EXHIBIT 23.1 KPMG Peat Marwick LLP The Board of Directors First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.: We consent to incorporation by reference in Form 8-K 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 January 5, 1996 Member Firm of Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler