EXHIBIT 23.1


                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors
First Community Bancorp:

We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  registration  statement on
Form 8-K of First  Community  Bancorp of our report  dated  February  29,  2000,
relating  to the  consolidated  balance  sheets of First  Community  Bank of the
Desert  and  subsidiary  as of  December  31,  1999 and  1998,  and the  related
consolidated statements of operations,  changes in stockholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the years in the  three-year  period ended  December 31, 1999,
which report appears in the Form S-4  (Registration  Statement No. 333-93827) of
First Community Bancorp,


/s/ KPMG LLP

San Diego, California
June 8, 2000