FirstBank 401(k) Retirement Plan for Residents of Puerto Rico (Section 1165(e))
Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule
EX — 23.1
December 31, 2007

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-106656) of First BanCorp of our report dated July 9, 2008 relating to the financial statements of FirstBank 401(k) Retirement Plan for Residents of Puerto Rico (Section 1165(e)) which appears in this Form 11-K.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Juan, Puerto Rico
July 9, 2008