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                               Exhibit 23(b)
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                 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
Fourth Financial Corporation 1993 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