EXHIBIT 23.1 [LETTERHEAD OF PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP APPEARS HERE] CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS ---------------------------------- We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S- 4 of SIS Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated January 23, 1997 appearing on page 67 of SIS Bancorp Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus. /s/Price Waterhouse LLP Boston, Massachusetts October 24, 1997