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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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 WefiwFJ9Ma5LB49AxqFYnw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000763901-05-000063.txt : 20051221
<SEC-HEADER>0000763901-05-000063.hdr.sgml : 20051221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051221123804
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000763901-05-000063
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERMUDEZ JUAN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217317

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13818
		FILM NUMBER:		051277635

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 191213
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00919

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POPULAR INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000763901
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				660416582
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		209 MUNOZ RIVERA AVE
		STREET 2:		POPULAR CENTER BUILDING
		CITY:			HATO REY
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00918
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7877659800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 362708
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00936-2708

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANPONCE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000763901</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POPULAR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BPOP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217317</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERMUDEZ JUAN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 362708</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JUAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00936-2708</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>Common Stock Par Value $6 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>47425.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1251479.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By wife</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock Par Value $6 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>47425.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Subscription Right (Right to Buy)</value>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
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            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock Par Value $6 per share</value>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>1223.00</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By wife</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Subscription Right (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                    <value>1223.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock Par Value $6 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1223.00</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By wife</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercise of Common Stock Subscription Rights.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the acquisition of subscription rights pursuant to a pro rata grant to shareholders of Popular, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents rights to acquire shares pursuant to the report person's basic subscriptions rights.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Juan J. Bermudez</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----