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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>0001217322-04-000002.txt : 20040122
<SEC-HEADER>0001217322-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040122170600
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001217322-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040121
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MORALES MANUEL JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217322

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13818
		FILM NUMBER:		04538305

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 195434
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00919-5434

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>2004-01-21</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000763901</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POPULAR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BPOP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217322</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORALES MANUEL JR</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>2004-01-21</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2004-01-21</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>21277.00</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>146971.00</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock Par Value $6 per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2004-01-21</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2004-01-21</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>106385.00</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>318615.00</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By parents</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Mr. Manuel Morales has voting power over 318,615 common shares owned by Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Morales Davila, his parents, as attorney in fact.  Directly owns 4,000 Preferred Stock of Popular Inc.  Indirectly owns 2,000 of Preferred Stock owned by wife. </footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Mr. Morales Davila disposed of 106,385 shares granting them to his children in equal parts.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Manuel   Morales, Jr.</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2004-01-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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