SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 15
Certification and Notice of Termination of Registration
under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Suspension of Duty to File Reports Under Sections 13
and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Commission File Number 0-18319
West Jersey Bancshares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
165 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, New Jersey 07006
(201) 808-0007
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
Common Stock, no par value
(Title of each class of securities covered by this Form)
None
(Titles of all other classes of securities for which a duty to
file reports under section 13(a) or 15(d) remains)
Please place an X in the box(es) to designate the
appropriate rule provision(s) relied upon to terminate or suspend
the duty to file reports:
Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(i) [ x ] Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(ii) [ ]
Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(ii) [ ] Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(i) [ ]
Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(i) [ ] Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(ii) [ ]
Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(ii) [ ] Rule 15d-6 [ ]
Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(i) [ ]
Approximate number of holders of record as of the
certification or notice date:
None
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, Sovereign Bancorp, Inc., as successor by merger to West
Jersey Bancshares, Inc., has caused this certification/notice to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized
person.
DATE: May 31, 1996 BY:/s/ Lawrence M. Thompson, Jr.
Lawrence M. Thompson, Jr.
Chief Administrative Officer
and Secretary
