Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flow (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	$ 84,999	$ 74,826
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Provision (reversal) for loan losses	44,835	40,035
Amortization of intangibles	3,114	2,104
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment	11,707	11,919
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees	(11,158)	(19,100)
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights	8,477	4,929
FDIC loss share (income) expense	3,146	(4,139)
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	4,098	4,526
Earnings from investments under the equity method	(7,089)	(2,301)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	23,218	23,380
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets	(1,946)	(978)
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities	(7,101)	(7,222)
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs	2,802	14,851
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	(66,451)	(121,929)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	22,253	27,547
Net originations on loans held-for-sale	(110,528)	(179,604)
Net (increase) decrease in:
Trading securities	176,598	177,942
Accrued income receivable	3,926	(13)
Other assets	20,996	(28,027)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable	(12,261)	(10,216)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation	1,536	1,019
Other liabilities	(17,010)	(19,377)
Total adjustments	93,162	(84,654)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	178,161	(9,828)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments	262,632	(484,829)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	(742,859)	(411,189)
Held-to-maturity	0	(250)
Other	(59,786)	(2,520)
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	239,399	385,672
Held-to-maturity	2,108	2,231
Other	41,664	30,785
Proceeds from sale of other investment securities	26,346	1,388
Net repayments on loans	13,335	154,794
Proceeds from sale of loans	1,128	19,127
Acquisition of loan portfolios	(212,798)	(49,510)
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements	88,588	132,265
Net cash received and acquired from business combination	0	711,051
Return of capital from equity method investments	206	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased	0	(2,400)
Acquisition of premises and equipment	(38,819)	(10,231)
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets	5,092	3,093
Foreclosed assets	14,513	40,161
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(359,251)	519,638
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits	318,550	265,906
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	(1,991)	(139,013)
Other short-term borrowings	5,170	(148,215)
Payments of notes payable	(108,452)	(419,487)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable	28,883	46,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	2,109	1,405
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	0
Dividends paid	(16,473)	(620)
Net payments for repurchase of common stock	(757)	(1,105)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	227,039	(395,129)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks	45,949	114,681
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	363,674	381,095
Cash and due from banks at end of period	409,623	495,776
Popular, Inc. Holding Co.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	84,999	74,826
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	(64,477)	(81,565)
Provision (reversal) for loan losses	(34)	0
Amortization of intangibles	0	0
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment	177	194
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees	521	0
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	0	0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0
Earnings from investments under the equity method	(3,256)	(2,968)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	3	0
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets	0	0
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities	0	0
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs	0	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Net originations on loans held-for-sale	0	0
Net (increase) decrease in:
Trading securities	(101)	(126)
Accrued income receivable	12	(56)
Other assets	1	3,716
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable	(7,875)	(7,875)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation	0	0
Other liabilities	(4,622)	(12,816)
Total adjustments	(79,651)	(101,496)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	5,348	(26,670)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments	6,952	(38)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	0	0
Held-to-maturity		0
Other	0	0
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	0	0
Held-to-maturity	0	0
Other	0	0
Proceeds from sale of other investment securities	0	0
Net repayments on loans	8	10,392
Proceeds from sale of loans	0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios	0	0
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements	0	0
Net cash received and acquired from business combination		0
Return of capital from equity method investments	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased		0
Acquisition of premises and equipment	(398)	(242)
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets	46	3
Foreclosed assets	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	6,608	10,115
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits	0	0
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	0	0
Other short-term borrowings	0	0
Payments of notes payable	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	2,109	1,405
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	0
Dividends paid	(16,473)	(620)
Net payments for repurchase of common stock	(757)	(1,105)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(15,121)	(320)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks	(3,165)	(16,875)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	24,298	20,448
Cash and due from banks at end of period	21,133	3,573
PNA Holding Co.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	6,346	(1,450)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	(8,923)	(2,610)
Provision (reversal) for loan losses	0	0
Amortization of intangibles	0	0
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment	0	0
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees	8	0
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	0	0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0
Earnings from investments under the equity method	1,303	828
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(1,387)	0
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets	0	0
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities	0	0
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs	0	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Net originations on loans held-for-sale	0	0
Net (increase) decrease in:
Trading securities	0	0
Accrued income receivable	79	81
Other assets	21	28
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable	(2,685)	(2,629)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation	0	0
Other liabilities	(382)	(7)
Total adjustments	(11,966)	(4,309)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(5,620)	(5,759)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments	5,412	(1,457)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	0	0
Held-to-maturity		0
Other	0	0
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	0	0
Held-to-maturity	0	0
Other	0	0
Proceeds from sale of other investment securities	0	0
Net repayments on loans	0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans	0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios	0	0
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements	0	0
Net cash received and acquired from business combination		0
Return of capital from equity method investments	206
Mortgage servicing rights purchased		0
Acquisition of premises and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets	0	0
Foreclosed assets	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	5,618	(1,457)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits	0	0
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	0	0
Other short-term borrowings	0	7,214
Payments of notes payable	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	0
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Net payments for repurchase of common stock	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	0	7,214
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks	(2)	(2)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	600	608
Cash and due from banks at end of period	598	606
All other subsidiaries and eliminations
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	96,422	86,742
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Provision (reversal) for loan losses	44,869	40,035
Amortization of intangibles	3,114	2,104
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment	11,530	11,725
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees	(11,687)	(19,100)
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights	8,477	4,929
FDIC loss share (income) expense	3,146	(4,139)
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	4,098	4,526
Earnings from investments under the equity method	(5,136)	(161)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	24,389	23,135
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets	(1,946)	(978)
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities	(7,101)	(7,222)
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs	2,802	14,851
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	(66,451)	(121,929)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	22,253	27,547
Net originations on loans held-for-sale	(110,528)	(179,604)
Net (increase) decrease in:
Trading securities	176,699	178,068
Accrued income receivable	3,842	(94)
Other assets	22,194	(27,900)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable	(1,708)	344
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation	1,536	1,019
Other liabilities	(12,681)	(9,797)
Total adjustments	111,711	(62,641)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	208,133	24,101
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments	262,679	(484,791)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	(742,859)	(411,189)
Held-to-maturity		(250)
Other	(59,786)	(2,520)
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	239,399	385,672
Held-to-maturity	2,108	2,231
Other	41,664	30,785
Proceeds from sale of other investment securities	26,346	1,388
Net repayments on loans	13,327	154,788
Proceeds from sale of loans	1,128	19,127
Acquisition of loan portfolios	(212,798)	(49,510)
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements	88,588	132,265
Net cash received and acquired from business combination		711,051
Return of capital from equity method investments	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased		(2,400)
Acquisition of premises and equipment	(38,421)	(9,989)
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets	5,046	3,090
Foreclosed assets	14,513	40,161
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(359,066)	519,909
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits	302,718	250,582
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	(1,991)	(139,013)
Other short-term borrowings	5,170	(165,815)
Payments of notes payable	(108,452)	(419,487)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable	28,883	46,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	0
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	(29,700)	(1,500)
Dividends paid	0	0
Net payments for repurchase of common stock	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	196,628	(429,233)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks	45,695	114,777
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	363,620	380,890
Cash and due from banks at end of period	409,315	495,667
Elimination
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income	(102,768)	(85,292)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	73,400	84,175
Provision (reversal) for loan losses	0	0
Amortization of intangibles	0	0
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment	0	0
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees	0	0
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights	0	0
FDIC loss share (income) expense	0	0
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0
Earnings from investments under the equity method	0	0
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	213	245
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets	0	0
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities	0	0
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs	0	0
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	0	0
Net originations on loans held-for-sale	0	0
Net (increase) decrease in:
Trading securities	0	0
Accrued income receivable	(7)	56
Other assets	(1,220)	(3,871)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable	7	(56)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation	0	0
Other liabilities	675	3,243
Total adjustments	73,068	83,792
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(29,700)	(1,500)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in money market investments	(12,411)	1,457
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	0	0
Held-to-maturity		0
Other	0	0
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	0	0
Held-to-maturity	0	0
Other	0	0
Proceeds from sale of other investment securities	0	0
Net repayments on loans	0	(10,386)
Proceeds from sale of loans	0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios	0	0
Net payments from FDIC under loss sharing agreements	0	0
Net cash received and acquired from business combination		0
Return of capital from equity method investments	0
Mortgage servicing rights purchased		0
Acquisition of premises and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets	0	0
Foreclosed assets	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(12,411)	(8,929)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits	15,832	15,324
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase	0	0
Other short-term borrowings	0	10,386
Payments of notes payable	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	0
Cash Dividends Paid To Parent Company	29,700	1,500
Dividends paid	0	0
Net payments for repurchase of common stock	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	45,532	27,210
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks	3,421	16,781
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	(24,844)	(20,851)
Cash and due from banks at end of period	$ (21,423)	$ (4,070)