Exhibit 23.1


                        INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT


The Board of Directors
Broad National Bancorporation:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement filed on
Form S-2 of Broad National Bancorporation of our report dated January 15, 1997,
relating to the consolidated statements of condition of Broad National
Bancorporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity, and
cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
1996, which report is included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Broad
National Bancorporation for the year ended December 31, 1996 incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under
the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.  Our report refers to the adoption of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities" in 1994.

KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

Short Hills, New Jersey
June 10, 1997