Exhibit 23







                CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS




The Board of Directors
Jefferson Bankshares, Inc.


     We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference 
and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the 
prospectus.  Our report refers to the adoption of the Financial 
Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting 
Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, in 1993.




                                     KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP


Richmond, Virginia
October 14, 1994