<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001464458</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>


    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001057706</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>FIRST BANCORP /PR/</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-14793</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>1519 PONCE DE LEON AVE</com:street1>
        <com:street2>SANTURCE</com:street2>
        <com:city>SAN JUAN</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>PR</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>00908-0146</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>7877298200</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Berges Gonzalez Orlando</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>POPULAR SECURITIES</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>208 Ponce de Leon Ave., 12th Floor</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Popular Center Bldg.</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Juan</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>PR</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>00908</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>123197</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>3541913.75</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>152674000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>07/24/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/24/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Bank</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>5441</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/24/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation .... See attachment for the other 30 acquisitions</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>07/24/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>Carmen Zamores as a duly authorized representative of National Financial Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Berges Gonzalez Orlando</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>

</edgarSubmission>
