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 dated March 11, 1999, with
respect to the consolidated financial statements of Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for
the year ended December 31, 1998, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on June 1, 1999.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 8, 1999