EXHIBIT 23.1
                              Accountants' Consent






The Board of Directors
Synovus Financial Corp.:


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (No.
33-35926,  No. 33-56614,  No. 33-40738,  No. 33-39845, No. 2-93472, No. 2-94639,
No. 33-77900,  No.  33-77980,  No. 33-79518,  No.  33-89782,  No. 33-90630,  No.
33-90632,  No. 33-91690,  No. 33-60473, and No. 33-60475) on Form S-8 of Synovus
Financial  Corp.  of  our  report  dated  January  21,  1997,  relating  to  the
consolidated statements of condition of Synovus Financial Corp. and subsidiaries
as of December 31, 1996 and 1995,  and the related  consolidated  statements  of
income, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in
the three- year period  ended  December 31,  1996,  which report  appears in the
December 31, 1996 annual report on Form 10-K of Synovus Financial Corp.


                                   KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP



Atlanta, Georgia
March 5, 1997




                              Accountants' Consent




The Board of Directors
Synovus Financial Corp.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (No.
33-85948 and No. 333-2611) on Form S-3 of Synovus  Financial Corp. of our report
dated January 21, 1997, relating to the consolidated  statements of condition of
Synovus  Financial Corp. and  subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and
the related consolidated  statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity,
and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
1996,  which report  appears in the December 31, 1996 annual report on Form 10-K
of Synovus Financial Corp.

                                   KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP



Atlanta, Georgia
March 5, 1997