EXHIBIT 32.1

                                  CERTIFICATION


Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. sec. 1350, the undersigned officer of First BanCorp. (the
"Company") hereby certifies, to such officer's knowledge, that the Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (the "Report") fully
complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report
fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results
of operations of the Company.


Dated: August 14, 2003                         /s/ ANGEL ALVAREZ-PEREZ
                                             ------------------------------
                                               Angel Alvarez-Perez, Esq.
                                               Chairman, President and
                                               Chief Executive Officer


                                       42