Name:	bpop_CommonEquityTier1BasedCapitalRatioToBeWellCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

The amount of Total Capital required to be categorized as well as capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84167132&loc=SL5958568-112826

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

The Total risk based capital ratio (total capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized", in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84167132&loc=SL5958568-112826

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Amount of Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-based Capital required to be categorized as well-capitalized under regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_CommonEquityTierOneCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ComplianceWithRegulatoryCapitalRequirementsUnderBankingRegulationsLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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The amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

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

The amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized divided by average assets as defined in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToAverageAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

The amount of Tier 1 Risk Based Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

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

The Tier 1 capital ratio (Tier 1 capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.