Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Concentration of Risk Credit Facilities with the Puerto Rico government that is outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The Corporations exposure to municipal loans and securities was concentrated in the municipalities of San Juan, Guaynabo, Carolina and Bayamon.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bpop_ExposureMunicipalLoansAndSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allowance of consumer mortgage held and guaranteed by the Puerto Rico Housing Authority.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument, the entity would incur if parties to the financial instruments that make up the concentration failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts and the collateral or other security, if any, for the amount due proved to be of no value to the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109250915&loc=d3e13537-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash received from principal payments made on loans related to operating activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromLoans
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of valuation and qualifying accounts and reserves.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-09)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CommitmentsToExtendCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bpop_ExposureTypeAxis=bpop_PrGovernmentDirectExposureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_LoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_SecuritiesInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bpop_ExposureTypeAxis=bpop_PrGovernmentIndirectExposureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bpop_ObligationsTypeAxis=us-gaap_BondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bpop_ObligationsTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialRealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bpop_ObligationsTypeAxis=bpop_PassThroughSecuritiesBackedByFnmaAndGnmaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bpop_ExposureTypeAxis=bpop_UsvigovernmentdirectexposureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bpop_ObligationsTypeAxis=bpop_FromusvigovernmentandpubliccorporationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and contingencies - Commitments - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Outstanding concentration of risk		$ 432,000	$ 458,000
Exposure Municipal Loans And Securities		75.00%
Commitments To Extend Credit
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Reserve of potential losses associated with unfunded loan commitments		$ 8,000	8,000
PR Government direct exposure
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Outstanding concentration of risk		431,725
Total concentration of risk		431,725
Principal payments received	$ 22,000
PR Government direct exposure \| Loans
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Outstanding concentration of risk		390,959	413,000
PR Government direct exposure \| Securities Investment
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Outstanding concentration of risk		40,766	45,000
PR Government Indirect Exposure
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Outstanding concentration of risk		355,000	368,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Consumer, Mortgage with PRHA		281,000	293,000
PR Government Indirect Exposure \| PR Housing Bonds backed by second mortgage loans
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Outstanding concentration of risk		46,000	45,000
PR Government Indirect Exposure \| Commercial real estate
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Outstanding concentration of risk		21,000	23,000
PR Government Indirect Exposure \| Pass Through securities that have been economically defeased and refunded
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Outstanding concentration of risk		7,000	$ 7,000
USVI Government Direct Exposure \| From USVI Government And Public Corporations
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure
Total concentration of risk		$ 72,000