EXHIBIT 23.5


[LETTERHEAD OF SANDLER O'NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.]








                   CONSENT OF SANDLER O'NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.



         We hereby consent to the inclusion of our opinion letter to the Board
of Directors of Continental Bank (the "Company") as Appendix C to the Proxy 
Statement/Prospectus relating to the proposed merger of the Company with and
into Reliance Bancorp, Inc. contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-4,
as amended (File No. 333-30667), and to the references to our firm and such
opinion in such Proxy Statement/Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not
admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder (the
"Regulations"), nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of
such Registration Statement within the meaning of the term "experts" as used in
the Act or the Regulations.

                                   /s/  Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P.
                                   -------------------------------------
                                   SANDLER O'NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.


August 21, 1997