Segment reporting - Selected Balance Sheet information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	$ 62,845,352	$ 52,115,324	$ 50,617,221
Deposits	53,844,300	43,758,606
Puerto Rico
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	50,760,153	40,544,255
Loans	20,262,910	18,989,286
Deposits	44,095,385	34,664,243
Popular U.S.
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	11,202,062	10,693,536
Loans	8,205,839	7,819,187
Deposits	8,168,697	7,664,792
Other
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	883,137	877,533
Loans	670,529	657,603
Deposits	$ 1,580,218	$ 1,429,571