Exhibit 16.1
KPMG LLP
American International Plaza
Suite 1100
250 Muñoz Rivera Avenue
San Juan, PR 00918-1819
April 27, 2018
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We were previously principal accountants for First BanCorp. (the Corporation) and, under the date of March 15, 2018, we reported on the consolidated financial statements of First BanCorp. and subsidiaries as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. On April 24, 2018, we informed the Corporation that theauditor-client relationship with KPMG will cease upon the completion of our interim review of the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. We have read First BanCorp.’s statements included under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated April 27, 2018, and we agree with such statements.
Very truly yours,
KPMG LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity.