First BanCorp Files Form 10-K for 2006 and Reports Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2006

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First BanCorp (the "Corporation") today announced its results for the 2006 fiscal year and the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for the year ended December 31, 2006.

For the year ended December 31, 2006, First BanCorp reported net income of $84.6 million, or $0.54 per common share (basic) and $0.53 per common share (diluted). Net income in 2005 was $114.6 million, or $0.92 per common share (basic) and $0.90 per common share (diluted). Results for 2006 included one- time expenses of $20.6 million in legal, accounting and consulting fees related to the Audit Committee's internal review and related legal and regulatory issues and a $68 million non-cash net loss resulting from the valuation of derivatives. In contrast, the 2005 figures included one-time expenses of $8.5 million for a possible settlement with the SEC, $74.25 million for a possible settlement of the pending class action lawsuit, and $6.1 million in legal, accounting and consulting fees related to the Audit Committee's internal review and related legal issues. In addition, the 2005 results include a non-cash charge of $73.4 million resulting from the changes in the value of derivatives instruments.

"While 2006 set a series of challenges for FirstBank in Puerto Rico, FirstBank successfully addressed many key accounting, legal and regulatory matters," said Luis M. Beauchamp, President and Chief Executive Officer of First BanCorp. "First BanCorp is committed to being a leading financial services organization for the benefit of our shareholders, customers, employees and communities in which we serve," continued Mr. Beauchamp. "We entered 2007 with a strong financial foundation, a growing presence in both established and new markets, and a strategic plan to drive future growth across all businesses in all of our markets."

Net interest income in 2006 increased to $443.7 million from $432.3 million in 2005. During 2006 and 2005, net interest income was negatively impacted by non-cash changes resulting from the changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, mainly interest rate swaps that hedge brokered deposits ("brokered CDs"). Excluding the changes in the valuation of the derivatives and hedged items amounting to ($61.9 million) and ($73.4 million), in 2006 and 2005, respectively, and basis adjustment accretion amounting to $3.6 million in 2006 (no basis adjustment in 2005), net interest income would have been $501.9 million and $505.7 million for 2006 and 2005, respectively. The 2006 net interest income was adversely affected by the flat to inverted yield curve. The 80 basis points increase in the 3-month LIBOR rate from 2005 to 2006 caused the net settlements on the swaps that hedge mainly brokered CD's and medium-term notes to fluctuate from a $71.7 million inflow in 2005 to an $8.9 million outflow in 2006, for an increase of $80.6 million in interest expense. Also, the re-pricing mismatch of the Corporation's assets and liabilities coupled with the interest rate scenario had particularly significant negative effects with respect to the interest spread generated on the Corporation's investments portfolio. However, a portion of that fluctuation was offset by the continued growth in the loan portfolio, increasing net interest income by $49 million due to volume.

The exclusion of unrealized changes in the fair value of derivative instruments and basis adjustment from the analysis of net interest income provides meaningful information about the Corporation's net interest income and facilitates comparability and analysis. The changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments have no effect on interest earned or interest due on interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities, respectively, or on interest payments exchanged with swap counterparties. In addition, since the Corporation intends to hold the interest rate swaps until they mature because, economically, the interest rate swaps are satisfying their intended results, the unrealized changes in fair value will reverse over the remaining lives of the swaps.

For 2006, non-interest income decreased by $31.7 million as compared to 2005. The decrease was mainly attributable to a net $10.6 million loss on the partial extinguishment of a secured commercial loan to a local financial institution, coupled with an increase in other-than-temporary impairment charges of $6.9 million in the Corporation's investment portfolio and a net decrease in gain on sale of investments of $13.7 million.

Non-interest expense for 2006 was $287.9 million as compared to $315.1 million in 2005. Non-interest expense for 2005 includes accruals of $74.25 million and $8.5 million for possible settlement of class action lawsuits and the SEC investigation, respectively, relating to the Corporation's restatement. Excluding these accruals for one-time expenses in 2005, non-interest expense increased by $55.6 million in 2006 as compared to 2005, mainly due to increases in employees' compensation and benefits and professional fees that were mainly related to legal, accounting and regulatory matters addressed during 2006.

The provision for loan and lease losses totaled $75.0 million or 116% of net charge-offs for 2006, compared with $50.6 million or 112% of net charge- offs for 2005. Net charge-offs amounted to $64.7 million for 2006 and $45.0 million for 2005. Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding during 2006 were 0.55% as compared to 0.39% in 2005. The increase of $19.7 million in net charge-offs in 2006, compared with the previous year, was mainly composed of $24.8 million of higher gross charge-offs in consumer loans. The increase in net charge-offs in the consumer portfolio was due to the difficult economic conditions in Puerto Rico.

The Corporation's provision for loan and lease losses increased by $24.3 million or 48% during 2006 compared to 2005. The increase in the provision principally reflects growth in the Corporation's commercial portfolio, excluding loans to local financial institutions, and consumer portfolio, changes to the Corporation's estimate of probable losses for residential real estate loans, coupled with increasing trends in non- performing loans and charge-offs experienced during 2006 as compared to 2005. The Corporation has not incurred significant losses as a percentage of its commercial loans receivable since it started emphasizing the commercial lending activities in the late 1990s. The provision for 2006 is mainly attributable to the consumer loan portfolio. The commercial loan portfolio includes the secured loans to local financial institutions, which were previously accounted for incorrectly as mortgages purchased from the local financial institutions and have always been repaid in accordance with the established terms and conditions. Further, these commercial loans are mainly secured by residential real estate collateral. Due to the historical trend of increasing home values, losses in the residential mortgage portfolio have been minimal. Therefore, reserves allocated to the secured loans to local financial institutions and to the Corporation's residential real estate portfolios are not significant.

The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2006 totaled $158.3 million as compared to $148.0 million at December 31, 2005. Though non-accruing loans increased $117.8 million during 2006, $60.1 million of such increase related to residential real estate loans for which, as noted above, the Corporation has not recognized significant reserves because historical losses have been minimal.

The total provision for income tax amounted to $27.4 million (or 24% of pre-tax earnings) for 2006 as compared to $15.0 million (or 12% of pre-tax earnings) in 2005. The increase in income tax expense was primarily due to recording a deferred tax asset in 2005 in connection with the accrual relating to the class action lawsuit. The current income tax expense decreased to $59.2 million in 2006, as compared to $75.2 million in 2005. The decrease in the current expense for 2006 was mainly attributable to the decrease in taxable income. Such decrease was partially offset by FirstBank, the banking subsidiary, exceeding the 20% limitation of net income attributable to its International Banking Entity as per the International Banking Act of Puerto Rico, rendering part of its previously exempt income now taxable.

The Corporation's total assets as of December 31, 2006 amounted to $17.4 billion, a decrease of $2.5 billion from $19.9 billion as of December 31, 2005. The decrease in total assets as of December 31, 2006 was mainly due to a decrease in total loans of $1.4 billion and a decrease of $1.1 billion in total investments, including money market instruments. The decrease in the Corporation's loan portfolio was mainly due to the previously announced payment of $2.4 billion by Doral of its outstanding secured commercial loans with the Corporation. Excluding this substantial partial repayment, total loans increased by approximately $1.0 billion. The increase is attributable to $426 million in residential real estate, $125 million in commercial mortgage, $374 million in construction loans and $277 million in commercial loans.

The decrease in investment securities was due to the Corporation's decision not to reinvest the payments received upon maturities and prepayments of the Corporation's investment portfolio, mainly mortgage-backed securities. Proceeds from Doral's payment, prepayments, and maturities of investment securities were utilized to fund growth in higher-yielding loans and to pay down maturing certificates of deposit and repurchase agreements.

Total deposits at December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $11.0 billion and $12.5 billion, respectively. The decrease is mainly attributable to the Corporation's decision during the second half of 2006 to pay down maturing short-term brokered CDs with available funds received from Doral's repayment of $2.4 billion. The decision to pay down these deposits was influenced, among other things, the flat to inverted yield curve. The Corporation decided to repay higher maturing liabilities, in particular brokered CDs, rather than investing the proceeds at a negative spread. Total deposits are composed of branch-based deposits, brokered CDs and, to a lesser extent, institutional deposits. Institutional deposits include, among others, certificates issued to agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico and to government agencies in the Virgin Islands.

The Corporation uses federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements, advances from FHLB, notes payable and other borrowings, such as trustpreferred securities, as additional funding sources. At December 31, 2006, total borrowings amounted to $4.7 billion as compared to $5.8 billion at December 31, 2005.

The Corporation's capital totaled $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2006, an increase of $31.7 million compared to the balance as of December 31, 2005. The change in capital for 2006 is composed of earnings of $84.6 million and the issuance of 2,379,000 shares of common stock through the exercise of stock options with proceeds of $19.8 million offset in part by cash dividends of $63.6 million, and by a negative non-cash valuation of securities available- for-sale of $14.5 million.

First BanCorp and its banking subsidiaries were "well-capitalized" for bank regulatory purposes as of December 31, 2006.

Key Factors Impacting Net Income

The year 2006 presented a number of macro-economic and regulatory challenges. The most important aspects that affected 2006 results were: (1) the impact on interest expense from the increase of 80 basis points in the 3-month LIBOR rate (flat to inverted yield curve); (2) the adverse economic conditions of Puerto Rico which increased the net charge-offs in the consumer portfolios; (3) the $20.6 million of one-time expenses; and (4) the loss income from the substantial partial repayment by Doral of $2.4 billion.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

As previously announced on April 3, 2006, First BanCorp adopted the long- haul method of effectiveness testing under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" (SFAS 133), for substantially all of the interest rate swaps that hedge the brokered CDs and medium-term notes issued by its principal subsidiary, FirstBank. After that date, changes in the value of FirstBank's brokered CDs and medium-term notes substantially offset the changes in the value of the interest rate swaps.

On May 3, 2007, the Corporation announced that it elected the early adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS 157), and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" (SFAS 159), effective beginning January 1, 2007. With the implementation of SFAS 157 and SFAS 159, instead of reversing the previously recorded non-cash losses through earnings over the life of the swaps, the remaining portion of the previously recognized non-cash losses are recorded as a one-time increase to retained earnings of $92.2 million as of January 1, 2007.

Increase to Salaries & Benefits

Salaries and benefits were $127.5 million in 2006, as compared to $102.1 million in 2005. The increase is attributable to an increase in average salary and employee benefits and an increase in headcount due to: (i) full deployment of the Corporation's middle-market business strategy and staffing of regional offices, (ii) staffing the risk management areas of the Corporation, (iii) opening of new branches, (iv) the effect of one-full year of expenses at FirstBank Florida in 2006 vs. nine months in 2005, and (v) the implementation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (Revised)" requiring the expensing of the fair value of stock options given to employees which totaled $5.4 million in 2006.

One-time Increases to Operating Expenses

Professional fees were $32.1 million during 2006, as compared to $13.4 million in 2005. The increase for 2006 to $20.6 million, from $6.1 million in 2005, was primarily due to legal, accounting and consulting fees associated with the internal review conducted by the Corporation's Audit Committee as a result of the restatement and other related legal and regulatory proceedings.

Restatement of Cash Flows Statements

During the preparation of the 2006 consolidated financial statements, management became aware of several items that were incorrectly classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, which resulted in the restatement of the consolidated statement of cash flows for those years. Please refer to Item 4.02 in Form 8-K filed concurrently with this press release.

Accounting, Legal and Regulatory Update

First BanCorp continues to make significant progress in its pending legal and regulatory matters. Throughout 2006 and 2007, the Corporation has progressed towards potential settlement of class action lawsuit brought against the Corporation as a result of the restatement process. Furthermore, the Corporation has undertaken significant steps towards the potential settlement with the SEC regarding a formal investigation initiated by them principally pertaining to the accounting for certain mortgage-related transactions with two large mortgage originators in Puerto Rico during calendar years 1999 through 2005.

Regarding regulatory compliance matters, the Corporation has made significant progress in fulfilling the requirements of the previously announced Cease and Desist Order dated March 16, 2006, entered into with the Federal Reserve Bank, the FDIC and the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico, relating to certain mortgage-related transactions and the Cease and Desist Order dated August 24, 2006, with respect to the Bank's compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA").

First BanCorp and FirstBank have taken various actions, including the substantial reduction of the credit risk concentration in connection with certain loans outstanding to two large mortgage originators in Puerto Rico to levels acceptable to regulatory agencies and to bring it within parameters set forth in the policies adopted by the Corporation. Additionally, First BanCorp has implemented a number of enhanced procedures and controls to help ensure a proper control environment going forward. This includes the institution of effective controls over the documentation and communication of relevant terms of certain mortgage loans bulk purchase transactions, improved communications from the Corporation to both the Audit Committee and the independent registered public accounting firm, and improved anti-fraud controls and procedures. Other key initiatives instituted by management and the Board of Directors have included changes in management and the composition of the Board, appointment of a lead independent director, a full corporate governance review, the implementation of an enhanced risk management program and ethics training for directors and employees. "First BanCorp's Board of Directors, its management, and all employees have worked diligently to achieve an environment of enhanced governance and controls," said Fernando Scherrer, First BanCorp's Chief Financial Officer.

Furthermore, the Bank has refined the core elements of the BSA Program, including a full review of the BSA policies, programs and procedures, completed a comprehensive risk assessment of the Bank's customers, products, services, operations and internal controls, bank size, and businesses geographic locations for BSA, expanded its training programs and reviewed its independent testing procedures to ensure full compliance with BSA.

With respect to the financial reporting in 2006, the Corporation completed restatement of its financial statements for 2000 through 2004, and, in early 2007, the Corporation filed 2005 financial statements. "With today's filing of the 2006 Form 10-K, we are coming closer in the process of becoming current on all financial reporting and can continue to roll out our strategic plan for the future," continued Mr. Scherrer.

Financial Reporting

With the filing of the 2006 Form 10-K, First BanCorp becomes current with the annual reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the New York Stock Exchange. However, the Corporation has not yet filed with the SEC the restated quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, and has not yet filed quarterly reports for the quarters ended June 30, 2005 and restated 2004, September 30, 2005 and restated 2004, March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006 and March 31, 2007 or the financial information required by all of those reports. The Corporation expects to file the required interim financial information during the summer of 2007.

Strategic Initiatives

First BanCorp continued to execute a series of strategic initiatives created and launched in 2005 throughout the organization to generate growth and improve financial performance. Central to the strategy is positioning FirstBank as an integrated "one stop shop" for individuals, small and medium- size businesses and larger corporate customers. First BanCorp is focused on providing these customer segments multiple products, including checking accounts, CDs, mortgages, construction loans, small business lines of credit, insurance, and auto and truck leasing and rental. FirstBank's long-term growth strategy also includes expanding its geographic presence which it began with the acquisition in 2005 of Unibank, later renamed FirstBank Florida, and building upon its strong presence and reputation for quality service in Puerto Rico and on its existing branch network in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

First BanCorp also continued to deploy its middle-market strategy. This strategy is concentrated on attracting corporate middle-market commercial clients (defined as requiring up to $5 million in lending) with personalized attention through the opening of regional offices in strategic municipalities. This strategy has increased First BanCorp's loan portfolio as well as direct deposits accounts.

Capital Raise Update

First BanCorp announced on February 16, 2007 a private placement offering, valuing the stock at $10.25 per share for a total purchase price of approximately $94.8 million. The valuation reflected a premium of approximately 5% over the volume weighted-average closing share price over the 30 trading day period ending January 30, 2007. After the investment, Scotiabank will hold 10% of First BanCorp's then outstanding common shares. Closing of the transaction is subject only to approval by the Federal Reserve Board. The application has been submitted and both parties have been working with the Federal Reserve Board towards the completion of the approval process.

About First BanCorp

First BanCorp is the parent corporation of FirstBank Puerto Rico, a state- chartered commercial bank with operations in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Florida; of FirstBank Insurance Agency; and of Ponce General Corporation. First BanCorp, FirstBank Puerto Rico and FirstBank Florida, formerly Unibank, the thrift subsidiary of Ponce General, all operate within U.S. banking laws and regulations. The Corporation operates a total of 153 financial services facilities throughout Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and Florida. Among the subsidiaries of FirstBank Puerto Rico are Money Express, a finance company; First Leasing and Car Rental, a car and truck rental leasing company; and FirstMortgage, a mortgage origination company. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, FirstBank operates First Insurance VI, an insurance agency; First Trade, Inc., a foreign corporation management company; and First Express, a small loan company. First BanCorp's common and preferred shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols FBP, FBPPrA, FBPPrB, FBPPrC, FBPPrD and FBPPrE.

Safe Harbor

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" concerning the Corporation's future economic performance. The words or phrases "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "should," "believes" and similar expressions are meant to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation reform Act of 1995.

The Corporation wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such "forward-looking statements," which speak only as of the date made, and to advise readers that various factors, including the Corporation's ability to file the required quarterly information so that the Corporation can return to compliance with the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the completion of the sale of shares of common stock to Scotiabank, which is conditioned on, among other things, regulatory approvals, the ability to finalize the settlement of the shareholder litigation and to settle the SEC inquiry relating to First BanCorp's recent restatement of its financial statements, interest rate risk relating to the secured loans to Doral and R&G Financial, the continued repayment by Doral and R&G Financial of its outstanding loans, the impact on net income of the reduction in net interest income resulting from the repayment of a significant amount of the commercial loans to Doral, the impact of the consent orders on the Corporation's future operations and results, the Corporation's ability to continue to implement the terms of the consent orders, FirstBank's ability to issue brokered certificates of deposit, its liquidity, the ability to fund operations, changes in the interest rate environment, regional and national economic conditions, competitive and regulatory factors and legislative changes, could affect the Corporation's financial performance and could cause the Corporation's actual results for future periods to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. The Corporation does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any "forward- looking statements" to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Exhibits of Results For The Year Ended December 31, 2006 Table 1. Selected Financial Data (Dollars in thousands except for per share and financial ratios results) 2006 2005 2004 Condensed Income Statements: Year ended Total interest income $1,288,813 $1,067,590 $690,334 Total interest expense (1) 845,119 635,271 292,853 Net interest income 443,694 432,319 397,481 Provision for loan and lease losses 74,991 50,644 52,800 Non-interest income 31,336 63,077 59,624 Non-interest expenses 287,963 315,132 180,480 Income before income tax provision 112,076 129,620 223,825 Income tax provision 27,442 15,016 46,500 Net income 84,634 114,604 177,325 Per Common Share Results (2): Year ended Net income per common share diluted $0.53 $0.90 $1.65 Net income per common share basic $0.54 $0.92 $1.70 Cash dividends declared $0.28 $0.28 $0.24 Average shares outstanding 82,835 80,847 80,419 Average shares outstanding diluted 83,138 82,771 83,010 Balance Sheet Data: End of year Loans and loans held for sale $11,263,980 $12,685,929 $9,697,994 Allowance for loan and lease losses 158,296 147,999 141,036 Investments 5,544,183 6,653,924 5,699,201 Total assets 17,390,256 19,917,651 15,637,045 Deposits 11,004,287 12,463,752 7,912,322 Borrowings 4,662,271 5,750,197 6,300,573 Total common equity 679,453 647,741 654,233 Total equity 1,229,553 1,197,841 1,204,333 Book value per common share 8.16 8.01 8.10 Selected Financial Ratios (In Percent): Year ended Net interest margin (3) 2.84 3.23 3.37 Net income to average total assets 0.44 0.64 1.30 Net income to average total equity 7.06 8.98 15.73 Net income to average common equity 6.85 10.23 23.75 Average total equity to average total assets 6.25 7.09 8.28 Dividend payout ratio 52.50 30.46 14.10 Efficiency ratio (4) 60.62 63.61 39.48 Common Stock Price: End of year $9.53 $12.41 $31.76 Offices: Number of full service branches 71 68 57 (1) Includes the changes in fair value of interest rate swaps that hedge brokered certificates of deposit. (2) Amounts presented were recalculated, when applicable, to retroactively consider the effect of the June 30, 2005 two-for-one common stock split. (3) On a tax-equivalent basis and excluding changes in fair value of interest rate swaps and basis adjustment. (4) Non-interest expense to the sum of net interest income and non-interest income. Table 2. Other Operating Expenses Year ended December 31, 2006 2005 2004 (Dollars in thousands) Employees' compensation and benefits $127,523 $102,078 $82,440 Occupancy and equipment 54,440 47,582 39,430 Deposit insurance premium 1,614 1,248 979 Other taxes, insurance and supervisory fees 17,881 14,071 11,615 Professional fees - recurring 11,455 7,317 4,165 Professional fees - restatement related and other nonrecurring 20,640 6,070 - Servicing and processing fees 7,297 6,573 2,727 Business promotion 17,672 18,718 16,349 Communications 9,165 8,642 7,274 Provision for contingencies -- 82,750 -- Other 20,276 20,083 15,501 Total $287,963 $315,132 $180,480 Table 3. Financial Condition Average balance sheet of the Corporation. December 31, 2006 2005 2004 (Dollars in thousands) Assets Interest-earning assets: Money market investments $1,444,533 $636,114 $308,962 Government obligations 2,827,196 2,493,725 2,061,280 Mortgage-backed securities 2,540,394 2,738,388 2,729,125 Corporate bonds 8,347 48,311 57,462 FHLB stock 26,914 71,588 56,698 Equity securities 27,155 50,784 43,876 Total investments 6,874,539 6,038,910 5,257,403 Residential real estate loans 2,606,664 1,813,506 1,127,525 Construction loans 1,462,239 710,753 379,356 Commercial loans 5,593,018 7,171,366 5,079,832 Finance leases 322,431 243,384 183,924 Consumer loans 1,783,384 1,570,468 1,244,386 Total loans 11,767,736 11,509,477 8,015,023 Total interest-earning assets 18,642,275 17,548,387 13,272,426 Total non-interest-earning assets (1) 540,636 452,652 348,712 Total assets $19,182,911 $18,001,039 $13,621,138 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Interest-bearing liabilities: Interest-bearing checking accounts $371,422 $376,360 $317,634 Savings accounts 1,022,686 1,092,938 1,020,228 Certificates of deposit 10,479,500 8,386,463 5,065,390 Interest bearing deposits 11,873,608 9,855,761 6,403,252 Other borrowed funds 4,543,262 5,001,384 4,235,215 FHLB advances 273,395 890,680 1,056,325 Total interest-bearing liabilities 16,690,265 15,747,825 11,694,792 Total non-interest-bearing liabilities 1,294,563 976,705 799,114 Total liabilities 17,984,828 16,724,530 12,493,906 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock 550,100 550,100 550,100 Common stockholders' equity 647,983 726,409 577,132 Stockholders' equity 1,198,083 1,276,509 1,127,232 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $19,182,911 $18,001,039 $13,621,138 (1) Includes the allowance for loan losses and the valuation on investment securities available-for-sale. Table 4. Loans Receivable

Composition of the loan portfolio including loans held for sale at year- end.

% of % of % of December 31, 2006 Total 2005 Total 2004 Total (Dollars in thousands) Residential real estate loans, including loans held for sale $2,772,630 25% $2,346,945 18% $1,322,650 14% Commercial mortgage 1,215,040 11% 1,090,193 9% 690,900 7% Construction loans 1,511,608 13% 1,137,118 9% 398,453 4% Commercial loans 2,698,141 24% 2,421,219 19% 1,871,851 19% Commercial loans to local financial institutions collateralized by real estate mortgages and pass-through trust certificates 932,013 8% 3,676,314 29% 3,841,908 40% Total commercial loans 6,356,802 56% 8,324,844 66% 6,803,112 70% Finance leases 361,631 3% 280,571 2% 212,234 2% Consumer loans 1,772,917 16% 1,733,569 14% 1,359,998 14% Total $11,263,980 100% $12,685,929 100% $9,697,994 100% Table 5. Non-performing Assets December 31, 2006 2005 2004 (Dollars in thousands) Non-accruing loans: Residential real estate $114,828 $54,777 $31,577 Commercial, commercial real estate and construction 82,713 35,814 32,454 Finance leases 8,045 3,272 2,212 Consumer 46,501 40,459 25,422 252,087 134,322 91,665 Other real estate owned 2,870 5,019 9,256 Other repossessed property 12,103 9,631 7,291 Investment securities -- -- -- Total non-performing assets $267,060 $148,972 $108,212 Past due loans $31,645 $27,501 $18,359 Non-performing assets to total assets 1.54% 0.75% 0.69% Non-accruing loans to total loans 2.24% 1.06% 0.95% Allowance for loan and lease losses $158,296 $147,999 $141,036 Allowance to total non-accruing loans 62.79% 110.18% 153.86% Allowance to total non-accruing loans excluding residential real estate loans 115.33% 186.06% 234.72% Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding during the period 0.55% 0.39% 0.48% Table 6. Capital Position

The Corporation's and its banking subsidiary's regulatory capital positions.

Regulatory requirement For capital To be Actual adequacy purposes well capitalized Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio (Dollars in thousands) At December 31, 2006 Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) First BanCorp $1,500,211 12.46% $963,560 8% N/A N/A FirstBank $1,398,527 12.25% $913,141 8% $1,141,427 10% FirstBank Florida $63,970 11.35% $45,086 8% $56,357 10% Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) First BanCorp $1,357,320 11.27% $481,780 4% N/A N/A FirstBank $1,258,074 11.02% $456,571 4% $684,856 6% FirstBank Florida $61,770 10.96% $22,543 4% $33,814 6% Tier I Capital (to Average Assets) First BanCorp $1,357,320 7.97% $680,846 4% N/A N/A FirstBank $1,258,074 7.76% $648,397 4% $810,496 5% FirstBank Florida $61,770 8.10% $$30,505 4% $38,131 5% At December 31, 2005 Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) First BanCorp $1,454,862 10.72% $1,086,138 8% N/A N/A FirstBank $1,419,996 10.89% $1,042,918 8% $1,303,648 10% FirstBank Florida $53,502 10.97% $39,030 8% $48,787 10% Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets) First BanCorp $1,317,841 9.71% $543,078 4% N/A N/A FirstBank $1,287,693 9.85% $521,459 4% $782,189 6% FirstBank Florida $51,951 10.65% $19,515 4% $29,272 6% Tier I Capital (to Average Assets) First BanCorp $1,317,841 6.72% $784,185 4% N/A N/A FirstBank $1,284,693 6.78% $758,109 4% $947,637 5% FirstBank Florida $51,951 7.99% $26,015 4% $32,519 5%