Sovereign Bank Announces Debit MasterCard® GRAMMY® VIP Experience Sweepstakes

BOSTON, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sovereign Bank, which is a part of the Santander Group, today announced the new limited time only Sovereign Bank Debit MasterCard GRAMMY® VIP Experience Sweepstakes.  Two winners will each receive a four-day, three-night trip for two to Los Angeles, California to attend the 54th Annual GRAMMY® Awards on February 12, 2012.

"Through the end of the year, every purchase our customers make with their Sovereign Debit MasterCard brings them a chance to win star treatment at this February's GRAMMY Awards," said Eduardo Tobon, head of Santander's U.S. Cards Division.  "This year alone, customers who made everyday purchases have already been awarded two Audi TT Coupes, and three trips to see the World Series in Arlington, Texas.  We look forward to offering the chance to win more exciting experiences in 2012 and beyond."

From November 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011, select consumer Sovereign Debit MasterCard cardholders will receive one entry into the sweepstakes each time they use their card to make a purchase*.  There will be two Grand Prizes awarded with Sovereign Student Checking account holders eligible for automatic entry for one and Sovereign consumer checking account holders eligible for automatic entry for the other.  Transactions using a Sovereign Business Debit MasterCard are not eligible for entries into the sweepstakes.

Winners of the sweepstakes will receive one of two Grand Prize packages, including:

• Two round trip coach flights to Los Angeles, CA
• Two tickets to the 54th Annual GRAMMY® Awards
• Two tickets to the Official GRAMMY Celebration® After-Party
• Pre-event makeover
• 5-star hotel accommodations
• $300 MasterCard® Prepaid gift card and gift bag
• Sightseeing tour
• Dinner on the town

The sweepstakes is open to new and existing consumer Sovereign Bank Debit MasterCard cardholders.  No purchase is required to participate in any sweepstakes Sovereign Bank sponsors.

Since January 2010, Sovereign has awarded more than 175 prizes to winners of its various debit card sweepstakes.  The lucky winners have received prizes that included: two brand new Audi TT Coupes, a trip to see game three of the Major League Baseball® World Series®, Sony Bravia® HDTVs with 3D, Sony VAIO® Laptops, PlayStation® with PlayStation® Move Bundle, and a Caribbean cruise.  Customers can see photos of some of the winners at www.sovereignbank.com/realwinners.

The complete Official Rules are available at www.sovereignbank.com/mcgrammyawards.

About Santander Holdings USA, Sovereign Bank and Banco Santander

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. (SOV:US) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A., and parent company of Sovereign Bank and Santander Consumer USA.  Banco Santander is a retail and commercial bank, headquartered in Spain, with a presence in 10 main markets: Spain, Portugal, Germany, the UK, Poland, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina and the U.S.  Founded in 1857, Santander has 100 million customers, approximately 14,700 branches – more than any other international bank – and more than 191,000 employees.  For more information on Santander, visit http://www.santander.com.

Sovereign Bank is a financial institution with principal markets in the northeastern United States. Sovereign has more than 700 branches, nearly 2,300 ATMs, and approximately 8,500 team members.  For more information on Sovereign Bank, visit http://www.sovereignbank.com or call 877-SOV-BANK.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  Sweepstakes only open to legal residents of CT, DE, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA & RI, 18 or older as of 11/1/11.  Void where prohibited.  International & Business Card transactions ineligible.  Starts 11/1/11.  Ends 12/31/11.  Restrictions apply.  Only certain Sovereign Debit MasterCard cards are eligible for automatic entry.  Visit www.sovereignbank.com/mcgrammyawards for Official Rules & complete details.

SOURCE Sovereign Bank