Cost of equity to discount the cash flow using the ibbotson build-up method.

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]

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The percentage of goodwill from two subsidiaries to total goodwill as of the balance sheet date if other than 100 percent.

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The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

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The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date.

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Bank deposits belonging to an acquired bank that can be counted on as a stable source of lending funds. These deposits have the following attributes: predictable costs and low sensitivity to interest rates. This intangible asset is usually amortized over its estimated useful life.

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Gross carrying amount before accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date to an asset acquired in a business combination representing a favorable existing relationship with customers having a finite beneficial life.

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Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of increase (decrease) of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of fair value of reporting unit in excess of carrying amount.

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Percentage of fair value of reporting unit in excess of carrying amount.

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Goodwill and other intangible assets - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2019
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Amortization Of Intangible Assets	$ 1,796,000	$ 2,371,000	$ 4,269,000	$ 4,683,000
Finite-Lived Core Deposits, Gross	24,400,000		24,400,000
Finite-Lived Customer Relationships, Gross	16,300,000		16,300,000
Identifiable intangible assets	$ 6,100,000		6,100,000		$ 6,100,000
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill			$ 0	$ 0
Discounted cash flow approach \| Minimum
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Cost of equity discount rate	10.67%		10.67%
Discounted cash flow approach \| Maximum
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Cost of equity discount rate	13.28%		13.28%
Customer relationship
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Finite-Lived Customer Relationships, Gross	$ 26,573,000		$ 26,573,000		$ 42,909,000
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Step 1 Fair Value Excess Over Carrying Amount	$ 674,000,000		$ 674,000,000			$ 1,200,000,000
Percentage excess of fair value of reporting unit over equity value	21.00%		21.00%			37.00%
Popular U.S.
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Step 1 Fair Value Excess Over Carrying Amount	$ 20,000,000		$ 20,000,000			$ 338,000,000
Percentage excess of fair value of reporting unit over equity value	1.00%		1.00%			21.00%
Goodwill impairment charge			$ 0
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and Popular Bank
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Percentage Of Goodwill	91.00%		91.00%