Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell and Investment (Investment securities by contractual maturity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	$ 1,437,106	$ 1,575,043
Available-for-sale Securities	1,455,685	1,588,425
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	1,311,171	1,419,117
Available-for-sale Securities	1,334,865	1,439,539
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] \| FNMA and FHLMC [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	1,093,717	1,190,910
Available-for-sale Securities	1,120,796	1,217,330
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] \| GNMA [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	6,146	7,406
Available-for-sale Securities	6,549	7,815
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] \| CMO's [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	211,308	220,801
Available-for-sale Securities	207,520	214,394
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] \| Maturities Due From Five To Ten Years [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	26,294
Available-for-sale Securities	26,625
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] \| Maturities Due From Five To Ten Years [Member] \| FNMA and FHLMC [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	26,294
Available-for-sale Securities	26,625
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] \| Maturities Due After Ten Years [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	1,284,877
Available-for-sale Securities	1,308,240
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] \| Maturities Due After Ten Years [Member] \| FNMA and FHLMC [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	1,067,423
Available-for-sale Securities	1,094,171
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] \| Maturities Due After Ten Years [Member] \| GNMA [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	6,146
Available-for-sale Securities	6,549
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] \| Maturities Due After Ten Years [Member] \| CMO's [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	211,308
Available-for-sale Securities	207,520
Securities Investment [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	125,935	155,926
Available-for-sale Securities	120,820	148,886
Securities Investment [Member] \| US Treasury Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	70,000
Available-for-sale Securities	70,000
Securities Investment [Member] \| Obligation of US Government sponsored agencies [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	9,539	10,691
Available-for-sale Securities	9,497	10,649
Securities Investment [Member] \| Obligation of Puerto Rico Government and political subdivisions [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	22,367	121,035
Available-for-sale Securities	17,069	114,190
Securities Investment [Member] \| Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	24,029	24,200
Available-for-sale Securities	24,254	24,047
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due In Less Than One Year [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	90,000
Available-for-sale Securities	90,053
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due In Less Than One Year [Member] \| US Treasury Securities [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	70,000
Available-for-sale Securities	70,000
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due In Less Than One Year [Member] \| Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	20,000
Available-for-sale Securities	20,053
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due From One To Five Years [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	11,903
Available-for-sale Securities	9,827
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due From One To Five Years [Member] \| Obligation of Puerto Rico Government and political subdivisions [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	11,903
Available-for-sale Securities	9,827
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due From Five To Ten Years [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	9,539
Available-for-sale Securities	9,497
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due From Five To Ten Years [Member] \| Obligation of US Government sponsored agencies [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	9,539
Available-for-sale Securities	9,497
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due After Ten Years [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	14,493
Available-for-sale Securities	11,443
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due After Ten Years [Member] \| Obligation of Puerto Rico Government and political subdivisions [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	10,464
Available-for-sale Securities	7,242
Securities Investment [Member] \| Maturities Due After Ten Years [Member] \| Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale Amortized Cost	4,029
Available-for-sale Securities	$ 4,201