EXHIBIT 23.1


           Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
           --------------------------------------------------------

 The Board of Directors
 Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.:

 We consent to the use of  our report dated March  30, 2005, with respect  to
 the consolidated  balance sheets of  Hallmark  Financial  Services, Inc. and
 subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related  consolidated
 statements of operations, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income  and
 cash flows for each  of the years  in the two-year period ended December 31,
 2004, incorporated herein  by reference,  and  to the reference  to our firm
 under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

 Our report refers to the January 1, 2003 adoption of the prospective  method
 provisions for stock-based employee compensation.

 KPMG LLP


 Dallas, Texas
 April 11, 2005