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.