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.