Exhibit 23.5

Consent of Independent Accountants

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration
statement of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. on Form S-3, filed on or
about September 9, 1999, of our report dated February 2, 1998, on
our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Carnegie
Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997, and for
the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, which report is
included in Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K/
A for the year ended December 31, 1998.  We also consent to the
reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such registration
statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Princeton, New Jersey
September 8, 1999