<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>g89752aexv23.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX-23 CONSENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
<TEXT>
<PAGE>


                                                                      EXHIBIT 23


                                                PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
                                                254 Munoz Rivera Ave.
                                                BBV Tower, 9th Floor
                                                Hato Rey, PR 00918
                                                Telephone: (787) 754 9090
                                                Facsimile: (787) 766 1094


            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-106661) of First BanCorp of our report dated June
18, 2004 relating to the financial statements of FirstBank 401(k) Retirement
Plan for Residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which appears in this Form 11-K.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


San Juan, Puerto Rico
June 18, 2004


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>