===========================================================================






                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                                 FORM 8-K


                              CURRENT REPORT

                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                      Date of Report: August 26, 1997


                      OLD KENT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                       (Exact name of registrant as
                         specified in its charter)


                MICHIGAN            0-12216            38-1986608
             (State or other      (Commission         (IRS Employer
             jurisdiction of       File Number)     Identification no.)
             incorporation)

          ONE VANDENBERG CENTER
         GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN                           49503
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

                      Registrant's telephone number,
                   including area code:  (616) 771-5000







===========================================================================





Item 5.   OTHER EVENTS.

          On August 26, 1997, Old Kent Financial Corporation issued the
press release attached as Exhibit 99 to this Form 8-K.


Item 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION, AND
          EXHIBITS.

     (c)  Exhibits:

          99   Press Release dated August 26, 1997.






































                                     -2-

                                 SIGNATURE


          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


Dated: August 26, 1997             OLD KENT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                   (Registrant)


                                   By: /S/ ALBERT T. POTAS
                                       Albert T. Potas
                                       Senior Vice President
                                         and Controller


































                                     -3-

                               EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER                DOCUMENT
- --------------                --------

     99             Press Release dated August 26, 1997.