EXHIBIT 23.1

                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

The Board of Directors
Guardian Bancorp:

    We  consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement Nos.
2-96894, 33-22371 and  33-35012 on Form  S-8 of Guardian  Bancorp of our  report
dated  February 15, 1994, relating to the consolidated balance sheet of Guardian
Bancorp and  subsidiary  as  of December  31,  1993  and 1992  and  the  related
consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash
flows  for each of the  years in the three-year  period ended December 31, 1993,
which report appears  in the December  31, 1993  annual report on  Form 10-K  of
Guardian Bancorp.

    Our  report  refers  to the  adoption  of  the provisions  of  the Financial
Accounting Standards  Board's Statement  of Financial  Accounting Standards  No.
109, "Accounting For Income Taxes".

                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick

Los Angeles, California
March 29, 1994