99% equity participation in UBCI, Grupo Cuscatlan 's holding company.09 per
Minute

BEDMINSTER, N.09 per minute plus airtime on calls from anywhere on the
America's Choice network.8 million voice and data customers.

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4 billion in assets and generated $490 million in net income
for the year ended December 31, 2004.'s commitment to the
development of the Americas and the state-of-the-art technology called for in
our time in the financial world., Verizon Wireless, owner and
operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, is making it easier
for customers to keep in touch with family and friends around the globe.

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is a full financial services provider with operations in
Puerto Rico, the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America. In
the United States, Popular, Inc. invest in
the economies of Central America through our group.

pakistan peru

rico regional

Grupo Cuscatlan
1-917 -679-3596 (503)- 212 -3601

poland regional

This investment agreement confirms , once again, the trust Grupo
Cuscatlan's business plan generates in the international financial arena , and
strengthens its position as one of the main economic driving forces in Central
America, as expressed by the President of Grupo Cuscatlan, engineer Mauricio
Samayoa, "At Grupo Cuscatlan, we feel proud and pleased of being one of the
main economic driving forces of the region, and having Popular, Inc.verizonwireless.

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4 billion in assets, and a distribution network of 188 agencies .* Calling internationally from a Verizon Wireless
phone has never been more affordable.
"Customers are increasingly more global in their business dealings as well
as in their personal lives ," said Bill Stone, vice president of marketing for
Verizon Wireless.

$. Vincent / Grenadine
Poland Turkey
Portugal Trinidad and Tobago
Singapore Turks and Caicos
South Korea Zimbabwe
Spain
Sweden
Taiwan
United Kingdom

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless
network, serving 43.

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Popular Inc. and Grupo Cuscatlan Sign Investment Agreement

signed an investment agreement for the acquisition by Popular, Inc.

Popular, Inc. offers a complete range of financial services.

south territory

This agreement advances Popular, Inc.'s objectives to offer high -quality
technological services and strengthen the economic development of the Central
American region. EVERTEC, its financial
transaction processing company, offers its experience in technology and
electronic banking throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.35/Minute
Mexico Argentina Antigua
$.

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99 per month and receive lower-than -ever international calling
rates that start at $.09/Minute $.

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Popular,
Inc.verizonwireless .

poland asia

10/Minute Belize Aruba
Canada Brazil Bangladesh
$.

central caribbean

of a
19. Grupo
Cuscatlan has operations in El Salvador , Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras,
Panama, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and Bahamas, as well as an
important family remittances transfer service and a license granted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to operate as a securities broker
dealer, both in the United States., "This investment represents an extraordinary medium for the
development of state-of-the-art technology in terminals and transactions
processing services to regional financial institutions, backed by the
experience and expertise of EVERTEC," and it also supports the region's
economic expansion process .
Starting today, customers can take advantage of Verizon Wireless' new
International Long Distance Value Plan for an affordable way to connect with
people around the world, including Asia, Central America, Europe, South
America, the Caribbean and other North American countries. "With the International Long Distance Value Plan,
customers are receiving substantial discounts off of standard long distance
rates on their international calls making it even more convenient and
affordable to use their Verizon Wireless phone for all their long distance
calling."
Customers interested in signing up for the International Long Distance
Value Plan can call 1-800-2 JOIN IN to speak with a Verizon Wireless customer
service representative.

regional p

Verizon Wireless Makes It More Affordable to Stay Connected Around the World for Business or for Fun

International Long Distance Value Plan Offers Rates Starting at $.99 monthly access.

panama central

com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050425/MXM004 )
The signing of this agreement between Grupo Cuscatlan and Popular, Inc. This agreement also signifies an important step in the
strengthening of Grupo Cuscatlan in Central America and its objectives to
enter the markets of the United States and the Caribbean. has over $44.

Contacts:
For more information:
Teruca Rullan Patricia S.

* International Long Distance Rates when on the International Long
Distance Value Plan for $3. Kitts - Nevis
Norway St. To preview and request broadcast-quality
video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log
on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at
http://www .com/multimedia.

palestinian regional

(Photo: http://www.

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com.

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As the leading financial institution in
Puerto Rico , Popular, Inc. Verizon Wireless' products and services are also
available at more than 1,900 Verizon Wireless stores nationwide, including
Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and stores within Circuit City, as well
as at authorized retailers including Best Buy and participating RadioShack
locations .

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SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Grupo
Cuscatlan, through Corporacion UBC Internacional, S., and Popular , Inc. Lucia
Philippines St.

portugal asia

newscom.20/Minute Bolivia Barbados
Australia Chile Ecuador
Belgium Costa Rica Egypt
Cayman Islands El Salvador Ghana
China Guatemala Grenada
Colombia India Haiti
France Panama Iran
Germany Peru Jordan
Greece Russia Lebanon
Hong Kong Thailand Montserrat
Ireland Venezuela Netherlands - Antilles
Israel Nicaragua
Italy Romania
Japan Saudi Arabia
Netherlands South Africa
New Zealand St.

asia portugal

has established the largest Hispanic-owned
financial services through its subsidiaries Banco Popular North America,
Popular Cash Express and Popular Financial Holdings.
Eligible Verizon Wireless customers with America's Choice(SM) or North
America's Choice calling plans can add the International Long Distance Value
Plan for $3. Headquartered in
Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications
(NYSE: VZand LSE: VOD).verizonwireless.

poland east

A. Find more information on the Web
at http://www.

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represents a decisive step in the creation of a company dedicated to offering
electronic transaction processing services to financial institutions in
Central America through EVERTEC, Popular, Inc.'s processing and technology
subsidiary.

Grupo Cuscatlan is a Central American corporation with more than
$4. Carrion, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Popular, Inc."
This transaction truly portrays the meaning of the advertising phrase that
currently accompanies the communications of Banco Cuscatlan: A regional bank
for minds without borders, as well as Popular, Inc. Customers can find information and purchase Verizon Wireless
products and services online at http://www.com.

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de Jovel
First Vice President Regional Director
Global Communications Communications
Popular, Inc.J.

islands poland

According to Richard L.30/Minute $.