EXHIBIT 23.1




                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


The Board of Directors
Southern Financial Bancorp, Inc:


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on
Form S-4 (Amendment 1) of Southern Financial Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated
January 23, 2002, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Southern
Financial Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and
the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in
stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 2001, and to the reference to our firm under the
heading "Experts" in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus.



/s/ KPMG LLP


Richmond, Virginia
June 19, 2002