EDWARDS      Certified Public Accountants & Business Advisors
SAUDER       -------------------------------------------------------------------
& OWENS      500 Warner Centre, 332 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
             Phone: 412-281-9211  Fax: 412-281-2407   A Professional Corporation
             www.esocpa.com                           Direct Dial:



                        INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT




The Board of Directors and Stockholders
IBT Bancorp, Inc.
309 Main Street
Irwin, PA 15642


We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  registration  statement on
Form S-8 pertaining to IBT Bancorp, Inc.'s 2000 Stock Option Plan filed June 30,
2000, of our report dated January 29, 2003, relating to the consolidated balance
sheets of IBT Bancorp,  Inc. as of December  31, 2002 and 2001,  and the related
consolidated  statements  of income,  changes in  stockholders'  equity and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended  December 31, 2002,  which
report  appears  in the  December  31,  2002  annual  report on Form 10-K of IBT
Bancorp, Inc.




                                                  /s/Edwards Sauer & Owens
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Edwards Sauer & Owens



March 13, 2003

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania