Name:	bpop_CapitalConservationBuffer
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The Tier 1 common equity capital ratio (Tier 1 common equity divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized", in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_Tier1CommonEquityToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of trust preferred securities subject to phase out provision of Dodd Frank Act.

No definition available.

Name:	bpop_TrustPreferredSecuritiesSubjectToPhaseOutProvisionOfDoddFrankAct
Namespace Prefix:	bpop_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The Total risk based capital ratio (total capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized", in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84167132&loc=SL5958568-112826

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ComplianceWithRegulatoryCapitalRequirementsUnderBankingRegulationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of Tier 1 Leverage Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized divided by average assets as defined in the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToAverageAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The Tier 1 capital ratio (Tier 1 capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.