SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549

                         FORM 10-K/NO. 1

[X]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1996, or

[ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, for the transition period
     from  N/A  to ______.

                  Commission File Number 0-16533

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

          Pennsylvania                             23-2453088    
(State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                Identification No.)

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

Registrant's telephone number:  (610) 320-8400

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                               None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                Common Stock (without par value)
                        (Title of class)

         6-1/4% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
                  Series B (without par value)
                        (Title of class)

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes   X  .  No      .

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein,
and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge,
in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by
reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]

     The aggregate market value of the shares of Common Stock of
the Registrant held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant was
$826,654,852 at March 3, 1997.  As of March 3, 1997, the
Registrant had 65,477,612 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

               DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     The Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement to be used in
connection with its 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is
incorporated herein by reference in response to Part III hereof.

                             PART IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on
Form 8-K.

(a) 1.  Financial Statements.

     Consolidated financial statements are omitted because the
required information is either not applicable, not required or is
shown in the respective financial statements in the notes
thereto.

2.  Financial Statement Schedules.

     Financial statement schedules are omitted because the
required information is either not applicable, not required or is
shown in the respective financial statements or in the notes
thereto.

3.  Exhibits.

(3.1)     Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, of
          Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 3.1 to Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K
          for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.)

(3.2)     By-laws of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. (Incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Sovereign's Annual Report
          on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
          1993.)

(4.1)     Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. has certain long-term debt
          outstanding.  None of the instruments evidencing such
          debt authorized an amount of securities in excess of
          10% of the total assets of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and
          its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; therefore,
          copies of such instruments are not included as exhibits
          to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Sovereign Bancorp,
          Inc. agrees to furnish copies of such instruments to
          the Commission on request.

(10.1)    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. Stock Option Plan. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
          Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
          year ended December 31, 1994.)

(10.2)    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
          Sovereign's Registration Statement No. 33-44108 on
          Form S-8.)

(10.3)    Agreement dated as of September 15, 1992, between
          Sovereign Bancorp, Inc., Sovereign Bank, a Federal
          Savings Bank, and Jay S. Sidhu.  (Incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Sovereign's Annual Report
          on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
          1992.)

(10.4)    Agreement dated as of September 15, 1992, between
          Sovereign Bank, a Federal Savings Bank and Karl D.
          Gerhart.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to
          Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
          year ended December 31, 1992.)

(10.5)    Agreement dated as of September 15, 1992, between
          Sovereign Bank, a Federal Savings Bank and Lawrence M.
          Thompson, Jr.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.5 to Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K
          for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992.)

(10.6)    Penn Savings Bank Senior Officer Incentive Plan. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to
          Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
          ended December 31, 1994.)

(10.11)   Rights Agreement dated September 19, 1989, between
          Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Harris Trust Company of New
          York.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to
          Sovereign's Registration Statement No. 33-89586 on
          Form S-8).

(10.12)   Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. Non-Employee Director Incentive
          Compensation Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.12 to Sovereign's Registration Statement
          No. 33-43195 on Form S-1).

(10.14)   1993 Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. Stock Option Plan. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to
          Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
          ended December 31, 1992).

(10.15)   Indemnification Agreement dated December 21, 1993,
          between Sovereign Bank and Jay S. Sidhu.  (Incorporated
          by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to Sovereign's Annual
          Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1993.)

(10.16)   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 16, 1994, by
          and between Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Charter FSB
          Bancorp, Inc.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 2.1 to Sovereign's Registration Statement
          No. 33-82846 on Form S-4.)

(10.17)   Branch Purchase and Deposit Assumption Agreement, dated
          September 19, 1994, between Berkeley Federal Bank &
          Trust FSB and Sovereign Bank, a Federal Savings Bank. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to
          Sovereign's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
          September 16, 1994.)

(10.18)   Employment Agreement dated as of August 8, 1988,
          between Charter Federal Savings Bank and Patrick J.
          Petrone.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23
          to Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
          fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.)

(10.19)   Amendment to Employment Agreement between Patrick J.
          Petrone and Charter Federal Savings Bank, dated
          October 17, 1994.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.24 to Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K
          for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.)

(10.20)   Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
          Registration Statement No. 33-36895 of Charter FSB
          Bancorp, Inc. on Form S-8).

(10.21)   Amendments to Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. Stock Incentive
          Plan.  (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2
          to Registration Statement No. 33-36895 of Charter FSB
          Bancorp, Inc. on Form S-8.)

(10.22)   Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Non-
          Employee Directors.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 33-36896 of
          Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. Form S-8.)

(10.23)   Amendments to Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. Stock Option
          Plan for Non-Employee Directors.  (Incorporated herein
          by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Registration Statement
          No. 33-36896 of Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. on Form S-8).

(10.24)   Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of
          September 27, 1995, between Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and
          Chemical Bank, as successor to Harris Trust Company of
          New York, as Rights Agent.  (Incorporated by reference
          to Exhibit 2.2 of Amendment No. 1 of Sovereign's
          Registration Statement on Form 8-A.)

(10.26)   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 29, 1995,
          between Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and West Jersey
          Bancshares, Inc.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 2.1 to Sovereign's Registration
          Statement 33-64807 on Form S-4.)

(11.1)    Computation of Per Share Earnings. *

(21)      Subsidiaries of the Registrant *

(23.1)    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors *

(27)      Amended Financial Data Schedule

* Previously Filed.

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K.

     1.  Report on Form 8-K, dated February 2, 1996 (date of
earliest event -- January 31, 1996), contained a press release
outlining Sovereign's strategic vision for year 2000.

     2.  Report on Form 8-K, dated February 13, 1996, (date of
earliest event -- January 18, 1996), contained a press release
announcing Sovereign's earnings for the year ended December 31,
1995.

     3.  Report on Form 8-K, dated May 31, 1996 (date of earliest
event -- May 31, 1996), contained a press release announcing
Sovereign's completion of the acquisition of West Jersey
Bancshares, Inc.

     4.  Report on Form 8-K, dated July 29, 1996 (date of
earliest event -- July 15, 1996), contained a press release
announcing Sovereign's earnings for the second quarter of 1996.

     5.  Report on Form 8-K, dated October 30, 1996 (date of
earliest event -- October 22, 1996), contained a press release
announcing Sovereign's earnings for the third quarter of 1996.

     6.  Report on Form 8-K, dated November 27, 1996 (date of
earliest event -- November 26, 1996), contained a press release
announcing an amendment to the Definitive Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of June 24, 1996, between Sovereign and First
State Financial Services, Inc.

                           SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.

                              SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.
                              (Registrant)

July 10, 1997                 By/s/ Mark R. McCollom            
                                   Mark R. McCollom,
                                   Chief Accounting Officer

                          EXHIBIT INDEX

(3.1)     Articles of Incorporation, as amended and
          restated, of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
          Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
          the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.)

(3.2)     By-laws of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to
          Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
          the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993.)

(4.1)     Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. has certain long-term
          debt outstanding.  None of the instruments
          evidencing such debt authorized an amount of
          securities in excess of 10% of the total
          assets of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and its
          subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;
          therefore, copies of such instruments are not
          included as exhibits to this Annual Report on
          Form 10-K.  Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. agrees to
          furnish copies of such instruments to the
          Commission on request.

(10.1)    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. Stock Option Plan. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
          Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
          the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.)

(10.2)    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock
          Purchase Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 4.1 to Sovereign's Registration
          Statement No. 33-44108 on Form S-8.)

(10.3)    Agreement dated as of September 15, 1992,
          between Sovereign Bancorp, Inc., Sovereign
          Bank, a Federal Savings Bank, and Jay S.
          Sidhu.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.3 to Sovereign's Annual Report on
          Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1992.)

(10.4)    Agreement dated as of September 15, 1992,
          between Sovereign Bank, a Federal Savings
          Bank and Karl D. Gerhart.  (Incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Sovereign's
          Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
          year ended December 31, 1992.)

(10.5)    Agreement dated as of September 15, 1992,
          between Sovereign Bank, a Federal Savings
          Bank and Lawrence M. Thompson, Jr. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to
          Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
          the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992.)

(10.6)    Penn Savings Bank Senior Officer Incentive
          Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.6 to Sovereign's Annual Report on
          Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
          1994.)

(10.11)   Rights Agreement dated September 19, 1989,
          between Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Harris
          Trust Company of New York.  (Incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Sovereign's
          Registration Statement No. 33-89586 on
          Form S-8).

(10.12)   Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. Non-Employee Director
          Incentive Compensation Plan.  (Incorporated
          by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Sovereign's
          Registration Statement No. 33-43195 on
          Form S-1).

(10.14)   1993 Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. Stock Option
          Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.23 to Sovereign's Annual Report on
          Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
          1992).

(10.15)   Indemnification Agreement dated December 21,
          1993, between Sovereign Bank and Jay S.
          Sidhu.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.25 to Sovereign's Annual Report on
          Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1993.)

(10.16)   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 16,
          1994, by and between Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
          and Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc.  (Incorporated
          by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Sovereign's
          Registration Statement No. 33-82846 on
          Form S-4.)

(10.17)   Branch Purchase and Deposit Assumption
          Agreement, dated September 19, 1994, between
          Berkeley Federal Bank & Trust FSB and
          Sovereign Bank, a Federal Savings Bank. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to
          Sovereign's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
          September 16, 1994.)

(10.18)   Employment Agreement dated as of August 8,
          1988, between Charter Federal Savings Bank
          and Patrick J. Petrone.  (Incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Sovereign's
          Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
          year ended December 31, 1994.)

(10.19)   Amendment to Employment Agreement between
          Patrick J. Petrone and Charter Federal
          Savings Bank, dated October 17, 1994. 
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24
          to Sovereign's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
          the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.)

(10.20)   Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. Stock Incentive
          Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement
          No. 33-36895 of Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. on
          Form S-8).

(10.21)   Amendments to Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. Stock
          Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated herein by
          reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Registration
          Statement No. 33-36895 of Charter FSB
          Bancorp, Inc. on Form S-8.)

(10.22)   Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. Stock Option Plan
          for Non-Employee Directors.  (Incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registration
          Statement No. 33-36896 of Charter FSB
          Bancorp, Inc. Form S-8.)

(10.23)   Amendments to Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. Stock
          Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors. 
          (Incorporated herein by reference to
          Exhibit 4.2 to Registration Statement No. 33-
          36896 of Charter FSB Bancorp, Inc. on
          Form S-8).

(10.24)   Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of
          September 27, 1995, between Sovereign
          Bancorp, Inc. and Chemical Bank, as successor
          to Harris Trust Company of New York, as
          Rights Agent.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 2.2 of Amendment No. 1 of Sovereign's
          Registration Statement on Form 8-A.)

(10.26)   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
          September 29, 1995, between Sovereign
          Bancorp, Inc. and West Jersey Bancshares,
          Inc.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 2.1 to Sovereign's Registration
          Statement 33-64807 on Form S-4.)

(11.1)    Computation of Per Share Earnings. *

(21)      Subsidiaries of the Registrant *

(23.1)    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors *

(27)      Amended Financial Data Schedule

* Previously Filed.