EXHIBIT 32.1

                                  CERTIFICATION

      Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, the undersigned officer of Popular,
Inc. (the "Company"), hereby certifies that the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 (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 Company.

Dated: August 9, 2004

                                                 /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 required by Section 906
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.