Exhibit 23.1



                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



      We  consent  to  the  incorporation  by  reference  in  this  Registration
Statement of our report, dated January 28, 1998, on the consolidated financial
statements of F&M National Corporation as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for
each of the three years in the period ended  December 31, 1997.  We also consent
to  the  reference  made  to  us  under  the  caption  "Experts"  in  the  Proxy
Statement/Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement.



                                    YOUNT, HYDE & BARBOUR, P.C.


Winchester, Virginia
January  6, 1999