EXHIBIT 23.1

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP










The Board of Directors
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement  of the
Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 1  on Form  S-8 to  Form  S-4 of  First Midwest
Bancorp,  Inc.  of  our  report  dated  January  20,  1995,  relating  to  the
consolidated  statements  of  condition of  First  Midwest  Bancorp,  Inc. and
subsidiaries as of  December 31, 1994 and  1993, and the related  consolidated
statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash  flows for each
of the  years in the three-year  period ended December 31,  1994, which report
appears in  the December 31, 1994, annual report on Form 10-K of First Midwest
Bancorp, Inc.


KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP




Chicago, Illinois
December 18, 1995













Member Firm of
Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler