-----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,
 S1TIPblP4iPdRdHj0vALohnlaFBLqhvSfvWSOC+pdNpwYNQsd0QFVFIzG3oJYbUy
 AR7evdbFMJU7V1NiGhVXfA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001084875-04-000003.txt : 20040225
<SEC-HEADER>0001084875-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040225134137
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001084875-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040224
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040225

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GONZALEZ HECTOR R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001084875

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13818
		FILM NUMBER:		04627003

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TELEPHONE CABLE TV INC
		STREET 2:		X-1 VAYAS TORRES
		CITY:			MERCEDITA
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00715-0204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7878440520

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>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001084875</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GONZALEZ HECTOR R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 362708</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JUAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00936-2708</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>44.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-02-24</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>663.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.90</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-24</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock Par Value $6 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>663.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>663.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Becomes exercisable in equal installments on each of the first five anniversaries of February 24, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Total Stock Options of Popular, Inc. owned by Mr Gonzalez is 7,424.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Hector R. Gonzalez</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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