Exhibit 23.1






                         Consent of Independent Auditors



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No.  33-98506)  pertaining  to the 1993  Stock  Incentive  Plan and the 1993
Directors'  Stock Option Plan of First  Defiance  Financial  Corp. of our report
dated August 28, 1998,  with respect to the  financial  statements of The Leader
Mortgage  Company for the nine  months  ended June 30,  1998,  included in First
Defiance  Financial  Corp.'s  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K/A  related  to  the
acquisition  of The  Leader  Mortgage  Company  filed  with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission.


                                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                                           ---------------------
                                                               Ernst & Young LLP


Cleveland, Ohio
September 15, 1998