Exhibit 23(A)
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                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


The Board of Directors
Iroquois Bancorp, Inc.:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement Nos.
33-36826, 33-36827, 33-36828, 33-94214 and 333-10063 on Form S-8 and No.
33-36825 on Form S-3 of Iroquois Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated January 22,
1999, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Iroquois Bancorp, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related consolidated
statements of income, shareholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998,
which report has been incorporated by reference in the December 31, 1998 annual
report on Form 10-K of Iroquois Bancorp, Inc.

We also consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement No.
33-36828 on Form S-8 of Iroquois Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated March 3, 1998
relating to the statements of net assets available for benefits, with fund
information of the Iroquois Bancorp, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan as of December 31,
1997, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits,
with fund information for the year ended December 31, 1997, which report appears
in the December 31, 1998 annual report on Form 10-K of Iroquois Bancorp, Inc.




     /s/KPMG LLP        
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KPMG LLP

Syracuse, New York
March 22, 1999