EXHIBIT 23(A)
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
  As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our reports included in this Form 10-K into Southern National Corporation's
previously filed Registration Statement File Nos. 33-52367, 33-57865 and 33-
57867 filed on Form S-8 and Registration Statement File Nos. 33-57859, 33-
57861 and 33-57871 filed on Form S-3.
 
                                          Arthur Andersen LLP
 
Charlotte, North Carolina, 
  March 17, 1997.