Exhibit 24(a)







              CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


The Board of Directors
Jefferson Bankshares, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference and to
the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus. Our
report refers to the adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income
Taxes, in 1993.


                                            KPMG PEAT MARWICK
   
Richmond, Virginia
May 19, 1994