EXHIBIT 32.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, the undersigned officer of Popular, Inc.
(the "Corporation"), hereby certifies that the Corporation's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (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 Corporation.


Dated: May 9, 2005
                                                  /s/ Richard L. Carrion
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Name: Richard L. Carrion
                                                  Title: Chief Executive Officer


The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Report.

A signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Company and
will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission or its staff upon request.