"The closing of the transaction allows us to move forward with doing the things we have to do in the U.S. mainland as we focus on our core banking franchise," said Richard L. Carrion, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Popular, Inc.

Popular, Inc. is a full service financial institution based in Puerto Rico with operations in Puerto Rico, the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America. As the leading financial institution in Puerto Rico, with over 300 branches and offices, the Corporation offers retail and commercial banking services through its franchise, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, as well as auto and equipment leasing and financing, mortgage loans, consumer lending, investment banking, broker / dealer and insurance services through specialized subsidiaries. In the United States, the Corporation has established a community banking franchise providing a broad range of financial services and products to the communities it serves through its subsidiaries of Banco Popular North America which operates branches in New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Florida, E-LOAN and Popular Financial Holdings.

The Corporation, through its transaction processing company, EVERTEC, continues to use its expertise in technology as a competitive advantage in its expansion throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as internally servicing many of its subsidiaries' system infrastructures and transactional processing businesses. The Corporation is exporting its 114 years of experience through these regions while continuing its commitment to meet the needs of retail and business clients through innovation, and foster growth in the communities it serves. -- Popular, Inc.