<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-12-442551.txt : 20121227
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-12-442551.hdr.sgml : 20121227
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121031082453
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-12-442551
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121031

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ORIENTAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001030469
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				660538893
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MONACILLOS 1000
		STREET 2:		SAN ROBERTO ST
		CITY:			RIO PIEDRAS
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00926
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7877661986

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MONACILLOS 1000
		STREET 2:		SAN ROBERTO ST
		CITY:			RIO PIEDRAS
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00926
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
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<TITLE>CORRESP</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">[ORIENTAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC. LETTERHEAD] </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">October&nbsp;31, 2012 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>VIA
EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Michael Clampitt </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Securities and Exchange Commission </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Division of Corporation Finance </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">100 F Street, NE </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Washington, DC 20549-7553
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Re:</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Oriental Financial Group Inc. <U> </U></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.&nbsp;333-184497)</U> </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Clampitt: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, Oriental Financial Group Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) respectfully requests that the effectiveness of the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (the &#147;Registration Statement&#148;), be accelerated so that it
will be declared effective at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, October&nbsp;31, 2012, or as soon as possible thereafter. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Company hereby acknowledges that: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">should the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing
effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the Company from
its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; and </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">the Company may not assert staff comments and the declaration of effectiveness as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person
under the federal securities laws of the United States. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please contact the undersigned, at
(787)&nbsp;993-4206, or Helena K. Grannis of Cleary Gottlieb Steen&nbsp;&amp; Hamilton LLP, counsel to the Company, at (212)&nbsp;225-2376, as soon as the Registration Statement has been declared effective, or if you have any other questions or
concerns regarding this matter. </FONT></P>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Mr. Michael Clampitt </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Securities and Exchange Commission </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">October 31, 2012 </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">p. 2 </FONT></P> <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Very truly yours,</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="3"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">ORIENTAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">By:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/<SMALL>S</SMALL>/ C<SMALL>ARLOS</SMALL> O.
S<SMALL>OUFFRONT</SMALL></FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Carlos O. Souffront</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U></U>Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;General Counsel</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">cc:</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Ben Phippen, Securities and Exchange Commission </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Sharon Blume, Securities and Exchange Commission </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">David Lyon, Securities and Exchange Commission </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Hugh Gonzalez, Oriental Financial Group Inc. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Leslie N. Silverman, Cleary Gottlieb Steen&nbsp;&amp; Hamilton LLP </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Helena K. Grannis, Cleary Gottlieb Steen&nbsp;&amp; Hamilton LLP </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2 </FONT></P>

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