Allowance for credit losses - Amortized cost basis of the loans modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		$ 209,928
Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		125,875
Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		6,527
Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		19,165
Consumer | Credit card
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		898
Consumer | HELOC
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		236
Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		3,479
Consumer | Auto Loan
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		1,631
Consumer | Other
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		8
Leasing
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		$ 1,180
Interest Rate Reduction
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 143,153
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.41%
Interest Rate Reduction | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 301
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 141,291
% of total class of Financing Receivables	4.59%
Interest Rate Reduction | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 70
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Consumer | Credit card
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 700
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.06%
Interest Rate Reduction | Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 785
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.04%
Interest Rate Reduction | Consumer | Other
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 6
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 143,151
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.58%
Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 301
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 141,291
% of total class of Financing Receivables	10.10%
Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 70
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Consumer | Credit card
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 700
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.06%
Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 783
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.04%
Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Consumer | Other
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 6
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S.
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 2
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Consumer | Credit card
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 2
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Consumer | Other
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Term extension
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 204,123
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.58%
Term extension | Construction
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 5,990
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.62%
Term extension | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 58,897
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.77%
Term extension | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 33,318
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.65%
Term extension | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 65,590
% of total class of Financing Receivables	2.13%
Term extension | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 39,695
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.56%
Term extension | Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 542
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.03%
Term extension | Consumer | Auto Loan
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 91
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Term extension | Puerto Rico
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 131,635
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.54%
Term extension | Puerto Rico | Construction
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Term extension | Puerto Rico | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 53,447
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.84%
Term extension | Puerto Rico | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 33,318
% of total class of Financing Receivables	1.11%
Term extension | Puerto Rico | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 4,921
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.35%
Term extension | Puerto Rico | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 39,445
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.82%
Term extension | Puerto Rico | Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 413
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.02%
Term extension | Puerto Rico | Consumer | Auto Loan
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 91
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Term extension | Popular U.S.
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 72,488
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.69%
Term extension | Popular U.S. | Construction
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 5,990
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.76%
Term extension | Popular U.S. | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 5,450
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.42%
Term extension | Popular U.S. | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Term extension | Popular U.S. | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 60,669
% of total class of Financing Receivables	3.61%
Term extension | Popular U.S. | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 250
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.01%
Term extension | Popular U.S. | Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 129
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.08%
Term extension | Popular U.S. | Consumer | Auto Loan
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 42,886
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.12%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 137
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 1,854
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.04%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 29,536
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.96%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 11,359
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.16%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Puerto Rico
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 28,604
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.12%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Puerto Rico | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 137
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Puerto Rico | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 1,854
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.06%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Puerto Rico | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 16,068
% of total class of Financing Receivables	1.15%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Puerto Rico | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 10,545
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.22%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Popular U.S.
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 14,282
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.14%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Popular U.S. | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Popular U.S. | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Popular U.S. | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 13,468
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.80%
Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays | Popular U.S. | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 814
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.03%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 74,790
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.21%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 37,584
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.49%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Commercial | Commercial multi-family
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 65
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 19,983
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.39%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 14,416
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.47%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 335
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 2,380
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.12%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Consumer | Auto Loan
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 27
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 74,323
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.30%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 37,179
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.58%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Commercial | Commercial multi-family
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 65
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.02%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 19,983
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.66%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 14,416
% of total class of Financing Receivables	1.03%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 335
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.01%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 2,318
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.13%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Consumer | Auto Loan
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 27
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S.
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 467
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Mortgages
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 405
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.03%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Commercial | Commercial multi-family
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Consumer | Personal loans
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 62
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.04%
Combination - Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Consumer | Auto Loan
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 1,193
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 180
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 199
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Consumer | Credit card
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 814
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.07%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 1,193
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 180
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.01%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 199
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Puerto Rico | Consumer | Credit card
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 814
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.07%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S.
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Commercial | CRE non-owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Commercial | Commercial and industrial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Interest Rate Reduction | Popular U.S. | Consumer | Credit card
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Principal Forgiveness
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 158
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Principal Forgiveness | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 158
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.01%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Principal Forgiveness | Puerto Rico
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 158
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Principal Forgiveness | Puerto Rico | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 158
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.01%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Principal Forgiveness | Popular U.S.
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%
Combination - Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delays and Principal Forgiveness | Popular U.S. | Commercial | CRE owner occupied
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 0
% of total class of Financing Receivables	0.00%