Name:	bpop_EquitySecuritiesFvNiAndWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValue
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Amount reclassified from operating to investing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow as a result of electing the cumulative earnings approach for classifying distributions received from equity investees.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_ReclassificationFromOperatingToInvestingActivities
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount previously classified as available-for-sale and as trading securities.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_ReclassificationFromTradingAndAvailableForSaleSecuritiesToEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Reclassification other components of net benefit cost from personnel to other operating expenses.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_ReclassificationOtherComponentsFromPersonnelToOtherOperatingExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of cash restricted as to withdrawal or usage within money market investments.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_RestrictedCashMoneyMarket
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) to equity or (increase) decrease to net assets, resulting from the cumulative effect adjustment of a new accounting principle applied in the period of adoption.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201601Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201615Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201616Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: