KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

     50 West San Fernando Street
     San Jose, CA  95113



                        Consent of Independent Auditors
                        -------------------------------
 

The Board of Directors
Pacific Capital Bancorp:

We consent to  incorporation  by reference  in the  registration  statement  No.
33-83848 on Form S-8 of Pacific Capital  Bancorp and  subsidiaries of our report
dated January 24, 1997,  relating to the consolidated  balance sheets of Pacific
Capital  Bancorp  and  subsidiaries  as of December  31, 1996 and 1995,  and the
related consolidated statements of income,  shareholders' equity, and cash flows
for each of the years in the three-year  period ended  December 31, 1996,  which
report  appears in the December  31, 1996 annual  report on Form 10-K of Pacific
Capital Bancorp and subsidiaries.


                                     /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


March 25, 1997