Exhibit 23

                         Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement No.
33-98506 on Form S-8 pertaining to the 1993 Stock Incentive Plan and the 1993
Directors' Stock Option Plan of First Defiance Financial Corp., Registration
Statement No. 333-45142 on Form S-8 pertaining to the First Defiance Financial
Corp. Employee Investment Plan, and Registration Statement No. 333-65740 on Form
S-8 pertaining to the First Defiance Financial Corp. 2001 Stock Option and
Incentive Plan of our report dated March 8, 2004 with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of First Defiance Financial Corp. included in
this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2003.


                                                  /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Cleveland, Ohio
March 8, 2004