1


                               Exhibit 23(b)
                               -------------





 2





                       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
                       ----------------------------


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement (Form S-8) and related Prospectus pertaining to the
Amended and Restated Fourth Financial Corporation 1981 Incentive
Stock Option Plan of our reports (a) dated January 19, 1995, with
respect to the consolidated financial statements of Boatmen's
Bancshares, Inc. incorporated by reference in its Annual Report
(Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1994, and (b) dated
January 19, 1995 (except for the pooling of interests with
Worthen Banking Corporation as of February 28, 1995, and Note 3,
for which the date is April 1, 1995), with respect to the
supplemental consolidated financial statements of Boatmen's
Bancshares, Inc. as of December 31, 1994, and 1993, and for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1994,
included in its Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 28, 1995,
both filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                        /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP


St. Louis, Missouri
January 31, 1996