Revenue from contracts with customers - Revenue streams (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Service charges on deposit accounts
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 40,153	$ 30,163	$ 79,773	$ 71,822
BPPR
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	101,401	71,159	194,805	158,594
BPPR | Service charges on deposit accounts
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	37,377	28,104	74,236	66,435
BPPR | Debit card fees
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	12,213	6,853	23,555	16,852
BPPR | Insurance fees, excluding reinsurance
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	9,835	8,183	18,073	15,871
BPPR | Credit card fees excluding late fees and membership fees
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	29,717	17,378	55,127	37,146
BPPR | Sale and administration of investment products
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	5,970	4,910	11,510	11,173
BPPR | Trust fees
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	6,289	5,731	12,304	11,117
Popular U.S.
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	4,107	2,980	7,960	7,525
Popular U.S. | Service charges on deposit accounts
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	2,776	2,059	5,537	5,387
Popular U.S. | Debit card fees
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	245	229	480	467
Popular U.S. | Insurance fees, excluding reinsurance
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	820	531	1,429	1,268
Popular U.S. | Credit card fees excluding late fees and membership fees
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	266	161	514	403
Popular U.S. | Sale and administration of investment products
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	0
Popular U.S. | Trust fees
Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0