Santander Holdings USA (SOV) 10-Q 2005 Q1 Quarterly report

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jay S. Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all in material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Jay S. Sidhu

Jay S. Sidhu

Chief Executive Officer

May 9, 2005