052,000
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	419,000	(7,454,000)	(4,107,000)	(17,801,000)
F D I C Loss Share Income	19,075,000	(55,261,000)	23,214,000	(79,467,000)
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument			0
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	13,315,000	13,537,000	20,984,000	37,835,000
Total non-interest income	138,084,000	62,228,000	251,244,000	154,244,000
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	106,507,000	90,899,000	211,057,000	186,891,000
Occupancy Net	22,499,000	19,254,000	43,228,000	39,682,000
Equipment Expense	15,453,000	10,965,000	28,319,000	21,436,000
Taxes Other	10,461,000	13,367,000	20,493,000	26,846,000
Professional fees	76,154,000	65,053,000	148,586,000	128,069,000
Communication	6,045,000	6,303,000	12,104,000	12,861,000
Marketing And Advertising Expense	13,368,000	15,599,000	23,745,000	26,574,000
FDIC deposit insurance	8,542,000	10,480,000	14,940,000	21,458,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			0	0
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	44,816,000	3,410,000	67,885,000	9,850,000
Other operating expenses	46,795,000	36,280,000	81,614,000	72,931,000
Amortization of intangibles	2,881,000	2,025,000	4,985,000	4,051,000
Restructuring Charges	6,174,000	4,574,000	16,927,000	4,574,000
Total operating expenses	359,695,000	278,209,000	673,883,000	555,223,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	80,430,000	105,169,000	198,108,000	219,458,000
Income tax expense	(533,270,000)	(12,887,000)	(500,993,000)	10,960,000
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	613,700,000	118,056,000	699,101,000	208,498,000
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	613,700,000	118,056,000	699,101,000	208,498,000
Other Subsidiaries | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	60,241,000	50,042,000	89,952,000	104,372,000
Other Subsidiaries | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	15,766,000	11,604,000	26,090,000	37,318,000
Other Subsidiaries | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	0	0
Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax	15,000	(181,729,000)	1,356,000	(161,824,000)
Equity In Undistributed Earnings Losses Of Discontinued Operations			0	0
Elimination
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses			0	0
Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net			0
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold			0	0
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Amortization of intangibles			0	0
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries			(1,252,735,000)	57,035,000
Net Income	(1,170,400,000)	201,730,000	(1,255,691,000)	57,079,000
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax	(1,135,103,000)	163,800,000	(1,269,021,000)	(26,203,000)
Elimination | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Interest And Dividend Income Operating Abstract
Dividend income from subsidiaries	(1,500,000)	0	(3,000,000)	0
Loans	(147,000)	(478,000)	(269,000)	(1,019,000)
Money market investments	(2,000)	(7,000)	(4,000)	(16,000)
Investment securities	0	0	0	0
Trading account securities	0	0	0	0
Total interest income	(1,649,000)	(485,000)	(3,273,000)	(1,035,000)
Interest Expense Abstract
Deposits	(2,000)	(3,000)	(4,000)	(5,000)
Short-term borrowings	(147,000)	(482,000)	(269,000)	(1,030,000)
Interest Expense Long Term Debt	0	0	0	0
Total interest expense	(149,000)	(485,000)	(273,000)	(1,035,000)
Net interest income	(1,500,000)	0	(3,000,000)	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	(1,500,000)	0	(3,000,000)	0
Fees And Commissions Depositor Accounts	0	0	0	0
Other service fees	(1,240,000)	(1,251,000)	(1,328,000)	(1,318,000)
Mortgage banking activities	0	0	0	0
Sale and valuation adjustments of investment securities	0	0	0	0
Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net	0		0
Trading account profit	0	0	0	0
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale	0	0	0	0
Adjustments To Indemnity Reserves On Loans Sold	0	0	0	0
F D I C Loss Share Income	0	0	0	0
Fair value change in equity appreciation instrument			0
Noninterest Income Other Operating Income	(14,000)	0	(30,000)	0
Total non-interest income	(1,254,000)	(1,251,000)	(1,358,000)	(1,318,000)
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Labor And Related Expense	0	0	0	0
Occupancy Net	0	0	0	0
Equipment Expense	0	0	0	0
Taxes Other	0	0	0	0
Professional fees	(60,000)	(54,000)	(148,000)	(121,000)
Communication	0	0	0	0
Marketing And Advertising Expense	0	0	0	0
FDIC deposit insurance	0	0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			0	0
Other Real Estate Owned Expense Net Of Gain Loss On Sale Or Disposition	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	(638,000)	(628,000)	(1,283,000)	(1,271,000)
Amortization of intangibles	0	0	0	0
Restructuring Charges	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	(698,000)	(682,000)	(1,431,000)	(1,392,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(2,056,000)	(569,000)	(2,927,000)	74,000
Income tax expense	(216,000)	(221,000)	29,000	30,000
Income Loss Before Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries	(1,840,000)	(348,000)	(2,956,000)	44,000
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(1,168,530,000)	(161,380,000)	(1,250,023,000)	(266,613,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(1,170,370,000)	(161,728,000)	(1,252,979,000)	(266,569,000)
Elimination | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Non Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Elimination | Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Covered Under Loss Sharing Agreements With F D I C [Member]
Interest Expense Abstract
Provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Elimination | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Noninterest Expense Abstract
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(30,000)	363,458,000
Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax	$ 0	$ 0	0	0
Equity In Undistributed Earnings Losses Of Discontinued Operations			$ (2,712,000)	$ 323,648,000