EXHIBIT 23





                              [BKD LLP LETTERHEAD]



                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT



Board of Directors
Great American Bancorp, Inc.

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
Great  American  Bancorp,  Inc. (the  "Company") on Form S-8 of our report dated
February 1, 2002,  appearing  in and  incorporated  by  reference  in the Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2001.



/s/ BKD, LLP


Decatur, Illinois
August 22, 2002