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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001411536-08-000001.txt : 20081205
<SEC-HEADER>0001411536-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20081205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081205134952
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001411536-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081205

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kolodziej Frank
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001411536

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14793
		FILM NUMBER:		081232194

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(787) 729-8117

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 9146
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00908

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
</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>2008-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001411536</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kolodziej Frank</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 9146</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JUAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00908</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>2008-12-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4027</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2762483</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On December 5, 2008, the reporting person received notice of the number of restricted shares being paid to him as director compensation pursuant to the First BanCorp 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan in the form of shares of common stock having an aggregate value of $35,000 based on the closing price of the Company's shares on December 1, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Frank Kolodziej</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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