Note Income taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Taxes
Deferred Tax Assets Net	$ 1,275,017	$ 1,302,452
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Accrued	3,700	3,200
Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	12,000	11,200
Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit	3,300
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Current Interest On Income Taxes Accrued	485	57
Deferred Tax Liabilities	203,225	183,302
Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance	637,911	642,727
Other liabilities
Income Taxes
Deferred Tax Liabilities	649	649
PUERTO RICO
Income Taxes
Deferred Tax Assets Net	730,000
UNITED STATES
Income Taxes
Deferred Tax Assets Net		$ 1,200,000
Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance	602,000
Popular, Inc. Holding Co. | PUERTO RICO
Income Taxes
Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance	$ 36,000