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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM 8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 7, 1997
                                                   ---------------

                                 POPULAR, INC.
            ------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                                                                  
COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO                             NO. 0-13818                     NO. 66-0416582
- ---------------------------------------------           -----------                     ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation           (Commission                     (IRS Employer
                                                        File Number)                    Identification No.)



          209 MUNOZ RIVERA AVENUE
           HATO REY, PUERTO RICO                                  00918
 ----------------------------------------                       ----------
 (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (787) 765-9800


         -------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
                                       

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Item 5.  Other Events

   On October 7, 1997, Popular, Inc. (the "Corporation") announced by way of a 
news release, its operational results for the quarter and nine-month period 
ended September 30, 1997.  A copy of the Corporation's release, dated October
7, 1997, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(a) and is hereby incorporated by
reference.



Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits 

   (c)  Exhibits

   99(a) News release, dated October 7, 1997, announcing the Corporation and
subsidiaries earnings for the quarter and nine-month period ended September 30,
1997.
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                                  SIGNATURE



        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                            POPULAR, INC.
                                       -----------------------
                                             (Registrant)



Date:  October 8, 1997          By:    /s/ Amilcar L. Jordan
       ---------------                 -------------------------------------
                                Name:  Amilcar L. Jordan, Esq.
                                Title: Senior Vice President and Comptroller
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                                Exhibit Index




Exhibit Number                  Description
- --------------                  -----------
                             
99(a)                           News release, dated October 7, 1997