Note Segment reporting (Geographic information) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue	[1]	$ 464,042	$ 458,430
PUERTO RICO
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue	[1]	380,036	385,054
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue	[1]	64,640	56,710
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Revenue	[1]	$ 19,366	$ 16,666

[1] Total revenues include net interest income (expense) , service charges on deposit accounts, other service fees, mortgage banking activities, net gain (loss) and valuation adjustments on investment securities, trading account (loss) profit, net (loss) gain on sale of loans and valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale, adjustments to indemnity reserves on loans sold, FDIC loss share ( expense ) income and other operating income .