-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P7NlpvBboMtpRLjrk+SzUNFSoZ4PyVFEOVC3Yb7CI4fcKihnFR8Ac41sQF99LHrj
 FpR/juxeFRROHTW1ytBYmg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001183932-08-000005.txt : 20081110
<SEC-HEADER>0001183932-08-000005.hdr.sgml : 20081110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081110145807
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001183932-08-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081110
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081110

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST BANCORP /PR/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001057706
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				660561882
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1519 PONCE DE LEON AVE
		STREET 2:		SANTURCE
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00908-0146
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7877298200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1519 PONCE DE LEON AVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 9146
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00908-0146

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IRIZARRY DIAZ JORGE L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183932

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14793
		FILM NUMBER:		081175029

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 9146
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00908
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7877298141
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001057706</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST BANCORP /PR/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>fbp</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183932</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>IRIZARRY DIAZ JORGE L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 9146</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JUAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00908-0146</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>PUERTO RICO</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>First BanCorp Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6950</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.84</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>First BanCorp Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22460</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This amount represents the weighted average purchase price for the transactions reported on this line, which prices range from $10.59 to $10.94. Upon written request by SEC staff, the issuer, or any security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price may be provided.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are beneficially owned by Mrs. Eugenia Mayoral, who is the spouse of Mr. Jorge Diaz</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jorge L. Diaz Irizarry</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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