May 20, 1996




Board of Directors
Damen Financial Corporation
200 West Higgins Road
Schaumburg, Illinois  60195

Members of the Board:

     We hereby consent to the inclusion of our opinion as
Exhibit 5 of this Registration Statement and the reference to our
firm in the Prospectus.  In giving this consent, we do not admit
that we are within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder.

                             Very truly yours,

                             /S/ SILVER, FREEDMAN & TAFF, L.L.P.

                             SILVER, FREEDMAN & TAFF, L.L.P.