EXHIBIT 23.1







                         Consent of Independent Auditors


Board of Directors
German American Bancorp
Jasper, Indiana


We  consent  to the  inclusion  in  the  Registration  Statement  Form  S-4  and
Prospectus of German American Bancorp, relating to the issuance of securities in
the  proposed  merger  of 1st  Bancorp  into  German  American  Bancorp,  of our
Independent  Auditor's  Report,  dated  February  5, 1998,  on the  consolidated
financial statements of German American Bancorp as of December 31, 1997 and 1996
and for each of the three years in the period ended  December  31, 1997,  and we
consent to the use of our name and the  statements  with respect to us appearing
under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus.


                                            /s/ Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP
                                            Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP

   
November 5, 1998
Indianapolis, Indiana