Exhibit 21

                        Subsidiaries of the Corporation

 
EXHIBIT 21.  PARENTS AND SUBSIDIARIES
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                                                                    PERCENT   STATE OF
PARENT COMPANY                      SUBSIDIARIES                     OWNED    INCORPORATION
- ----------------------------------  ---------------------------    ---------  -------------
                                                                     
COMMERCIAL FEDERAL                  COMMERCIAL FEDERAL BANK,          100%      NEBRASKA
CORPORATION                         A FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK      
                                                                
                                    COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT             100%      NEBRASKA
                                    SUBSIDIARY, INC. (1)        
                                                                
COMMERCIAL FEDERAL                  COMMERCIAL FEDERAL SERVICE        100%      NEBRASKA
BANK, A FEDERAL                     CORPORATION
SAVINGS BANK            
                        
                                    TRAMPE AND ASSOCIATES COMPANY     100%      NEBRASKA
                                                                               
                                    COMMERCIAL FEDERAL MORTGAGE       100%      NEBRASKA
                                    CORPORATION                                
                                                                               
                                    COMMERCIAL MARKETING, INC. (1)    100%      NEBRASKA
                                                                               
                                    COMMERCIAL FEDERAL INVESTMENT     100%      NEBRASKA
                                    CORPORATION                                
                                                                               
                                    COMMERCIAL FEDERAL INVESTMENT     100%      NEBRASKA
                                    SERVICES, INC.                             
                                                                               
                                    COMMERCIAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT   100%      NEBRASKA
                                    ASSOCIATES, INC. (1)                       
                                                                               
                                    ESL CORPORATION (1)               100%      COLORADO
                                                                               
                                    COMMERCIAL FEDERAL INSURANCE      100%      NEBRASKA
                                    CORPORATION                                
                                                                               
                                    EMPIRE CAPITAL CORPORATION I      100%      COLORADO
                                                                               
                                    ROXBOROUGH ACQUISITION CORP.      100%      NEBRASKA
                                                                               
                                    CF WOODLANDS PROPERTIES, INC.     100%      NEBRASKA
                                                                   
                                    CFT COMPANY                       100%      NEBRASKA
                                                                             
                                    PROVIDENT INVESTMENT, INC.        100%      NEBRASKA
                                                                           
                                    RAILROAD SAVINGS                       
                                    SERVICE CORPORATION               100%      KANSAS
 

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  SUBSIDIARY WAS LEGALLY DISSOLVED IN JULY 1996.

 
EXHIBIT 21.  PARENTS AND SUBSIDIARIES
- -------------------------------------


                                                                      PERCENT   STATE OF
PARENT COMPANY                      SUBSIDIARIES                       OWNED    INCORPORATION
- ----------------------------------  ---------------------------      ---------  -------------
                                                                       
COMMERCIAL FEDERAL                  COMMERCIAL FEDERAL REALTY           100%      NEBRASKA
SERVICE CORP.                       INVESTORS CORPORATION
 
                                    C.H.E., INC. (1)                    100%      NEBRASKA
                                                                   
                                    COMMERCIAL FEDERAL AFFORDABLE       100%      NEBRASKA
                                    HOUSING, INC.                  
                                                                   
COMMERCIAL FEDERAL                  METRO TITLE AND                     100%      NEBRASKA
MORTGAGE CORP.                      ESCROW COMPANY, INC.           
                                                                   
COMMERCIAL                          SYSTEMS MARKETING, INC. (1)         100%      ARIZONA
MARKETING, INC.
 
C.H.E., INC.                        COMMERCIAL HOSPITALITY, INC. (1)    100%      TEXAS
 
                                    COMMERCIAL HOSPITALITY              100%      FLORIDA
                                    ENTERPRISES, INC. (1)          
                                                                    
SYSTEMS MARKETING,                  FINANCIAL INVESTMENT                100%      ILLINOIS
INC.                                ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED (1)    
                                                                   
COMMERCIAL FEDERAL                  COMFED INSURANCE SERVICES           100%      BRITISH
INSURANCE CORP.                     COMPANY, LIMITED                              VIRGIN ISLANDS
 

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) SUBSIDIARY WAS LEGALLY DISSOLVED IN JULY 1996.

NOTE: ALL OF THE MATERIAL ACCOUNTS OF THE ABOVE LISTED COMPANIES ARE
      CONSOLIDATED IN THE CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. ALL
      SIGNIFICANT INTERCOMPANY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.