EXHIBIT 23.1 The Board of Directors Imperial Bancorp: We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the headings "Selected Consolidated Financial Data of Imperial Bancorp" and "Experts" in the prospectus. KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP Los Angeles, California June 17, 1997 NYFS04...:\31\53831\0003\1703\LTR6137E.360