Last week’s announcement by Oriental Financial Group of its intention to buy BBVA Puerto Rico’s operation for $500 million will “immediately transform” the former’s day-to-day operations into a more bank-like institution, something management has been striving for in recent years, an industry analyst said over the weekend.

Oriental Financial Group Inc. has entered into an definitive agreement to buy Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.’s Puerto Rico operations for $500 million in cash, the companies announced this morning.