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                                                                    EXHIBIT 21.1

                                  POPULAR, INC.
                                  ------------

                             AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2000

Subsidiaries of the registrant

         Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, (Banco Popular) - A wholly-owned
         subsidiary Bank, incorporated under the laws of Puerto Rico in 1998.

                  Popular Leasing & Rental , Inc. (Popular Leasing) - A
                  wholly-owned subsidiary of Banco Popular, incorporated under
                  the laws of Puerto Rico in 1989.

                  Popular Finance, Inc. (Popular Finance) - A wholly-owned
                  subsidiary of Banco Popular, incorporated under the laws of
                  Puerto Rico in 1989.

                  Popular Mortgage, Inc. (Popular Mortgage) - A wholly-owned
                  subsidiary of Banco Popular, incorporated under the laws of
                  Puerto Rico in 1995.

         Popular International Bank, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary,
         incorporated under the laws of Puerto Rico in 1992.

                  ATH Costa Rica, S.A.- A wholly-owned subsidiary of Popular
                  International Bank, Inc., incorporated under the laws of Costa
                  Rica in 1996.

                  Crest, S.A. - a subsidiary of Popular International Bank,
                  Inc., incorporated under the laws of Costa Rica in 1984.

                  Popular North America, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary of
                  Popular International Bank, Inc., incorporated under the laws
                  of Delaware in 1991.

                  Equity One, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary of Popular North
                  America, Inc., incorporated under the laws of Delaware in
                  1980.

                  Banco Popular North America - A wholly-owned subsidiary of
                  Popular North America, Inc., incorporated under the laws of
                  New York in 1998.

                  Popular Leasing, U.S.A. - A wholly-owned subsidiary of Banco
                  Popular North America, incorporated under the laws of Delaware
                  in 1997.

                  BPNA Real Estate Holdings, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary of
                  Banco Popular North America, incorporated under the laws of
                  New Jersey in 1999.

                  BPNA Real Estate, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary of BPNA
                  Real Estate Holdings, Inc., incorporated under the laws of New
                  York in 1999.

                  BanPonce Trust I - A wholly-owned subsidiary of Popular North
                  America, Inc., incorporated under the laws of Delaware in
                  1997.

                  Popular Cash Express, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary of
                  Popular North America, Inc., incorporated under the laws of
                  Delaware in 1997.

                  Banco Popular, National Association - a wholly-owned
                  subsidiary of Popular North America, Inc., incorporated under
                  the laws of Florida in 1999.


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                  Popular Insurance, Inc. - a subsidiary of Banco Popular, N.A.,
                  incorporated under the laws of Puerto Rico in 1997.

         Popular Securities, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary, incorporated
         under the laws of Puerto Rico in 1956.

         Metropolitana de Prestamos, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary,
         incorporated under the laws of Puerto Rico in 1961 (Inactive
         Corporation).

         Popular Assets Management, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary,
         incorporated under the laws of Puerto Rico in 1994 (Inactive
         Corporation).

         Puerto Rico Parking Corporation - A wholly-owned subsidiary,
         incorporated under the laws of Puerto Rico in 1963 (Inactive
         Corporation).

         GM Group, Inc. - A wholly-owned subsidiary, incorporated under the laws
         of Puerto Rico in 1989.

         Newco Mortgage Holding Corporation (Levitt Mortgage) - A subsidiary
         incorporated under the laws of Puerto Rico in 1999.