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                     [PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP LETTERHEAD]


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated
February 25, 1999, which appears on page 35 of the 1999 Annual Report to
Shareholders of First BanCorp., which is incorporated by reference in First
BanCorp.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We
also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such
Prospectus.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Juan, Puerto Rico

September 8, 2000