PHILADELPHIA, July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. ("Sovereign" or "the Company") (NYSE: SOV), parent company of Sovereign Bank ("Bank"), today reported net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 of $127.4 million or $.22 per diluted share as compared to $100.1 million or $.20 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2008 and $147.5 million or $.29 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2007. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $227.6 million or $0.42 per diluted share compared to $195.5 million or $0.39 per diluted share for the six months ending June 30, 2007.

Highlights for the second quarter of 2008 were as follows:

-- On May 16, 2008 the Company issued $1.39 billion of common stock which increased Sovereign's tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per share to 6.04% and $6.90 at June 30, 2008 compared to 3.81% and $6.20 at March 31, 2008.

-- For the sixth consecutive quarter Sovereign's net interest margin has expanded and now stands at 3.06%, an increase of 18 basis points from the first quarter of 2008 and 35 basis points from the similar quarter in 2007.

-- Loan balances at March 31, 2008 declined by 2.57% on a linked-quarter basis primarily due to the securitization of $780 million in residential mortgages and a 7.5% decline in auto loans.

-- Deposit mix continued to improve with retail and commercial deposits comprising 81.2% of total deposits up from 75.4% a year ago.

-- Sovereign's allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans increased to 1.47% at June 30, 2008, compared to 1.36% at March 31, 2008 and .92% at June 30, 2007.

-- Sovereign's non-performing assets as a percentage of tangible equity and allowance for loan losses was 9.9% at June 30, 2008 compared to 12.2% at March 31, 2008 and 8.1% at June 30, 2007.

"Sovereign is on solid financial footing as we manage through the current uncertain economic climate," said Sovereign's President and CEO Joseph P. Campanelli. "Given the challenging operating environment, I am pleased with our results for the second quarter of 2008, which are consistent with our expectations. They reflect the prudent and proactive strategies we employed in the last year and demonstrate progress in reducing our risk profile, improving the quality of our earnings, and strengthening our operating metrics."

Net Interest Income and Margin

For the second quarter of 2008, Sovereign reported net interest income of $506 million as compared to $482 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $453 million in the similar quarter of 2007. The Company's net interest margin expanded 35 basis points during the second quarter of 2008 to 3.06% from the similar quarter a year ago. The main drivers of this expansion have been a reduction in the cost of deposits and short-term borrowings resulting from lower short-term market interest rates coupled with a shift in deposit mix to lower-cost categories.

On a linked-quarter basis, average loan balances were relatively unchanged at $58.2 billion with growth in commercial loans of 2.9% and direct home equity loans of 2.8% which was offset by declines in residential mortgage loans of 5.1% and auto loans of 5.7%. During the second quarter, the Company completed a mortgage securitization which converted $780 million of residential real estate loans into investment securities. This securitization will reduce credit risk and required levels of risk based capital as well as enhance liquidity. Sovereign's average loan balances increased $1.4 billion from the second quarter of 2007 primarily as a result of growth in commercial loans offset by declines in residential mortgage loans.

Sovereign's average deposits on a linked quarter basis declined by $1.1 billion which was primarily driven by decreases in costlier wholesale and government deposits of $1.2 billion. Sovereign's average retail and commercial deposits increased $285 million during the quarter due to growth in demand deposit accounts which was offset by declines in higher cost retail time deposits. Sovereign's average deposits decreased $3.2 billion from the second quarter of 2007 as the Bank grew retail and commercial deposits $1.2 billion and reduced its reliance on wholesale deposit sources by $4.4 billion.

Non-Interest Income

Consumer and commercial banking fees were $134.7 million, an increase of $5.4 million or 4.2% from a year ago and $7.1 million on a linked quarter basis. The increase from the prior periods is primarily attributable to increased sales of annuity products from our investment services group and higher commercial and consumer deposit fees.

Mortgage banking revenues for the quarter were $37.9 million, compared to a loss of $5.1 million on a linked quarter basis and $26.5 million in the same quarter a year ago. The loss in the prior quarter was attributed to mortgage and multi-family servicing right impairments of $23.6 million which were driven primarily by lower interest rates and higher market prepayment speed assumptions. In the second quarter of 2008, $20.5 million of this impairment was reversed as a result of the normalization in market prepayment speed assumptions at June 30, 2008.

Capital markets revenues for the second quarter of 2008 were $7.2 million compared to $10.4 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $6.0 million in the second quarter of 2007. The decline in revenues on a linked quarter basis was driven by higher volumes of derivative sales to our customers related to the rapid reduction in interest rates earlier in the year by the Federal Reserve.

Net investment gains of $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2008 were due to a gain of $6.5 million related to the sale of MasterCard stock which was partially offset, by a write-down of $4.6 million in the Company's residual interests in certain off-balance sheet home equity securitizations. Sovereign's maximum risk of loss on the remaining retained interests for these home equity securitizations is $2 million. The first quarter of 2008 included a net investment gain of $14.1 million related to the mandatory partial redemption of the VISA IPO shares.

Non-Interest Expense

General and administrative expenses were $382 million for the second quarter of 2008, as compared to $359 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $337 million in the similar quarter a year ago. Included in the first quarter of 2008 was a reduction in legal expense of $6.4 million related to the release of reserves established for the VISA litigation. As compared to the first quarter of 2008, the second quarter of 2008 included higher compensation and benefits expenses of $7.6 million primarily due to severance charges and a full quarter of merit increases, higher loan workout/collection and other real estate owned expenses of $5.3 million, and increased marketing expense of $3.5 million.

The increase in general and administrative expenses of $45 million from the second quarter of 2007 was primarily due to increased compensation and benefits expense of $21.2 million, driven by the aforementioned severance charges and merit increases in the second quarter of 2008 as well as higher incentive compensation accruals as a result of changes in the incentive compensation structure for retail and corporate plans to be better aligned with the marketplace. In addition, the Company incurred higher deposit insurance premiums of $7.7 million, higher legal, loan and other real estate owned expenses of $11.1 million related to the challenging credit environment and increased marketing expense of $2.6 million.

Other expenses totaled $42.8 million in the second quarter of 2008 compared to $37.5 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $79.5 million a year ago. Second quarter 2008 results included a decline in the fair market value on one of the Company's equity method investments of $6.4 million. The second quarter of 2007 results included restructuring charges of $32.7 million related to branch closings, freezing of the Company's ESOP plan and severance charges.

Asset Quality

Sovereign's provision for credit losses was $132 million in the second quarter of 2008, compared to $135 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $51 million in the second quarter of 2007. Sovereign increased its allowance for credit losses to $843.5 million, a $45.1 million increase from March 31, 2008, primarily due to continued deterioration in asset quality for the commercial portfolios, particularly in the for-sale housing segment. Sovereign's allowance for credit losses to total loans at June 30, 2008 increased to 1.47% up from 1.36% at March 31, 2008 and .92% at June 30, 2007.

Net charge-offs were $86.9 million this quarter versus $74.3 million in the prior quarter and $25.7 million in the similar quarter a year ago. Annualized net charge-offs were .60% of average loans for the current quarter, compared to .51% linked quarter and .18% a year ago. Approximately 34% of net charge-offs this quarter were attributable to run-off loan portfolios, net charge-offs related to the indirect auto portfolio outside the Company's footprint and correspondent home equity loans were $23.3 million and $6.2 million, respectively. This compares to 43% in the first quarter of 2008 as charge-offs on these two portfolios were $28.3 million and $4.0 million, respectively.

Non-performing loans increased to $490.5 million at June 30, 2008 compared to $417.8 million at March 31, 2008 and $282.4 million at June 30, 2007. The increase in non-performing loans on a linked quarter basis was driven primarily by real estate related loan categories: for-sale housing, Alt-A residential and one multi-family loan. Non-performing loans to total loans increased 14 basis points to .85% at June 30, 2008 compared to .71% at March 31, 2008 and .52% at June 30, 2007.

Capital

Sovereign's tangible equity to tangible assets including other comprehensive income ("OCI") was 6.29% at June 30, 2008 compared to 4.06% at March 31, 2008 and 4.69% a year ago. Tangible common equity to tangible assets including OCI was 6.04% at the end of the second quarter of 2008 compared to 3.81% on a linked quarter basis and 4.44% a year ago. Sovereign's Tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.34% at June 30, 2008, as compared to 6.21% at March 31, 2008 and 6.40% a year ago. Sovereign Bank's Tier 1 leverage ratio was 7.27% compared to 6.93% at June 30, 2007. The Bank's total risk-based capital ratio was 11.41% at June 30, 2008 compared to 10.45% a year ago. The increase in various capital ratios was due to the common stock offering and subordinated debt issuance on May 16, 2008, increased retained earnings and smaller asset size.

About Sovereign

Sovereign Bancorp, Inc., ("Sovereign") (NYSE: SOV), is the parent company of Sovereign Bank, a financial institution with principal markets in the Northeastern United States. Sovereign Bank has 750 community banking offices, over 2,300 ATMs and approximately 12,000 team members. Sovereign offers a broad array of financial services and products including retail banking, business and corporate banking, cash management, capital markets, wealth management and insurance. For more information on Sovereign Bank, visit http://www.sovereignbank.com or call 1-877-SOV-BANK.

Investors, analysts and other interested parties will have the opportunity to listen to a live web-cast of Sovereign's Second Quarter 2008 earnings call on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET at http://www.sovereignbank.com > Investor Relations > Events & Webcasts; or http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol- eventDetails&c=67999&eventID=1882657 (Due to length of URL, please copy and paste into Internet browser). International parties are invited to dial into the conference call at 706-679-7706. The webcast can be accessed at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Questions may be submitted during the call via email accessible from Sovereign Bancorp's broadcast and Investor Relations sites. A webcast replay will remain available via Sovereign's Investor Relations site. A telephone replay will be accessible from 12:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 through 12:00 a.m. ET (midnight) on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 by dialing 1-800-642-1687 in the U.S., international 706-645-9291, confirmation id # 53252875.

Note:

This press release contains statements with respect to Sovereign's vision, mission, strategies, goals, beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, intentions, financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business of Sovereign. These statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although Sovereign believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties which are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which are beyond Sovereign's control). Among the factors which would cause Sovereign's financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in the forward-looking statements are: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the regional and local economies in which Sovereign conducts operations; the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; adverse changes in the securities markets, including those related to the financial condition of significant issuers in our investment portfolio; the impact of changes in financial services policies, laws and regulations, including laws, regulations and policies concerning taxes, banking, capital, liquidity, proper accounting treatment, securities and insurance, and the application thereof by regulatory bodies and the impact of changes in and interpretation of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States; changes in asset quality; and Sovereign's success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing. If one or more of the factors affecting Sovereign's forward-looking information and statements proves incorrect, then Sovereign's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking statements only speak as of the date hereof. Sovereign does not intend to update any forward-looking information and statements, whether written or oral, to reflect any change.

Sovereign Bancorp is followed by several market analysts. Please note that any opinions, estimates, forecasts, or predictions regarding Sovereign Bancorp's performance or recommendations regarding Sovereign's securities made by these analysts are theirs alone and do not represent opinions, estimates, forecasts, predictions or recommendations of Sovereign Bancorp or its management. Sovereign Bancorp does not by its reference to any analyst opinions, estimates, forecasts regarding Sovereign's performance or recommendations regarding Sovereign's securities imply Sovereign's endorsement of or concurrence with such information, conclusions or recommendations.





    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (unaudited)

    (dollars in                             Quarter Ended
     thousands, except   June 30   Mar. 31     Dec. 31    Sept. 30     June 30
     per share data)       2008      2008        2007        2007        2007

    Interest and dividend income:
      Interest on
       interest-earning
       deposits              $997     $2,964      $1,615     $7,117    $4,144
      Interest on
       investment
       securities
        Available for
         sale             156,164    168,109     173,803    177,125   180,252
        Other               6,671      9,820      14,279     11,886    11,179
      Interest on
       loans              837,988    895,276     949,643    954,014   943,860
        Total interest
         and dividend
         income         1,001,820  1,076,169   1,139,340  1,150,142 1,139,435
    Interest expense:
      Deposits and
       related
       customer
       accounts           228,546    315,103     395,768    408,680   409,616
      Borrowings          267,144    278,886     277,548    284,701   276,435
        Total interest
         expense          495,690    593,989     673,316    693,381   686,051
        Net interest
         income           506,130    482,180     466,024    456,761   453,384
    Provision for
     credit losses        132,000    135,000     148,192    162,500    51,000
        Net interest
         income after
         provision for
         credit losses    374,130    347,180     317,832    294,261   402,384
    Non-interest income:
      Consumer banking
       fees                80,969     73,191      77,420     73,113    77,268
      Commercial banking
       fees (2)            53,747     54,453      56,695     44,155    52,046
      Mortgage banking
       revenue (1)         37,897     (5,133)      9,161      3,752    26,500
      Capital markets
       revenue              7,209     10,393     (18,310)   (12,627)    5,982
      Bank owned life
       insurance income    19,065     19,424      20,633     24,439    20,274
      Other                 6,322      5,297       7,584      8,557     8,227
        Total fees and
         other income
         before
         investment
         gains/
         (losses)         205,209    157,625     153,183    141,389   190,297
      Net gain/(loss) on
       investments (3)      1,908     14,135    (179,209)     1,884         -
        Total
         non-interest
         income           207,117    171,760     (26,026)   143,273   190,297
    Non-interest expense:
    General and administrative
      Compensation and
       benefits (4)       192,760    185,112     155,856    172,319   171,557
      Occupancy and
       equipment           74,868     78,013      77,325     75,217    75,637
      Technology
       expense             25,728     24,498      25,177     23,940    23,812
      Outside services     15,542     15,630      18,828     16,434    16,969
      Marketing expense    19,699     16,246      13,881     16,296    17,092
      Other
       administrative
       expenses (5)        53,266     39,765      46,537     37,440    31,525
        Total
         general and
         administrative   381,863    359,264     337,604    341,646   336,592
    Other expenses:
      Core deposit
       & other
       intangibles         28,106     29,122      30,141     31,066    32,257
      Goodwill
       impairment               -          -   1,576,776          -         -
      Other minority
       interest expense
       and equity method
       expense (6)         14,719      8,339      27,448      6,913    14,487
      Proxy and related
       professional fees        -          -           -          -      (125)
      Restructuring,
       other employee
       severance and
       debt repurchase
       charges                  -          -           -      6,029    35,938
      ESOP expense
       related to
       freezing of
       plan                     -          -           -          -    (3,266)
      Merger-related
       and integration
       charges                  -          -           -          -       166
        Total other
         expenses          42,825     37,461   1,634,365     44,008    79,457
          Total non-
           interest
           expense        424,688    396,725   1,971,969    385,654   416,049
        Income/
         (loss) before
          income taxes    156,559    122,215  (1,680,163)    51,880   176,632
    Income tax expense/
     (benefit)             29,120     22,080     (77,180)    (6,330)   29,180
        Net income/
         (loss)          $127,439   $100,135 $(1,602,983)   $58,210  $147,452


    (1) Mortgage banking activity is summarized below:

    Gains/(losses) on
     sale of mortgage
     loans and related
     securities and
     home equity
     loans (7)             $4,999     $3,977      $4,560     $3,971    $3,317
    Net gains/(losses)
     recorded under
     SFAS 133               1,602      1,370      (2,125)     1,781       783
    Mortgage servicing
     fees, net of
     mortgage servicing
     rights amortization    1,148      3,848       1,948        972     2,224
    Mortgage servicing
     right recoveries/
     (impairments)         19,837    (18,703)     (2,071)         -       656
    Net gains on sale
     of multifamily
     loans                  9,676      9,231       7,515      2,383     5,748
    Net gains/(losses)
     recorded on
     commercial
     mortgage backed
     securitization             -          -        (666)    (5,355)   13,772
    Multifamily servicing
     right recoveries/
     (impairments)            635     (4,856)          -          -         -
        Total
         mortgage
         banking
         revenues         $37,897    $(5,133)     $9,161     $3,752   $26,500


                                                      Year to Date
    (dollars in thousands,                       June 30       June 30
    except per share data)                        2008           2007

    Interest and dividend income:
      Interest on interest-earning deposits       $3,961        $10,380
      Interest on investment securities
        Available for sale                       324,273        370,087
        Other                                     16,491         25,480
      Interest on loans                        1,733,264      1,960,827
        Total interest and dividend income     2,077,989      2,366,774
    Interest expense:
      Deposits and related customer accounts     543,649        822,867
      Borrowings                                 546,030        602,670
        Total interest expense                 1,089,679      1,425,537
        Net interest income                      988,310        941,237
    Provision for credit losses                  267,000         97,000
        Net interest income after
         provision for credit losses             721,310        844,237
    Non-interest income:
      Consumer banking fees                      154,160        145,282
      Commercial banking fees (2)                108,200        101,454
      Mortgage banking revenue (1)                32,764        (80,705)
      Capital markets revenue                     17,602         11,671
      Bank owned life insurance income            38,489         40,783
      Other                                       11,619         17,694
        Total fees and other income before
         investment gains/(losses)               362,834        236,179
      Net gain/(loss) on investments (3)          16,043            970
        Total non-interest income                378,877        237,149
    Non-interest expense:
    General and administrative
      Compensation and benefits (4)              377,872        345,353
      Occupancy and equipment                    152,881        156,156
      Technology expense                          50,226         47,148
      Outside services                            31,172         32,247
      Marketing expense                           35,945         25,924
      Other administrative expenses (5)           93,031         59,760
        Total general and administrative         741,127        666,588
    Other expenses:
      Core deposit & other intangibles            57,228         65,510
      Goodwill impairment                              -              -
      Other minority interest expense and
       equity method expense (6)                  23,058         32,902
      Proxy and related professional fees              -           (516)
      Restructuring, other employee severance
       and debt repurchase charges                     -         55,970
      ESOP expense related to freezing of plan         -         40,119
      Merger-related and integration charges           -          2,242
        Total other expenses                      80,286        196,227
          Total non-interest expense             821,413        862,815
        Income/ (loss) before income taxes       278,774        218,571
    Income tax expense/ (benefit)                 51,200         23,060
        Net income/ (loss)                      $227,574       $195,511


    (1) Mortgage banking activity is summarized below:

    Gains/(losses) on sale of mortgage
     loans and related securities and
     home equity loans (7)                        $8,977      $(111,028)
    Net gains/(losses) recorded under SFAS 133     2,972            395
    Mortgage servicing fees, net of mortgage
     servicing rights amortization                 4,995          2,471
    Mortgage servicing right recoveries/
     (impairments)                                 1,134            656
    Net gains on sale of multifamily loans        18,906         16,305
    Net gains/(losses) recorded on commercial
     mortgage backed securitization                    -         10,496
    Multifamily servicing right recoveries/
     (impairments)                                (4,220)             -
        Total mortgage banking revenues          $32,764       $(80,705)


    (2) The third quarter of 2007 includes a LOCOM adjustment of $6.2 million
        on our loan syndication trading portfolio.
    (3) The first quarter of 2008 includes a $14.1 million gain on our
        membership share allocation of VISA's IPO shares.  Results for the
        fourth quarter of 2007 include a $180.5 million other-than-temporary
        impairment charge on FNMA & FHLMC preferred stock.
    (4) Second quarter of 2008 results include severance charges of $5.3
        million for recently terminated executives. Fourth quarter of 2007
        results include $18.7 million of incentive compensation accrual
        reversals due to corporate objectives not being achieved in 2007.
    (5) Other administrative expenses increased from first quarter 2008 levels
        due to the $6.4 million legal contingency reversal associated with the
        VISA IPO recorded in the first quarter as well as increased REO
        expense and loan expenses of $5.3 million.
    (6) Second quarter of 2008 results included a fair value adjustment of
        $6.4 million on one of our equity method investments.
    (7) First quarter of 2007 results include a LOCOM adjustment of $119.9
        million on correspondent home equity loans that were not sold as of
        March 31, 2007.



    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (unaudited)
                                          June 30      Mar. 31      Dec. 31
    (dollars in thousands)                  2008         2008         2007
    Assets
    Cash and amounts due
     from depository institutions        $1,140,965   $1,957,403   $3,130,770
    Investments:
      Available-for-sale                 11,118,184   10,958,419   13,941,847
      Other investments                     944,606    1,134,805    1,200,545
          Total investments              12,062,790   12,093,224   15,142,392
    Loans:
      Commercial                         32,435,333   32,181,592   30,912,972
      Consumer                           24,970,453   26,690,190   26,866,807
        Total loans                      57,405,786   58,871,782   57,779,779
    Less allowance for loan losses         (808,748)    (775,441)    (709,444)
        Total loans, net                 56,597,038   58,096,341   57,070,335
    Premises and equipment, net             559,986      555,773      562,332
    Accrued interest receivable             298,741      322,760      350,534
    Goodwill                              3,430,653    3,430,290    3,426,246
    Core deposit and other intangibles      314,888      342,994      372,116
    Bank owned life insurance             1,820,403    1,806,631    1,794,099
    Other assets                          2,971,985    3,307,303    2,897,572
        Total assets                    $79,197,449  $81,912,719  $84,746,396

    Liabilities and Stockholders'
     Equity
    Liabilities:
    Deposits and other customer related
     accounts:
      Retail and commercial deposits    $38,405,724  $39,292,245  $38,350,632
      Wholesale deposits                  3,177,527    3,756,952    4,807,369
      Government deposits                 3,190,784    3,314,420    4,003,224
      Customer repurchase agreements      2,520,073    2,633,112    2,754,680
        Total deposits                   47,294,108   48,996,729   49,915,905
    Borrowings and other debt
     obligations                         22,050,359   24,348,829   26,126,082
    Other liabilities                     1,471,894    1,743,380    1,565,654
        Total liabilities                70,816,361   75,088,938   77,607,641
    Minority interests                      147,139      146,784      146,430
    Stockholders' equity:
      Preferred Stock                       195,445      195,445      195,445
      Common Stock (1)                    7,701,024    6,298,254    6,295,572
      Warrants and employee stock options
       issued                               348,844      348,878      348,365
      Treasury stock                        (10,531)     (11,438)     (19,853)
      Accumulated other
       comprehensive loss                  (720,036)    (749,556)    (326,133)
      Retained earnings                     719,203      595,414      498,929
        Total stockholders' equity        8,233,949    6,676,997    6,992,325
        Total liabilities and
         stockholders' equity           $79,197,449  $81,912,719  $84,746,396


                                                  Sept. 30          June 30
    (dollars in thousands)                          2007              2007
    Assets
    Cash and amounts due
     from depository institutions                $3,992,731        $1,867,294
    Investments:
      Available-for-sale                         14,307,929        13,303,432
      Other investments                             981,921           798,452
        Total investments                        15,289,850        14,101,884
    Loans:
      Commercial                                 29,912,883        29,547,839
      Consumer                                   27,235,481        26,979,279
        Total loans                              57,148,364        56,527,118
    Less allowance for loan losses                 (629,747)         (503,685)
        Total loans, net                         56,518,617        56,023,433
    Premises and equipment, net                     559,040           570,074
    Accrued interest receivable                     384,812           368,849
    Goodwill                                      5,003,022         5,003,195
    Core deposit and other intangibles              402,257           433,164
    Bank owned life insurance                     1,773,829         1,764,137
    Other assets                                  2,683,170         2,605,061
        Total assets                            $86,607,328       $82,737,091

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Liabilities:
    Deposits and other customer related
     accounts:
      Retail and commercial deposits            $37,838,296       $37,578,525
      Wholesale deposits                          5,605,720         6,120,340
      Government deposits                         3,927,346         3,619,838
      Customer repurchase agreements              2,726,686         2,525,932
        Total deposits                           50,098,048        49,844,635
    Borrowings and other debt obligations        26,161,337        22,461,638
    Other liabilities                             1,475,954         1,504,788
        Total liabilities                        77,735,339        73,811,061
    Minority interests                              146,075           145,742
    Stockholders' equity:
      Preferred Stock                               195,445           195,445
      Common Stock (1)                            6,277,292         6,253,146
      Warrants and employee stock options
       issued                                       347,630           346,278
      Treasury stock                                (20,359)          (21,303)
      Accumulated other
       comprehensive loss                          (218,155)         (121,184)
      Retained earnings                           2,144,061         2,127,906
        Total stockholders' equity                8,725,914         8,780,288
        Total liabilities and stockholders'
         equity                                 $86,607,328       $82,737,091


    (1) June 30, 2008 balance reflects proceeds of $1.39 billion from the
        issuance of 179.7 million shares of common stock on May 16, 2008.



    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    (unaudited)
                                                  Quarter Ended
                                   June 30  Mar. 31  Dec. 31  Sept. 30 June 30
                                      2008    2008     2007     2007    2007
    (dollars in millions, except per
     share data)

    Per Share Data

    Basic earnings (loss) per share   $0.22   $0.20    $(3.34)  $0.11   $0.30
    Diluted earnings (loss) per
     share                             0.22    0.20     (3.34)   0.11    0.29
    Dividend declared per share           -       -      0.08    0.08    0.08
    Common book value per share (1)   12.13   13.43     14.12   17.76   17.92
    Tangible common book value per
     share (2)                         6.90    6.20      6.82    7.11    7.19
    Tangible common book value per
     share excluding OCI               7.99    7.75      7.50    7.57    7.44
    Common stock price:
      High                            $9.89  $13.07    $17.73  $21.94  $25.16
      Low                              7.14    9.28     10.08   16.58   21.14
      Close                            7.36    9.32     11.40   17.04   21.14
    Weighted average common shares:
      Basic (3)                       570.1   482.2     481.2   480.2   478.3
      Diluted (3) (4)                 571.4   482.2     481.2   480.2   512.6
    End-of-period common shares:
      Basic                           662.6   482.4     481.4   480.4   479.1
      Diluted                         691.3   511.5     511.0   512.4   512.3

    Performance Statistics

    Bancorp

    Net interest margin               3.06%   2.88%     2.77%   2.74%   2.71%
    Return on average assets          0.64%   0.50%    -7.74%   0.28%   0.72%
    Return on average tangible
     assets                           0.67%   0.52%    -8.25%   0.30%   0.77%
    Return on average equity          6.73%   5.78%   -72.92%   2.63%   6.71%
    Return on average tangible
     equity                          12.44%  11.67%  -174.96%   6.34%  16.17%
    Annualized net loan charge-offs
     to average loans                 0.60%   0.51%     0.42%   0.24%   0.18%
    Efficiency ratio (5)             53.68%  56.15%    54.52%  57.12%  52.29%


                                                         Year to Date
                                                   June 30           June 30
                                                     2008              2007
    (dollars in millions, except per
     share data)

    Per Share Data

    Basic earnings (loss) per share                  $0.42             $0.39
    Diluted earnings (loss) per share                 0.42              0.39
    Dividend declared per share                          -              0.16
    Common book value per share  (1)                 12.13             17.92
    Tangible common book value per share
     (2)                                              6.90              7.19
    Tangible common book value per share
     excluding OCI                                    7.99              7.44
    Common stock price:
      High                                          $13.07            $26.42
      Low                                             7.14             21.14
      Close                                           7.36             21.14
    Weighted average common shares:
      Basic (3)                                      527.2             476.7
      Diluted (3) (4)                                528.8             511.1
    End-of-period common shares:
      Basic                                          662.6             479.1
      Diluted                                        691.3             512.3

    Performance Statistics

    Bancorp

    Net interest margin                              2.97%             2.71%
    Return on average assets                         0.57%             0.47%
    Return on average tangible assets                0.59%             0.50%
    Return on average equity                         6.28%             4.49%
    Return on average tangible equity               12.09%            10.93%
    Annualized net loan charge-offs to
     average loans                                   0.55%             0.08%
    Efficiency ratio  (5)                           54.85%            56.61%

    NOTES:
    (1) Common book value per share equals common stockholders' equity at
        period-end divided by common shares outstanding.
    (2) Tangible book value per share equals common stockholders' equity at
        period-end excluding goodwill and core deposits and other intangibles,
        net of any associated deferred tax liabilities divided by common
        shares outstanding.
    (3) On May 16th, 2008, Sovereign issued 179.7 million shares of common
        stock which raised net proceeds of $1.39 billion to enhance its
        capital and liquidity positions. As a result, this increased our
        weighted average shares outstanding during the second quarter by 90.8
        million. Therefore, our weighted average share count in the third
        quarter will increase due to the full quarter impact of this
        transaction by approximately 88.9 million shares.
    (4) The conversion of warrants and equity awards and the after-tax add
        back of Sovereign's contingently convertible trust preferred interest
        expense was excluded from Sovereign's GAAP diluted earnings per share
        calculation for the majority of the periods above since the result
        would have been anti-dilutive.
    (5) Efficiency ratio equals general and administrative expense as a
        percentage of total revenue, defined as the sum of net interest income
        and total fees and other income before security gains.



    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    (unaudited)
                                                   Quarter Ended

                                      June 30 Mar. 31 Dec. 31 Sept. 30 June 30
                                        2008    2008    2007    2007    2007
    (dollars in millions)

    Financial Condition Data:

    Asset Quality
      Non-performing assets            $553.9  $484.4  $361.6  $336.7  $334.0
      Non-performing loans              490.5   417.8   304.3   282.4   291.5
      Non-performing assets to total
       assets (1)                       0.70%   0.59%   0.43%   0.39%   0.40%
      Non-performing loans to
       loans (1)                        0.85%   0.71%   0.53%   0.49%   0.52%
      Non-performing assets as a
       percentage of tangible
       equity and allowance
       for loan losses                   9.9%   12.2%    8.6%    7.9%    8.1%
      Allowance for credit losses      $843.5  $798.4  $737.7  $650.0  $521.1
      Allowance for credit losses
       to total loans (1)               1.47%   1.36%   1.28%   1.14%   0.92%
      Allowance for credit losses
       to non-performing loans           172%    191%    242%    230%    179%

    Capitalization - Bancorp (2)
      Tier 1 leverage ratio             8.34%   6.21%   5.89%   6.03%   6.40%
      Tangible equity to tangible
       assets excluding OCI (3)         7.18%   4.97%   4.67%   4.69%   4.84%
      Tangible equity to tangible
       assets including OCI (3)         6.29%   4.06%   4.28%   4.43%   4.69%
      Tangible common equity to
       tangible assets excluding
       OCI (3)                          6.92%   4.72%   4.43%   4.45%   4.59%
      Tangible common equity to
       tangible assets including
       OCI (3)                          6.04%   3.81%   4.04%   4.19%   4.44%

    Capitalization - Bank (2)
      Tier 1 leverage ratio             7.27%   6.85%   6.54%   6.63%   6.93%
      Tier 1 risk-based ratio           7.85%   7.49%   7.54%   7.66%   7.83%
      Total risk-based ratio           11.41%  10.24%  10.40%  10.37%  10.45%


    (1) The calculation of this ratio at June 30, 2007 excluded approximately
        $491 million of correspondent home equity loans that were marked down
        to fair value as of March 31, 2007.
    (2) All capital ratios are calculated based upon adjusted end of period
        assets consistent with OTS guidelines.  The current quarter ratios are
        estimated as of the date of this earnings release.
    (3) On May 16, 2008, Sovereign issued 179.7 million shares of common stock
        which raised net proceeds of $1.39 billion to bolster its capital and
        liquidity positions. This increased the ratios above by 182 to 184
        basis points.



    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    AVERAGE BALANCE, INTEREST AND YIELD/RATE ANALYSIS
    (unaudited)
                                                         Quarter Ended
                                                         June 30, 2008
                                               Average                  Yield/
    (dollars in thousands)                     Balance    Interest (1)   Rate
    Earning assets:
      Investment securities                  $12,109,209     $183,895   6.08%
      Loans:
          Commercial real estate              13,052,692      188,933   5.81%
          Commercial and industrial loans
           (C&I)                              13,005,216      169,266   5.23%
          Other                                1,756,432       30,300   6.90%
        Total Commercial                      27,814,340      388,499   5.61%
        Multi-family                           4,506,471       66,984   5.95%
            Residential                       12,598,466      179,025   5.69%
            Home equity loans and lines
             of credit                         6,389,801       88,669   5.58%
          Total consumer loans secured
           by real estate                     18,988,267      267,694   5.65%
          Auto Loans                           6,568,725      113,047   6.92%
          Other                                  306,297        5,592   7.34%
        Total Consumer                        25,863,289      386,333   5.99%
      Total loans                             58,184,100      841,816   5.81%
        Allowance for loan losses               (785,983)
    Total earning assets                      69,507,326   $1,025,711   5.92%
    Other assets                              10,294,424
        Total assets                         $79,801,750

    Funding liabilities:
      Deposits and other customer related
       accounts:
            NOW accounts                      $5,209,957      $10,656   0.82%
            Savings accounts                   4,107,321        6,461   0.63%
            Money market accounts             11,348,987       57,077   2.02%
            Time deposits                     11,258,950      109,354   3.91%
          Total retail and commercial
           deposits                           31,925,215      183,548   2.31%
            NOW accounts - wholesale             139,664          790   2.27%
            Money market accounts - wholesale  1,547,158        9,034   2.35%
            Time deposits - wholesale          1,588,172        6,614   1.68%
          Total wholesale deposits             3,274,994       16,438   2.02%
          Total government deposits            3,257,652       19,533   2.41%
          Customer repurchase agreements       2,571,241        9,027   1.41%
      Total deposits and other customer
       related accounts                       41,029,102      228,546   2.24%
      Borrowings:
            Wholesale borrowings              19,061,915      211,195   4.44%
            Other borrowings                   3,794,900       55,949   5.90%
      Total borrowings                        22,856,815      267,144   4.69%
    Total funding liabilities                 63,885,917      495,690   3.12%
    Non-interest bearing DDA                   6,731,967
    Other liabilities                          1,593,912
        Total liabilities                     72,211,796
    Stockholders' equity                       7,589,954
        Total liabilities and stockholders'
         equity                              $79,801,750
    Net interest income                                      $530,021
    Interest rate spread                                                2.80%
    Contribution from interest free funds                               0.26%
    Net interest margin                                                 3.06%


                                                         Quarter Ended
                                                         March 31, 2008
                                                Average                 Yield/
    (dollars in thousands)                      Balance    Interest (1)   Rate
    Earning assets:
      Investment securities                   $13,034,150     $200,922   6.17%
      Loans:
          Commercial real estate               12,593,687      197,816   6.31%
          Commercial and industrial loans
           (C&I)                               12,760,425      193,990   6.11%
          Other                                 1,754,382       30,604   6.98%
        Total Commercial                       27,108,494      422,410   6.26%
        Multi-family                            4,316,489       65,907   6.12%
            Residential                        13,272,189      187,088   5.64%
            Home equity loans and lines
             of credit                          6,217,574       96,072   6.21%
          Total consumer loans secured
           by real estate                      19,489,763      283,160   5.82%
          Auto Loans                            6,967,076      121,196   7.00%
          Other                                   314,006        6,404   8.20%
        Total Consumer                         26,770,845      410,760   6.16%
      Total loans                              58,195,828      899,077   6.20%
        Allowance for loan losses                (721,543)
    Total earning assets                       70,508,435   $1,099,999   6.26%
    Other assets                               10,422,253
        Total assets                          $80,930,688

    Funding liabilities:
      Deposits and other customer
       related accounts:
            NOW accounts                       $5,319,562      $12,682   0.96%
            Savings accounts                    3,813,768        5,827   0.61%
            Money market accounts              10,967,638       82,965   3.04%
            Time deposits                      11,927,984      134,980   4.55%
          Total retail and commercial
           deposits                            32,028,952      236,454   2.97%
            NOW accounts - wholesale               88,574          743   3.38%
            Money market accounts - wholesale   1,396,481       12,260   3.53%
            Time deposits - wholesale           2,406,387       19,594   3.27%
          Total wholesale deposits              3,891,442       32,597   3.37%
          Total government deposits             3,819,399       30,337   3.19%
          Customer repurchase agreements        2,739,973       15,715   2.31%
      Total deposits and other customer
       related accounts                        42,479,766      315,103   2.98%
      Borrowings:
            Wholesale borrowings               19,816,254      224,236   4.54%
            Other borrowings                    3,625,668       54,650   6.04%
      Total borrowings                         23,441,922      278,886   4.77%
    Total funding liabilities                  65,921,688      593,989   3.62%
    Non-interest bearing DDA                    6,342,945
    Other liabilities                           1,722,005
        Total liabilities                      73,986,638
    Stockholders' equity                        6,944,050
        Total liabilities and
         stockholders' equity                 $80,930,688
    Net interest income                                       $506,010
    Interest rate spread                                                 2.64%
    Contribution from interest free funds                                0.24%
    Net interest margin                                                  2.88%


                                                         Quarter Ended
                                                         June 30, 2007
                                                Average                 Yield/
    (dollars in thousands)                      Balance    Interest (1)  Rate
    Earning assets:
      Investment securities                   $14,041,230     $215,663   6.15%
      Loans:
          Commercial real estate               11,737,900      205,159   7.01%
          Commercial and industrial loans
           (C&I)                               12,146,382      225,039   7.43%
          Other                                 1,586,118       28,565   7.20%
        Total Commercial                       25,470,400      458,763   7.22%
        Multi-family                            4,637,577       72,186   6.23%
            Residential                        14,429,334      203,581   5.64%
            Home equity loans and lines
             of credit                          5,933,285      101,804   6.88%
          Total consumer loans secured
           by real estate                      20,362,619      305,385   6.00%
          Auto Loans                            5,926,390      102,865   6.96%
          Other                                   388,325        8,293   8.57%
        Total Consumer                         26,677,334      416,543   6.25%
      Total loans                              56,785,311      947,492   6.69%
        Allowance for loan losses                (493,621)
    Total earning assets                       70,332,920   $1,163,155   6.63%
    Other assets                               11,608,001
        Total assets                          $81,940,921

    Funding liabilities:
      Deposits and other customer related
       accounts:
            NOW accounts                       $5,935,760      $15,791   1.07%
            Savings accounts                    4,437,785        7,184   0.65%
            Money market accounts               9,687,237       84,086   3.48%
            Time deposits                      11,004,592      128,170   4.67%
          Total retail and commercial
           deposits                            31,065,374      235,231   3.04%
            NOW accounts - wholesale              133,590        1,776   5.33%
            Money market accounts - wholesale   2,521,820       34,620   5.51%
            Time deposits - wholesale           4,425,195       59,703   5.41%
          Total wholesale deposits              7,080,605       96,099   5.45%
          Total government deposits             4,040,559       51,692   5.13%
          Customer repurchase agreements        2,389,302       26,594   4.46%
      Total deposits and other customer
       related accounts                        44,575,840      409,616   3.69%
      Borrowings:
            Wholesale borrowings               15,396,099      194,074   5.05%
            Other borrowings                    5,227,113       82,361   6.29%
      Total borrowings                         20,623,212      276,435   5.37%
    Total funding liabilities                  65,199,052      686,051   4.22%
    Non-interest bearing DDA                    6,421,910
    Other liabilities                           1,503,851
        Total liabilities                      73,124,813
    Stockholders' equity                        8,816,108
        Total liabilities and
         stockholders' equity                 $81,940,921
    Net interest income                                       $477,104
    Interest rate spread                                                 2.41%
    Contribution from interest free funds                                0.30%
    Net interest margin                                                  2.71%


    (1) Tax equivalent basis



    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    AVERAGE BALANCE, INTEREST AND YIELD/RATE ANALYSIS
    (unaudited)
                                                      Year to Date
                                                      June 30, 2008
                                             Average                  Yield/
    (dollars in thousands)                   Balance    Interest (1)   Rate
    Earning assets:
      Investment securities                 $12,571,679     $384,816   6.13%
      Loans:
          Commercial real estate             12,823,189      386,749   6.06%
          Commercial and industrial loans
           (C&I)                             12,882,821      363,257   5.67%
          Other                               1,755,407       60,904   6.94%
        Total Commercial                     27,461,417      810,910   5.93%
        Multi-family                          4,411,480      132,892   6.03%
            Residential                      12,935,327      366,113   5.66%
            Home equity loans and lines
             of credit                        6,303,688      184,741   5.89%
          Total consumer loans secured
           by real estate                    19,239,015      550,854   5.74%
          Auto Loans                          6,767,900      234,243   6.96%
          Other                                 310,151       11,996   7.78%
        Total Consumer                       26,317,066      797,093   6.08%
      Total loans                            58,189,963    1,740,895   6.00%
        Allowance for loan losses              (753,763)
    Total earning assets                     70,007,879   $2,125,711   6.09%
    Other assets                             10,358,340
        Total assets                        $80,366,219

    Funding liabilities:
      Deposits and other customer related
       accounts:
            NOW accounts                     $5,136,814      $22,109   0.87%
            Savings accounts                  4,088,490       13,517   0.66%
            Money market accounts            11,158,312      140,043   2.52%
            Time deposits                    11,593,466      244,333   4.24%
          Total retail and commercial
           deposits                          31,977,082      420,002   2.64%
            NOW accounts - wholesale            114,119        1,533   2.70%
            Money market accounts - wholesale 1,471,819       21,294   2.91%
            Time deposits - wholesale         1,997,280       26,208   2.64%
          Total wholesale deposits            3,583,218       49,035   2.75%
          Total government deposits           3,538,526       49,870   2.83%
          Customer repurchase agreements      2,655,607       24,742   1.87%
      Total deposits and other customer
       related accounts                      41,754,433      543,649   2.62%
      Borrowings:
            Wholesale borrowings             19,439,085      435,431   4.49%
            Other borrowings                  3,710,284      110,599   5.97%
      Total borrowings                       23,149,369      546,030   4.73%
    Total funding liabilities                64,903,802    1,089,679   3.37%
    Non-interest bearing DDA                  6,537,456
    Other liabilities                         1,657,959
        Total liabilities                    73,099,217
    Stockholders' equity                      7,267,002
        Total liabilities and
         stockholders' equity               $80,366,219
    Net interest income                                   $1,036,032
    Interest rate spread                                               2.72%
    Contribution from interest free funds                              0.25%
    Net interest margin                                                2.97%


                                                       Year to Date
                                                       June 30, 2007
                                             Average                  Yield/
    (dollars in thousands)                   Balance    Interest (1)   Rate
    Earning assets:
      Investment securities                 $14,605,167     $446,257   6.12%
      Loans:
          Commercial real estate             11,626,074      401,753   6.95%
          Commercial and industrial loans
           (C&I)                             11,857,822      439,519   7.47%
          Other                               1,553,606       55,650   7.16%
        Total Commercial                     25,037,502      896,922   7.21%
        Multi-family                          5,260,766      170,970   6.51%
            Residential                      15,007,930      426,604   5.69%
            Home equity loans and lines
             of credit                        7,705,765      267,154   6.98%
          Total consumer loans secured
           by real estate                    22,713,695      693,758   6.13%
          Auto Loans                          5,558,312      189,007   6.86%
          Other                                 405,150       17,114   8.52%
        Total Consumer                       28,677,157      899,879   6.30%
      Total loans                            58,975,425    1,967,771   6.71%
        Allowance for loan losses              (484,122)
    Total earning assets                     73,096,470   $2,414,028   6.63%
    Other assets                             11,665,137
        Total assets                        $84,761,607

    Funding liabilities:
      Deposits and other customer related
       accounts:
            NOW accounts                     $5,965,077      $32,231   1.09%
            Savings accounts                  4,504,675       14,363   0.64%
            Money market accounts             9,420,306      158,346   3.39%
            Time deposits                    11,123,501      255,676   4.64%
          Total retail and commercial
           deposits                          31,013,559      460,616   3.00%
            NOW accounts - wholesale            308,759        8,185   5.35%
            Money market accounts - wholesale 3,077,336       84,231   5.52%
            Time deposits - wholesale         4,464,453      119,945   5.41%
          Total wholesale deposits            7,850,548      212,361   5.45%
          Total government deposits           3,830,241       97,401   5.13%
          Customer repurchase agreements      2,326,334       52,489   4.55%
      Total deposits and other customer
       related accounts                      45,020,682      822,867   3.69%
      Borrowings:
            Wholesale borrowings             17,607,062      443,338   5.06%
            Other borrowings                  5,318,968      159,332   6.00%
      Total borrowings                       22,926,030      602,670   5.28%
    Total funding liabilities                67,946,712    1,425,537   4.22%
    Non-interest bearing DDA                  6,378,845
    Other liabilities                         1,660,284
        Total liabilities                    75,985,841
    Stockholders' equity                      8,775,766
        Total liabilities and stockholders'
         equity                             $84,761,607
    Net interest income                                     $988,491
    Interest rate spread                                               2.41%
    Contribution from interest free funds                              0.30%
    Net interest margin                                                2.71%


    (1) Tax equivalent basis



    Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
    (unaudited)

    NON-PERFORMING ASSETS
                             June 30   Mar. 31   Dec. 31   Sept. 30  June 30
    (dollars in thousands)     2008      2008      2007      2007      2007
    Non-accrual loans:
      Consumer:
        Residential - Alt-A   $85,460   $64,763   $51,783   $42,310   $25,402
        Residential - Other    47,654    44,039    39,098    37,599    43,990
        Home equity loans and
         lines of credit       20,407    17,669    16,684    12,508    12,875
        Correspondent home
         equity                44,806    42,618    39,415    41,466    51,659
        Auto loans              1,155       876     1,359       730       620
        Other consumer loans    1,595     1,541     2,087     2,076     1,714
      Total consumer loans    201,077   171,506   150,426   136,689   136,260
        Commercial real
         estate               117,251    95,363    61,750    63,975    69,345
        Multi-family loans     42,230    10,367     6,336     3,002     4,732
        C&I and other         129,693   140,270    85,406    78,251    80,706
      Total non-accrual loans 490,251   417,506   303,918   281,917   291,043
        Restructured loans        280       324       370       443       503
    Total non-performing
     loans                    490,531   417,830   304,288   282,360   291,546
      Real estate owned, net   48,228    49,668    43,226    43,517    34,724
      Other repossessed assets 15,168    16,888    14,062    10,861     7,755
    Total non-performing
     assets                  $553,927  $484,386  $361,576  $336,738  $334,025

    Non-performing loans as
     a percentage of loans (1)  0.85%     0.71%     0.53%     0.49%     0.52%
    Non-performing assets as
     a percentage of total
     assets (1)                 0.70%     0.59%     0.43%     0.39%     0.40%
    Non-performing assets as
     a percentage of total
     loans, real estate
     owned and repossessed
     assets (1)                 0.96%     0.82%     0.63%     0.59%     0.59%
    Allowance for credit
     losses as a percentage
     of non-performing loans     172%      191%