EXHIBIT 23.2 Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants To the Board of Directors Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 33-20186 on Form S-8, Registration Statement No. 33-29038 on Form S-8, Registration Statement No. 33-39453 on Form S-8, Registration Statement No. 33-44108 on Form S-8, Registration Statement No. 33-89586 on Form S-8 and Registration Statement No. 33-89592 on Form S-8 of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries of our report dated November 24, 1994 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiary, which report appears in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1995. /s/ BDO Seidman, LLP BDO SEIDMAN, LLP Woodridge, New Jersey March 27, 1996