Note Segment reporting (Selected Balance Sheet information) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets		$ 36,147,009	$ 35,761,733
Deposits		27,526,593	27,209,723
PUERTO RICO
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets		27,150,601	26,764,184
Loans		17,370,172	17,477,070
Deposits		21,015,800	20,893,232
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets		8,063,912	7,859,217
Loans		5,121,648	4,873,504
Deposits		5,445,760	5,288,886
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets		932,496	1,138,332
Loans		766,362	778,656
Deposits	[1]	$ 1,065,033	$ 1,027,605

[1] Represents deposits from BPPR operations located in the US and British Virgin Islands.