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               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549

                            FORM 8-K

                         CURRENT REPORT

               Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
               The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 13, 1995   

                      SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.                    
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Pennsylvania               0-16533           23-2453088  
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission       (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)          File Number)       Ident. No.)

1130 Berkshire Boulevard, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania      19610    
     (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (610) 320-8400

                               N/A                               
 (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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Item 5.  Other Evens.


     The press release of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. dated July 13,
1995, announcing expected earnings for the second quarter of
1995, is attached as Exhibit 99 hereto and is incorporated herein
by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (a)  Exhibits.

          The following exhibits are filed herewith:

          99   Press Release, dated July 13, 1995, of Sovereign
               Bancorp, Inc.

                           SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                              SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.

Dated:  July 13, 1995

                              By/s/ Karl D. Gerhart             
                                   Karl D. Gerhart
                                   Chief Financial Officer and
                                   Treasurer

                          EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                  Page Number
                                                  In Manually
                                                     Signed
Exhibit Number                                      Original 

     99   Press Release, dated July 13, 1995,
          of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.