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<TITLE>Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance</TITLE>
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<P style="font-size: 14pt" align="center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT
style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549 </FONT></B>

<P style="font-size: 18pt" align="center"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P style="font-size: 12pt" align="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 13, 2008</B>


<P style="font-size: 24pt" align="center"><B>Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.<BR>
</B><FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name
of registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>Pennsylvania</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>1-16581</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>23-2453088</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania<BR>
</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>19102</B></TD>
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 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code: <B>(215)
557-4630</B>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap><B>n/a<BR>
</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
 </TR>

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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Written communications pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule
14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))<BR>


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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">On October&nbsp;13, 2008, Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
(&#8220;<U>Sovereign</U>&#8221;) issued a press release pre-announcing third quarter 2008&nbsp;results. The press
release, attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference, is being furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the&nbsp;&#8220;<U>SEC</U>&#8221;) and shall not be deemed to be
&#8220;filed&#8221; for any purposes.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">(d)&nbsp;Exhibits
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap align="left">Exhibit No.</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap align="center">Description</TD>
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<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">99.1 </DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Press Release, dated October&nbsp;13, 2008, of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.</TD>
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>SIGNATURES</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 46%" align="left">SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC. &nbsp;

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Dated: October&nbsp;14,&nbsp;2008

<P style="margin-top: -11pt; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 46%" align="left">By:<U> /s/ Stacey V.
Weikel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>
<BR>
Name: Stacey V. Weikel <BR>
Title: Senior Vice President

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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">EXHIBIT INDEX
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap align="left">Exhibit No.</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap align="center">Description</TD>
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<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">99.1 </DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Press Release, dated October&nbsp;13, 2008, of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.</TD>
 </TR>
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{"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": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-16581", "film-number": "081120715"}, "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"}}
Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 13, 2008
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact name
of registrant as specified in its charter)
Pennsylvania
1-16581
23-2453088
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19102
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(215)
557-4630
n/a
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule
14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On October 13, 2008, Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
("
Sovereign
") issued a press release pre-announcing third quarter 2008 results. The press
release, attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference, is being furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "
SEC
") and shall not be deemed to be
"filed" for any purposes.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release, dated October 13, 2008, of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.
Dated: October 14, 2008
By:
/s/ Stacey V.
Weikel
Name: Stacey V. Weikel
Title: Senior Vice President
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release, dated October 13, 2008, of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.