Note Segment reporting (Selected Balance Sheet information) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets		$ 37,606,148	$ 35,761,733
Deposits		28,737,856	27,209,723
PUERTO RICO
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets		28,210,388	26,764,184
Loans		17,126,140	17,477,070
Deposits		22,124,865	20,893,232
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets		8,491,277	7,859,217
Loans		5,397,679	4,873,504
Deposits		5,503,937	5,288,886
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets		904,483	1,138,332
Loans		746,350	778,656
Deposits	[1]	$ 1,109,054	$ 1,027,605

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