<ARTICLE>                                            9
<CIK>                                             0000811830
<NAME>                                         Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                          1,000
<CURRENCY>                                           Dollars

                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                       1,000
<CASH>                                              709,775
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<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                          0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                          0
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<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                            2,304,307
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<ALLOWANCE>                                        (175,377)
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<SHORT-TERM>                                      7,859,492
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<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
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<INTEREST-INVEST>                                   177,228
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                          0
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<LOAN-LOSSES>                                         8,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  (17,587)
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<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      40,175
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<CHANGES>                                                 0
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<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                            0
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<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              14,358