Exhibit 23.1

                 Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Experts" in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related
Prospectus of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and to the incorporation
by reference therein of our report date February 5, 2001, except
for Note 26, as to which the date is March 1, 2001, with respect
to the consolidated financial statements of Sovereign Bancorp,
Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year
ended December 31, 2000, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young, LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
October 10, 2001