Employee benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Schedule Of Allocation Of Plan Assets Table Text Block

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

(In thousands)		2015		2014
Obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies	$	165,960	$	210,549
Corporate bonds and debentures		79,175		50,708
Equity securities		218,894		241,458
Index fund - equity		32,540		27,888
Foreign commingled trust fund		79,046		89,664
Foreign index fund		26,835		29,643
Commodity fund		10,016		13,480
Mortgage-backed securities		16,315		12,913
Private equity investments		400		546
Cash and cash equivalents		13,540		18,834
Accrued investment income		1,693		1,557
Total assets	$	644,414	$	697,240

		2015								2014
(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	$	-	$	165,960	$	-	$	165,960	$	-	$	210,549	$	-	$	210,549
Corporate bonds and debentures		-		79,175		-		79,175		-		50,708		-		50,708
Equity securities		218,894		-		-		218,894		241,458		-		-		241,458
Index fund - equity		32,540		-		-		32,540		27,888		-		-		27,888
Foreign commingled trust fund		-		79,046		-		79,046		-		89,664		-		89,664
Foreign index fund		-		26,835		-		26,835		-		29,643		-		29,643
Commodity fund		-		10,016		-		10,016		-		13,480		-		13,480
Mortgage-backed securities		-		16,315		-		16,315		-		12,913		-		12,913
Private equity investments		-		-		400		400		-		-		546		546
Cash and cash equivalents		13,540		-		-		13,540		18,834		-		-		18,834
Accrued investment income		-		-		1,693		1,693		-		-		1,557		1,557
Total assets	$	264,974	$	377,347	$	2,093	$	644,414	$	288,180	$	406,957	$	2,103	$	697,240

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

(In thousands)			2015		2014
Balance at beginning of year		$	2,103	$	2,562
Actual return on plan assets:
	Change in unrealized (loss) gain relating to instruments still held at the reporting date		-		(459)
Purchases, sales, issuance, settlements, paydowns and maturities (net)			(10)		-
Balance at end of year		$	2,093	$	2,103

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

		2015		2014
Shares of Popular, Inc. common stock		275,996		274,572
Fair value of shares of Popular, Inc. common stock	$	7,821,713	$	9,349,177
Dividends paid on shares of Popular, Inc. common stock held by the plan	$	41,399	$	-

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)		2015		2014		2015		2014
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	777,815	$	653,396	$	42,664	$	36,096
Interest cost		29,613		29,844		1,630		1,659
Actuarial (gain) loss		(34,538)		131,610		(1,738)		6,238
Benefits paid		(36,750)		(37,035)		(1,783)		(1,329)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	736,140	$	777,815	$	40,773	$	42,664
Change in fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	662,765	$	671,299	$	34,475	$	34,183
Actual return on plan assets		(13,732)		28,501		(734)		1,570
Employer contributions		-		-		173		51
Benefits paid		(36,750)		(37,035)		(1,783)		(1,329)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	612,283	$	662,765	$	32,131	$	34,475
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net loss	$	294,792	$	289,233	$	13,699	$	13,588
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL)	$	294,792	$	289,233	$	13,699	$	13,588
Reconciliation of net (liabilities) assets:
Net (liabilities) assets at beginning of year	$	(115,050)	$	17,903	$	(8,189)	$	(1,912)
Amount recognized in AOCL at beginning of year, pre-tax		289,233		147,677		13,588		6,928
Amount prepaid at beginning of year		174,183		165,580		5,399		5,016
Net periodic benefit income (cost)		(3,248)		8,603		(515)		332
Contributions		-		-		173		51
Amount prepaid at end of year		170,935		174,183		5,057		5,399
Amount recognized in AOCL		(294,792)		(289,233)		(13,699)		(13,588)
Net (liabilities) assets at end of year	$	(123,857)	$	(115,050)	$	(8,642)	$	(8,189)

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

		Pension plan				Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2015		2014		2015		2014
Current liabilities	$	-	$	-	$	173	$	173
Non-current liabilities		123,857		115,050		8,469		8,016

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

		Pension plan				Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2015		2014		2015		2014
Projected benefit obligation	$	736,140	$	777,815	$	40,773	$	42,664
Accumulated benefit obligation		736,140		777,815		40,773		42,664
Fair value of plan assets		612,283		662,765		32,131		34,475

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

	Pension plan				Tax qualified restoration plans				Benefit restoration plans
	2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
Discount rate	4.27	%	3.90	%	4.23	%	3.90	%	4.20	%	3.90	%

Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]

	Pension plan						Benefit restoration plans
	2015		2014		2013		2015		2014		2013
Discount rate	3.90	%	4.70	%	3.80	%	3.90	%	4.70	%	3.80	%
Expected return on plan assets	7.00	%	7.25	%	7.25	%	7.00	%	7.25	%	7.25	%

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

(In thousands)		2016
Pension plan	$	-
Benefit restoration plans	$	173

Schedule Of Changes In Accumulated Postemployment Benefit Obligations Table Text Block

(In thousands)		2015		2014
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of the year	$	161,818	$	145,732
Service cost		1,470		1,457
Interest cost		6,356		6,846
Benefits paid		(5,360)		(5,688)
Actuarial loss		1,715	$	13,471
Benefit obligation end of year	$	165,999		161,818
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net prior service cost	$	(11,070)	$	(14,870)
Net loss		26,536		25,817
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	15,466	$	10,947
Reconciliation of net liability:
Net liability at beginning of year	$	(161,818)	$	(145,732)
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of year, pre-tax		10,947		(6,324)
Amount accrued at beginning of year		(150,871)		(152,056)
Net periodic benefit cost		(5,022)		(4,503)
Contributions		5,360		5,688
Amount accrued at end of year		(150,533)		(150,871)
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss		(15,466)		(10,947)
Net liability at end of year	$	(165,999)	$	(161,818)

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

(In thousands)		2015		2014
Current liabilities	$	6,417	$	5,820
Non-current liabilities		159,582		155,998

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 at year ended December 31:	2015		2014
Discount rate	4.37	%	4.00	%
Initial health care cost trend rate	6.50	%	7.00	%
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 for the year ended December 31:	2015		2014		2013
Discount rate	4.00	%	4.80	%	3.80	%
Initial health care cost trend rate	7.00	%	7.50	%	6.50	%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	5.00	%	5.00	%	5.00	%
Year that the ultimate trend rate is reached	2019		2019		2016

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

		December 31, 2015
		1-percentage point		1-percentage point
(In thousands)		increase		decrease
Effect on total service cost and interest cost components for the year ended	$	369	$	(474)
Effect on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at year end	$	5,307	$	(5,760)

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
			2015		2014		2015		2014
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of year		$	289,233	$	147,677	$	13,588	$	6,928
Increase (decrease) in AOCL:
Recognized during the year:
	Amortization of actuarial losses		(17,860)		(8,074)		(1,244)		(431)
Occurring during the year:
	Net actuarial (gains) losses		23,419		149,630		1,355		7,091
Total (decrease) increase in AOCL			5,559		141,556		111		6,660
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of year		$	294,792	$	289,233	$	13,699	$	13,588

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

(In thousands)		Pension plan		Benefit restoration plans
Net actuarial loss	$	19,520	$	1,327

Schedule Of Expected Benefit Payments Table Text Block

(In thousands)		Pension plan		Benefit restoration plans
2016	$	37,797	$	1,838
2017		38,467		2,014
2018		39,114		2,131
2019		39,803		2,309
2020		40,410		2,357
2021 - 2025		208,919		12,350

Schedule of Net Funded Status

	Pension Plan				Benefit Restoration Plan
(In thousands)		2015		2014		2015		2014
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	(736,140)	$	(777,815)	$	(40,773)	$	(42,664)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		612,283		662,765		32,131		34,475
Funded status at year end	$	(123,857)	$	(115,050)	$	(8,642)	$	(8,189)

Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs Table Text Block

		Pension plan						Benefit restoration plans
(In thousands)		2015		2014		2013		2015		2014		2013
Interest cost	$	29,613	$	29,844	$	27,863	$	1,630	$	1,659	$	1,493
Expected return on plan assets		(44,225)		(46,521)		(43,216)		(2,359)		(2,422)		(2,167)
Recognized net actuarial loss		17,860		8,074		21,452		1,244		431		1,330
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost	$	3,248	$	(8,603)	$	6,099	$	515	$	(332)	$	656

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Defined Benefit [Member]

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

(In thousands)			2015		2014
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at beginning of year		$	10,947	$	(6,324)
Increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive loss :
Recognized during the year:
	Prior service credit		3,800		3,800
	Amortization of actuarial losses		(996)		-
Occurring during the year:
	Net actuarial (gains) losses		1,715		13,471
Total increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive loss			4,519		17,271
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at end of year		$	15,466	$	10,947

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

(In thousands)		2016
Net prior service credit	$	(3,800)
Net actuarial loss	$	1,099

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

(In thousands)		2015		2014
Projected benefit obligation	$	165,999	$	161,818
Accumulated benefit obligation		165,999		161,818
Fair value of plan assets		-		-

Schedule Of Expected Benefit Payments Table Text Block

(In thousands)
2016	$	6,417
2017		6,739
2018		7,054
2019		7,357
2020		7,632
2021 - 2025		42,234

Schedule of Net Funded Status

(In thousands)		2015		2014
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	(165,999)	$	(161,818)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		-		-
Funded status at year end		(165,999)		(161,818)

Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs Table Text Block

(In thousands)		2015		2014		2013
Service cost	$	1,470	$	1,457	$	2,257
Interest cost		6,356		6,846		6,848
Amortization of prior service credit		(3,800)		(3,800)		-
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)		996		-		1,892
Net periodic benefit cost	$	5,022	$	4,503	$	10,997