<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
                                                                      EXHIBIT 27
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BANPONCE CORPORATION FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE
30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                  1,000
<CASH>                                         524,344
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           3,236
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               898,041
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               329,256
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  3,127,423
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       1,694,764
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         1,693,449
<LOANS>                                      9,279,332
<ALLOWANCE>                                    178,330
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              16,442,137
<DEPOSITS>                                  10,576,948
<SHORT-TERM>                                 3,579,550
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            279,416
<LONG-TERM>                                    692,435
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    100,000
<COMMON>                                       396,007
<OTHER-SE>                                     691,131
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              16,442,137
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                443,274
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              140,387
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                29,241
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               612,902
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             169,689
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             282,234
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          330,668
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   42,945
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 709
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                262,543
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                126,487
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      91,197
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    91,197
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.83
<LOANS-NON>                                    145,846
<LOANS-PAST>                                    12,192
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 2,656
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                124,474
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               168,393
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   49,024
<RECOVERIES>                                    16,016
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              178,330
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           177,637
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                693
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0