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                                   EXHIBIT 23

                              ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our report dated January 14, 1998, included in this Form 10-K, in the
Corporation's previously filed registration statements, as amended, for Old
Kent Financial Corporation's offering of senior and unsubordinated debt
(Registration No. 33-46205), Old Kent Thrift Plan (Registration No. 33-17309
and No. 33-39740), Executive Stock Option Plan of 1986 (Registration No.
33-4723), Stock Option Incentive Plan of 1992 (Registration No. 33-49896),
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Registration No. 33-57334), Dividend Reinvestment
Plan (Registration No. 33-33058), Executive Thrift Plan (Registration No.
33-52883 and No. 333-20383), Deferred Compensation Plan (Registration No.
33-52885 and No. 333-20381), 1994 Stock Option Plan for EdgeMark Optionholders
(Registration No.  33-53391), Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan
(Registration No. 33-56519 and 333-39953), Incentive Stock Option Plan for
Employee Optionholders of First National Bank Corp. (Registration No.
33-57527), Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Director Optionholders of First
National Bank Corp. (Registration No. 33-57529), Executive Stock Incentive Plan
of 1997 (Registration No. 333-39957), Capital Trust Securities of Old Kent
Capital Trust I and Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures of Old Kent
Financial Corporation (Registration No. 333-26183), and Old Kent Bank's
offering of asset-backed securities (Registration No. 33-94578).


                                             /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

Arthur Andersen LLP

Chicago, Illinois
March 5, 1998