Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flow (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 165,319,000	$ 140,648,000	$ 504,350,000	$ 511,755,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			0	0
Provision for loan losses	36,539,000	54,387,000	118,555,000	185,504,000
Goodwill impairment charge				0
Amortization of intangibles			7,082,000	6,973,000
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			42,928,000	39,083,000
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			(126,548,000)	(43,533,000)
Share-based compensation			11,418,000	5,962,000
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			2,591,000	272,000
FDIC loss-share expense			0	(94,725,000)
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			25,853,000	13,123,000
Adjustments to indemnity reserves on loans sold	3,411,000	3,029,000	1,664,000	6,482,000
Earnings from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			(18,461,000)	(14,772,000)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			110,058,000	(97,708,000)
Loss (gain) on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			(5,133,000)	17,694,000
Proceeds from insurance claims			0	(14,411,000)
Sale of debt securities			20,000	0
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities			(11,360,000)	(6,734,000)
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			(15,858,000)	(638,000)
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			(157,993,000)	(173,644,000)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			51,067,000	51,131,000
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			(208,875,000)	(186,063,000)
Net decrease (increase) in:
Trading debt securities			333,013,000	346,455,000
Equity securities			(6,482,000)	(2,480,000)
Accrued income receivable			7,724,000	51,868,000
Other assets			(12,837,000)	234,836,000
Net (decrease) increase in:
Interest payable			(6,900,000)	(9,933,000)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			(4,979,000)	3,392,000
Other liabilities			(102,049,000)	(197,035,000)
Total adjustments			34,498,000	121,099,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			538,848,000	632,854,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net decrease in money market investments			(1,000,840,000)	647,519,000
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			(13,579,074,000)	(6,968,920,000)
Equity			(15,474,000)	(11,304,000)
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			10,671,630,000	3,925,362,000
Held-to-maturity			5,325,000	7,184,000
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Available-for-sale	99,000,000		99,445,000	0
Equity			17,083,000	20,925,000
Net (disbursements) repayments on loans			(324,479,000)	(15,604,000)
Proceeds from sale of loans			77,327,000	1,354,000
Acquisition of loan portfolios			(421,482,000)	(461,117,000)
Payments to acquire other intangible			(793,000)	0
Net payments (to) from FDIC under loss sharing agreements			0	(25,012,000)
Return of capital from equity method investments			2,747,000	2,501,000
Payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired			0	(1,830,050,000)
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			0	0
Return of capital from wholly owned subsidiaries			0	0
Acquisition of premises and equipment			(45,961,000)	(53,144,000)
Proceeds from insurance claims			0	14,411,000
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			17,186,000	6,991,000
Foreclosed assets			83,848,000	85,622,000
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(4,413,512,000)	(4,653,282,000)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			4,454,466,000	4,193,859,000
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			(68,433,000)	(90,805,000)
Other short-term borrowings			(41,000)	(95,008,000)
Payments of notes payable			(144,991,000)	(226,976,000)
Principal payments of finance leases			(1,269,000)	0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			75,000,000	434,706,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			6,523,000	10,852,000
Dividends paid to parent company			0	0
Dividends paid			(85,863,000)	(79,115,000)
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			(250,574,000)	(125,326,000)
Return of capital to parent company			0	0
Capital contribution from parent			0	0
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			(5,432,000)	(2,205,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			3,979,386,000	4,019,982,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks, and restricted cash			104,722,000	(446,000)
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			403,251,000	412,629,000
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	507,973,000	412,183,000	507,973,000	412,183,000
Elimination
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	(185,942,000)	(165,959,000)	(555,318,000)	(579,517,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			199,261,000	177,893,000
Provision for loan losses	0	0	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
Share-based compensation			0	0
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			0	0
FDIC loss-share expense				0
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			0	0
Adjustments to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0	0	0
Earnings from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			0	0
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			140,000	270,000
Loss (gain) on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			0	0
Proceeds from insurance claims				0
Sale of debt securities			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 decrease (increase) in:
Trading debt securities			0	(101,000)
Equity securities			0	0
Accrued income receivable			(33,000)	410,000
Other assets			2,809,000	(449,000)
Net (decrease) increase in:
Interest payable			33,000	(410,000)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			0	0
Other liabilities			(3,212,000)	(246,000)
Total adjustments			198,998,000	177,367,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(356,320,000)	(402,150,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net decrease in money market investments			(37,631,000)	402,230,000
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Equity			41,000	152,000
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Held-to-maturity			0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0
Equity			0	0
Net (disbursements) repayments on loans			0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans			0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios			0	0
Payments to acquire other intangible			0
Net payments (to) from FDIC under loss sharing agreements				0
Return of capital from equity method investments			0	0
Payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired				0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			4,000,000	82,000,000
Return of capital from wholly owned subsidiaries			(13,000,000)	(13,000,000)
Acquisition of premises and equipment			0	0
Proceeds from insurance claims				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			(46,590,000)	471,382,000
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			(9,242,000)	(403,111,000)
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			0	0
Other short-term borrowings			0	0
Payments of notes payable			0	0
Principal payments of finance leases			0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			0	0
Dividends paid to parent company			356,300,000	402,000,000
Dividends paid			0	0
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			(21,000)	(3,000)
Return of capital to parent company			13,000,000	13,000,000
Capital contribution from parent			(4,000,000)	(82,000,000)
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			356,037,000	(70,114,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks, and restricted cash			(46,873,000)	(882,000)
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			(68,022,000)	(48,178,000)
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	(114,895,000)	(49,060,000)	(114,895,000)	(49,060,000)
Popular, Inc. Holding Co.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	165,319,000	140,648,000	504,350,000	511,755,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			(158,013,000)	(132,121,000)
Provision for loan losses	(2,000)	(34,000)	257,000	(75,000)
Amortization of intangibles			73,000	0
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			559,000	548,000
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			933,000	1,624,000
Share-based compensation			7,517,000	4,149,000
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			0	0
FDIC loss-share expense				0
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			0	0
Adjustments to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0	0	0
Earnings from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			(11,683,000)	(10,557,000)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			0	0
Loss (gain) on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			39,000	15,000
Proceeds from insurance claims				0
Sale of debt securities			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 decrease (increase) in:
Trading debt securities			0	0
Equity securities			(3,225,000)	(1,779,000)
Accrued income receivable			7,000	(411,000)
Other assets			(1,559,000)	(2,352,000)
Net (decrease) increase in:
Interest payable			(4,594,000)	(7,007,000)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			0	0
Other liabilities			(681,000)	2,160,000
Total adjustments			(170,370,000)	(145,806,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			333,980,000	365,949,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net decrease in money market investments			35,000,000	(395,000,000)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Equity			0	0
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Held-to-maturity			0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0
Equity			0	0
Net (disbursements) repayments on loans			533,000	395,000
Proceeds from sale of loans			0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios			0	0
Payments to acquire other intangible			0
Net payments (to) from FDIC under loss sharing agreements				0
Return of capital from equity method investments			0	0
Payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired				0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			(4,000,000)	(82,000,000)
Return of capital from wholly owned subsidiaries			13,000,000	13,000,000
Acquisition of premises and equipment			(791,000)	(755,000)
Proceeds from insurance claims				0
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			3,000	195,000
Foreclosed assets			0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			43,745,000	(464,165,000)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			0	0
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			0	0
Other short-term borrowings			0	0
Payments of notes payable			0	0
Principal payments of finance leases			0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			0	294,706,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			11,256,000	11,441,000
Dividends paid to parent company			0	0
Dividends paid			(85,863,000)	(79,115,000)
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			(250,566,000)	(125,323,000)
Return of capital to parent company			0	0
Capital contribution from parent			0	0
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			(5,420,000)	(2,162,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(330,593,000)	99,547,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks, and restricted cash			47,132,000	1,331,000
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			68,278,000	48,120,000
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	115,410,000	49,451,000	115,410,000	49,451,000
PNA Holding Co.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	16,762,000	17,767,000	36,927,000	37,909,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			(41,248,000)	(45,772,000)
Provision for loan losses	0	0	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			20,000	20,000
Share-based compensation			0	0
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			0	0
FDIC loss-share expense				0
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			0	0
Adjustments to indemnity reserves on loans sold	0	0	0	0
Earnings from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			984,000	(278,000)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			(1,149,000)	(1,453,000)
Loss (gain) on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			0	0
Proceeds from insurance claims				0
Sale of debt securities			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 decrease (increase) in:
Trading debt securities			0	0
Equity securities			0	0
Accrued income receivable			99,000	90,000
Other assets			43,000	52,000
Net (decrease) increase in:
Interest payable			(1,551,000)	(3,441,000)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			0	0
Other liabilities			(85,000)	9,000
Total adjustments			(42,887,000)	(50,773,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(5,960,000)	(12,864,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net decrease in money market investments			2,631,000	(7,230,000)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Equity			0	0
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0	0
Held-to-maturity			0	1,637,000
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			0
Equity			0	0
Net (disbursements) repayments on loans			0	0
Proceeds from sale of loans			0	0
Acquisition of loan portfolios			0	0
Payments to acquire other intangible			0
Net payments (to) from FDIC under loss sharing agreements				0
Return of capital from equity method investments			3,329,000	497,000
Payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired				0
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			0	0
Return of capital from wholly owned subsidiaries			0	0
Acquisition of premises and equipment			0	0
Proceeds from insurance claims				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			5,960,000	(5,096,000)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			0	0
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			0	0
Other short-term borrowings			0	0
Payments of notes payable			0	(54,502,000)
Principal payments of finance leases			0
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			0	0
Dividends paid to parent company			0	0
Dividends paid			0	0
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			0	0
Return of capital to parent company			0	0
Capital contribution from parent			0	72,000,000
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			0	17,498,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks, and restricted cash			0	(462,000)
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			0	462,000
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	0	0	0	0
All other subsidiaries and eliminations
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	169,180,000	148,192,000	518,391,000	541,608,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			0	0
Provision for loan losses	36,541,000	54,421,000	118,298,000	185,579,000
Amortization of intangibles			7,009,000	6,973,000
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			42,369,000	38,535,000
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			(127,501,000)	(45,177,000)
Share-based compensation			3,901,000	1,813,000
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			2,591,000	272,000
FDIC loss-share expense				(94,725,000)
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			25,853,000	13,123,000
Adjustments to indemnity reserves on loans sold	3,411,000	3,029,000	1,664,000	6,482,000
Earnings from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			(7,762,000)	(3,937,000)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			111,067,000	(96,525,000)
Loss (gain) on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			(5,172,000)	17,679,000
Proceeds from insurance claims				(14,411)
Sale of debt securities			20,000
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities			(11,360,000)	(6,734,000)
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			(15,858,000)	(638,000)
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			(157,993,000)	(173,644,000)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			51,067,000	51,131,000
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			(208,875,000)	(186,063,000)
Net decrease (increase) in:
Trading debt securities			333,013,000	346,556,000
Equity securities			(3,257,000)	(701,000)
Accrued income receivable			7,651,000	51,779,000
Other assets			(14,130,000)	237,585,000
Net (decrease) increase in:
Interest payable			(788,000)	925,000
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			(4,979,000)	3,392,000
Other liabilities			(98,071,000)	(198,958,000)
Total adjustments			48,757,000	140,311,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			567,148,000	681,919,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net decrease in money market investments			(1,000,840,000)	647,519,000
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			(13,579,074,000)	(6,968,920,000)
Equity			(15,515,000)	(11,456,000)
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			10,671,630,000	3,925,362,000
Held-to-maturity			5,325,000	5,547,000
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			99,445,000
Equity			17,083,000	20,925,000
Net (disbursements) repayments on loans			(325,012,000)	(15,999,000)
Proceeds from sale of loans			77,327,000	1,354,000
Acquisition of loan portfolios			(421,482,000)	(461,117,000)
Payments to acquire other intangible			(793,000)
Net payments (to) from FDIC under loss sharing agreements				(25,012,000)
Return of capital from equity method investments			(582,000)	2,004,000
Payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired				(1,830,050,000)
Capital Contribution Subsidiaries			0	0
Return of capital from wholly owned subsidiaries			0	0
Acquisition of premises and equipment			(45,170,000)	(52,389,000)
Proceeds from insurance claims				14,411,000
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			17,183,000	6,796,000
Foreclosed assets			83,848,000	85,622,000
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(4,416,627,000)	(4,655,403,000)
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			4,463,708,000	4,596,970,000
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			(68,433,000)	(90,805,000)
Other short-term borrowings			(41,000)	(95,008,000)
Payments of notes payable			(144,991,000)	(172,474,000)
Principal payments of finance leases			(1,269,000)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			75,000,000	140,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			(4,733,000)	(589,000)
Dividends paid to parent company			(356,300,000)	(402,000,000)
Dividends paid			0	0
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			13,000	0
Return of capital to parent company			(13,000,000)	(13,000,000)
Capital contribution from parent			4,000,000	10,000,000
Payments related to tax witholding for share-based compensation			(12,000)	(43,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			3,953,942,000	3,973,051,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks, and restricted cash			104,463,000	(433,000)
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at beginning of period			402,995,000	412,225,000
Cash and due from banks and restricted cash at end of period	$ 507,458,000	$ 411,792,000	$ 507,458,000	$ 411,792,000