EXHIBIT 23.1     
                       
                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS     
   
  We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report
dated January 18, 1996, appearing on page 88 of Great Western Financial
Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.
We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such
Prospectus.     
   
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP     
   
Los Angeles, California     
   
January 20, 1997