<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-19-052312.txt : 20191003
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-19-052312.hdr.sgml : 20191003
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20191003165255
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-19-052312
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20191003
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20191003

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALLESTER ALEJANDRO M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001482780

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34084
		FILM NUMBER:		191136384

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 364548
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00936-4548

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POPULAR INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000763901
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				660667416
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		209 MUNOZ RIVERA AVE
		STREET 2:		POPULAR CENTER BUILDING
		CITY:			HATO REY
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00918
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7877659800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 362708
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00936-2708

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANPONCE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc5a.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5/A SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2018-02-12</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000763901</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POPULAR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BPOP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001482780</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BALLESTER ALEJANDRO M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 364548</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JUAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00936-4548</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>PUERTO RICO</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Par Value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5.53</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>484.716</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by daughter</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired pursuant to reinvestment of dividends paid by the Corporation and which are exempt under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Amount of securities has been adjusted to include 1.123 shares acquired by the reporting person pursuant to reinvestment of dividends paid by the Corporation in transactions exempt from Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act, which were unintentionally omitted from the reporting person's Form 5.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Marie Reyes-Rodriguez, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-10-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
