<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>sv8</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 19, 2007.
</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top:0pt"><B>Registration No.&nbsp;333-______</B>
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>








<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES <BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Pennsylvania</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>23-2453088</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Exact Name of Registrant as <BR>
Specified in its Charter)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(State or Other Jurisdiction<BR>
of Incorporation or<BR>
Organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(I.R.S. Employer<BR>
Identification<BR>
Number)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>

</DIV>

<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>1500 Market Street<BR>
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102<BR>
(215)&nbsp;557-4630</B>

</DIV>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><DIV style="margin-TOP: 1px"><FONT style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including</FONT></DIV></DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">area code, of registrant&#146;s principal executive offices)</DIV>



<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><DIV style="margin-BOTTOM: 1px"><FONT style="border-BOTTOM: 1px solid #000000"><B>Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan</B></FONT></DIV>

</DIV>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Full title of the Plan)</DIV>



<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>Joseph P. Campanelli<BR>
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.<BR>
1500 Market Street<BR>
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102<BR>
(215)&nbsp;557-4630</B>

</DIV>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><DIV style="margin-top: 1px"><FONT style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,</FONT></DIV></DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">including area code, of agent for service)</DIV>



<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>

</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Copies to:
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>David W. Swartz, Esquire<BR>
Stevens &#038; Lee<BR>
111 North Sixth Street<BR>
P.O. Box 679<BR>
Reading, Pennsylvania 19603-0679<BR>
(610)&nbsp;478-2184</B>

</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="54%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="15" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of each class of</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Amount to be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>offering price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>aggregate</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>securities to be registered</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>registered (1)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>per share</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>offering price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>registration fee</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock, no par value
(and associated stock
purchase rights)</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">1,000,000 (2)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$21.95 (3)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$21,950,000.00</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$673.87</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="15" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 3pt; width: 18%; border-top: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;416, this Registration Statement covers, in addition to the number of shares stated herein, an
indeterminate number of shares which may be subject to grant or otherwise issuable by reason of stock splits, stock dividends,
or similar transactions.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Based on the maximum number of shares of the Registrant&#146;s common stock, no par value, authorized for issuance under the
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933 solely for the purpose of calculating the
amount of the registration fee based upon the average of the high and low prices for a share of the Registrant&#146;s common stock
on July 16, 2007, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>





<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">








<!-- TOC -->
<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

<P><CENTER>
<TABLE border="0" width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="76%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">PART II</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#001">Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#002">Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#003">Item&nbsp;5. Interest of Named Experts and Counsel</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#004">Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#005">Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#006">Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#007">Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#008">SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#009">EXHIBIT INDEX</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="w36907exv5w1.htm">Opinion of Stevens & Lee</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="w36907exv23w1.htm">Consent of Ernst & Young LLP</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<!-- /TOC -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>








<!-- link1 "PART II " -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In this Registration Statement, &#147;Sovereign,&#148; &#147;we,&#148; &#147;us,&#148; and &#147;our&#148; refer to Sovereign Bancorp,
Inc.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;SEC&#148;) are
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and made a part hereof:
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2006;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2007;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January&nbsp;18, 2007, February&nbsp;20, 2007,
March&nbsp;14, 2007, March&nbsp;20, 2007, March&nbsp;22, 2007,
March&nbsp;23, 2007, April&nbsp;5, 2007 and June&nbsp;8, 2007; and
our Current Report on Form 8-K/A (Amendment No. 5) filed on June
29, 2007;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A
filed with the SEC on June&nbsp;29, 2007, and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of
updating such Registration Statement;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)&nbsp;the description of our stock purchase rights contained in our Registration Statement on
Form 8-A/A, filed with the SEC on June&nbsp;29, 2007, and any amendments or reports filed for the
purpose of updating such Registration Statement; and
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)&nbsp;all other documents filed by us after the date of this Registration Statement under
Section&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement which indicates that all securities
offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and part of this Registration
Statement from the date of filing of such documents.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5. Interest of Named Experts and Counsel" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Interest of Named Experts and Counsel.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The validity of the shares of Sovereign common stock issuable under the Sovereign Bancorp,
Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan have been passed upon by Stevens &#038; Lee, Reading
and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Stevens &#038; Lee and its attorneys own in the aggregate approximately
400,000 shares of Sovereign common stock.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->1<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="004"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pennsylvania law provides that a Pennsylvania corporation may indemnify directors, officers,
employees, and agents of the corporation against liabilities they may incur in such capacities for
any action taken or any failure to act, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify the person under any provision of law, unless such action or failure to act is determined
by a court to have constituted recklessness or willful misconduct. Pennsylvania law also permits
the adoption of a bylaw amendment, approved by shareholders, providing for the elimination of a
director&#146;s liability for monetary damages for any action taken or any failure to take any action
unless (1)&nbsp;the director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his office and (2)&nbsp;the
breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct, or recklessness.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our bylaws provide for (1)&nbsp;indemnification of our directors, officers, employees, and agents
and (2)&nbsp;the elimination of a director&#146;s liability for monetary damages, to the fullest extent
permitted by Pennsylvania law.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Directors and officers are also insured against certain liabilities for their actions, as
such, by an insurance policy obtained by us.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="005"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->2<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="006"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">3.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, of Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 of
Sovereign&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended
March&nbsp;31, 2007.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">3.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Bylaws, as amended and restated, of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 of Sovereign&#146;s Quarterly
Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2007.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the &#147;Rights
Agreement), dated as of January&nbsp;19, 2005, between Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 of Sovereign&#146;s Current Report on Form
8-K/A No.&nbsp;3, filed January&nbsp;24, 2005.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the
&#147;Amendment&#148;), dated as of October&nbsp;24, 2005, between Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.2 to Sovereign&#146;s Current Report on Form
8-K/A No.&nbsp;4, filed October&nbsp;28, 2005.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
(the &#147;Second Amendment&#148;), dated as of June&nbsp;29, 2007, between
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.3 of Sovereign Bancorp&#146;s
Form&nbsp;8-K/A No.&nbsp;5 filed June&nbsp;29, 2007.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of Rights Certificate (Incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;B to the Second Amendment.). Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, the Amendment and the Second Amendment, Rights will not
be distributed until after the Distribution Date (as defined in the
Rights Agreement).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Stevens &#038; Lee.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation
Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.22 of Sovereign&#146;s
Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2006.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Stevens &#038; Lee. (Included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Powers of Attorney of Directors and Officers. (Included on the
signature page.)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="007"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)&nbsp;To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)&nbsp;To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the
registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
(if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and
any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in
the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the &#147;Calculation of Registration Fee&#148; table in the effective registration
statement; and
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)&nbsp;To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in
the registration statement;
</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports
filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant
to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,
each filing of an employee benefit plan&#146;s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->4<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->5<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="008"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on July&nbsp;17,
2007.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="58%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="36%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="left"><B>SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Joseph P. Campanelli&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Joseph P. Campanelli</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">President and Chief Executive Officer</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Joseph P. Campanelli, Mark R. McCollom, Thomas R. Brugger and Richard A. Toomey, Jr., and
each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, as agent with full power of substitution and
resubstitution of him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, to sign any or all
amendments to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and
purposes as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/ Joseph P. Campanelli&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director, President and<br></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Joseph P. Campanelli</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Executive Officer<br></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">(Principal Executive Officer)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/ Gonzalo de las Heras&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Gonzalo de las Heras</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/ P. Michael Ehlerman&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chairman of the Board and<br></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">P. Michael Ehlerman</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/ Brian Hard&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Brian Hard</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/ Marian L. Heard&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Marian L. Heard</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->6<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/&nbsp;Andrew C. Hove, Jr.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Andrew C. Hove, Jr.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/&nbsp;William J. Moran</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">William J. Moran</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/&nbsp;Maria Fiorini Ramirez</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Maria Fiorini Ramirez</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/&nbsp;Juan Rodriguez-Inciarte</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Juan Rodriguez-Inciarte</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/&nbsp;Alberto Sanchez</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Alberto Sanchez</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/&nbsp;Cameron C. Troilo, Sr.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Cameron C. Troilo, Sr.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/&nbsp;Ralph V. Whitworth</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Ralph V. Whitworth</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/&nbsp;Mark R. McCollom</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Financial Officer and<br></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Mark R. McCollom</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Executive Vice President<br></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">(Principal Financial Officer)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">/s/&nbsp;Thomas D. Cestare</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Accounting Officer and<br></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">July 17, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Thomas D. Cestare</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Executive Vice President<br></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">(Principal Accounting Officer)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->7<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT INDEX" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="009"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center">Number</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">Description</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">3.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, of Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 of
Sovereign&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended
March&nbsp;31, 2007.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">3.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Bylaws, as amended and restated, of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 of Sovereign&#146;s Quarterly
Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2007.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of January
19, 2005, between Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor
Services LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 of
Sovereign&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K/A No.&nbsp;3, filed January&nbsp;24,
2005.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the
&#147;Amendment&#148;),dated as of October&nbsp;24, 2005, between Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.2 to Sovereign&#146;s Current Report on Form
8-K/A No.&nbsp;4, filed October&nbsp;28, 2005.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
(the &#147;Second Amendment&#148;), dated as of June&nbsp;29, 2007, between
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.3 of Sovereign Bancorp&#146;s
Form&nbsp;8-K/A No.&nbsp;5 filed June&nbsp;29, 2007.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of Rights Certificate (Incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;B to the Second Amendment.). Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, the Amendment and the Second Amendment, Rights will not
be distributed until after the Distribution Date (as defined in the
Rights Agreement).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Stevens &#038; Lee.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation
Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.22 of Sovereign&#146;s
Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2006.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Stevens &#038; Lee. (Included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Powers of Attorney of Directors and Officers. (Included on the
signature page.)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->8<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "w36907sv8.htm", "description": "FORM S-8 SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 57058}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SOVEREIGN BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000811830", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "232453088", "state-of-incorporation": "PA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-144700", "film-number": "07989132"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1500 MARKET ST", "city": "PHILADELPHIA", "state": "PA", "zip": "19102", "phone": "2155574630"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "MC11-900-IR5", "street2": "1130 BERKSHIRE BLVD", "city": "WYOMISSING", "state": "PA", "zip": "19610"}}
sv8
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 19, 2007.
Registration No. 333-______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
Pennsylvania
23-2453088
(Exact Name of Registrant as
Specified in its Charter)
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or
Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification
Number)
1500 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
(215) 557-4630
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan
(Full title of the Plan)
Joseph P. Campanelli
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
1500 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
(215) 557-4630
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
David W. Swartz, Esquire
Stevens & Lee
111 North Sixth Street
P.O. Box 679
Reading, Pennsylvania 19603-0679
(610) 478-2184
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed maximum
Proposed maximum
Title of each class of
Amount to be
offering price
aggregate
Amount of
securities to be registered
registered (1)
per share
offering price
registration fee
Common Stock, no par value
(and associated stock
purchase rights)
1,000,000 (2)
$21.95 (3)
$21,950,000.00
$673.87
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416, this Registration Statement covers, in addition to the number of shares stated herein, an
indeterminate number of shares which may be subject to grant or otherwise issuable by reason of stock splits, stock dividends,
or similar transactions.
(2)
Based on the maximum number of shares of the Registrant's common stock, no par value, authorized for issuance under the
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan.
(3)
Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933 solely for the purpose of calculating the
amount of the registration fee based upon the average of the high and low prices for a share of the Registrant's common stock
on July 16, 2007, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART II
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
Item 4. Description of Securities
Item 5. Interest of Named Experts and Counsel
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
Item 8. Exhibits
Item 9. Undertakings
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
Opinion of Stevens & Lee
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
Table of Contents
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
In this Registration Statement, "Sovereign," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Sovereign Bancorp,
Inc.
The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") are
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and made a part hereof:
(a) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006;
(b) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2007;
(c) our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 18, 2007, February 20, 2007,
March 14, 2007, March 20, 2007, March 22, 2007,
March 23, 2007, April 5, 2007 and June 8, 2007; and
our Current Report on Form 8-K/A (Amendment No. 5) filed on June
29, 2007;
(d) the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A
filed with the SEC on June 29, 2007, and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of
updating such Registration Statement;
(e) the description of our stock purchase rights contained in our Registration Statement on
Form 8-A/A, filed with the SEC on June 29, 2007, and any amendments or reports filed for the
purpose of updating such Registration Statement; and
(f) all other documents filed by us after the date of this Registration Statement under
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement which indicates that all securities
offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and part of this Registration
Statement from the date of filing of such documents.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interest of Named Experts and Counsel.
The validity of the shares of Sovereign common stock issuable under the Sovereign Bancorp,
Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan have been passed upon by Stevens & Lee, Reading
and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Stevens & Lee and its attorneys own in the aggregate approximately
400,000 shares of Sovereign common stock.
1
Table of Contents
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Pennsylvania law provides that a Pennsylvania corporation may indemnify directors, officers,
employees, and agents of the corporation against liabilities they may incur in such capacities for
any action taken or any failure to act, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify the person under any provision of law, unless such action or failure to act is determined
by a court to have constituted recklessness or willful misconduct. Pennsylvania law also permits
the adoption of a bylaw amendment, approved by shareholders, providing for the elimination of a
director's liability for monetary damages for any action taken or any failure to take any action
unless (1) the director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his office and (2) the
breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct, or recklessness.
Our bylaws provide for (1) indemnification of our directors, officers, employees, and agents
and (2) the elimination of a director's liability for monetary damages, to the fullest extent
permitted by Pennsylvania law.
Directors and officers are also insured against certain liabilities for their actions, as
such, by an insurance policy obtained by us.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not Applicable.
2
Table of Contents
Item 8. Exhibits
Number
Description
3.1
Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, of Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of
Sovereign's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2007.)
3.2
Bylaws, as amended and restated, of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Sovereign's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.)
4.1
Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the "Rights
Agreement), dated as of January 19, 2005, between Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Sovereign's Current Report on Form
8-K/A No. 3, filed January 24, 2005.)
4.2
Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the
"Amendment"), dated as of October 24, 2005, between Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Sovereign's Current Report on Form
8-K/A No. 4, filed October 28, 2005.)
4.3
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
(the "Second Amendment"), dated as of June 29, 2007, between
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Sovereign Bancorp's
Form 8-K/A No. 5 filed June 29, 2007.)
4.4
Form of Rights Certificate (Incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit B to the Second Amendment.). Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, the Amendment and the Second Amendment, Rights will not
be distributed until after the Distribution Date (as defined in the
Rights Agreement).
5.1
Opinion of Stevens & Lee.
10.1
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation
Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of Sovereign's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2
Consent of Stevens & Lee. (Included in Exhibit 5.1.)
24.1
Powers of Attorney of Directors and Officers. (Included on the
signature page.)
3
Table of Contents
Item 9. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the
registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
(if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and
any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in
the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in
the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports
filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.
2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant
to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,
each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
4
Table of Contents
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
5
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on July 17,
2007.
SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.
By
/s/ Joseph P. Campanelli
Joseph P. Campanelli
President and Chief Executive Officer
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Joseph P. Campanelli, Mark R. McCollom, Thomas R. Brugger and Richard A. Toomey, Jr., and
each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, as agent with full power of substitution and
resubstitution of him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, to sign any or all
amendments to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and
purposes as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Joseph P. Campanelli
Director, President and
July 17, 2007
Joseph P. Campanelli
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Gonzalo de las Heras
Director
July 17, 2007
Gonzalo de las Heras
/s/ P. Michael Ehlerman
Chairman of the Board and
July 17, 2007
P. Michael Ehlerman
Director
/s/ Brian Hard
Director
July 17, 2007
Brian Hard
/s/ Marian L. Heard
Director
July 17, 2007
Marian L. Heard
6
Table of Contents
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Andrew C. Hove, Jr.
Director
July 17, 2007
Andrew C. Hove, Jr.
/s/ William J. Moran
Director
July 17, 2007
William J. Moran
/s/ Maria Fiorini Ramirez
Director
July 17, 2007
Maria Fiorini Ramirez
/s/ Juan Rodriguez-Inciarte
Director
July 17, 2007
Juan Rodriguez-Inciarte
/s/ Alberto Sanchez
Director
July 17, 2007
Alberto Sanchez
/s/ Cameron C. Troilo, Sr.
Director
July 17, 2007
Cameron C. Troilo, Sr.
/s/ Ralph V. Whitworth
Director
July 17, 2007
Ralph V. Whitworth
/s/ Mark R. McCollom
Chief Financial Officer and
July 17, 2007
Mark R. McCollom
Executive Vice President
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Thomas D. Cestare
Chief Accounting Officer and
July 17, 2007
Thomas D. Cestare
Executive Vice President
(Principal Accounting Officer)
7
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT INDEX
Number
Description
3.1
Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, of Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of
Sovereign's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2007.)
3.2
Bylaws, as amended and restated, of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Sovereign's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.)
4.1
Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of January
19, 2005, between Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor
Services LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of
Sovereign's Current Report on Form 8-K/A No. 3, filed January 24,
2005.)
4.2
Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the
"Amendment"),dated as of October 24, 2005, between Sovereign
Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Sovereign's Current Report on Form
8-K/A No. 4, filed October 28, 2005.)
4.3
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
(the "Second Amendment"), dated as of June 29, 2007, between
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services LLC.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Sovereign Bancorp's
Form 8-K/A No. 5 filed June 29, 2007.)
4.4
Form of Rights Certificate (Incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit B to the Second Amendment.). Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, the Amendment and the Second Amendment, Rights will not
be distributed until after the Distribution Date (as defined in the
Rights Agreement).
5.1
Opinion of Stevens & Lee.
10.1
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Compensation
Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of Sovereign's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2
Consent of Stevens & Lee. (Included in Exhibit 5.1.)
24.1
Powers of Attorney of Directors and Officers. (Included on the
signature page.)
8