EXHIBIT 8.1 January 16, 2001 First Consumers National Bank 9300 S.W. Gemini Drive Beaverton, Oregon 97008 Re: First Consumers Credit Card Master Note Trust Certain Federal Tax Consequences Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as tax counsel to First Consumers National Bank ("FCNB") in connection with the filing by FCNB, as co-registrant, and on behalf of the First Consumers Credit Card Master Note Trust (the "Trust") and First Consumers Master Trust ("FCMT"), as co-registrant, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-48860, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), filed by FCNB and FCMT under the Act, registering its asset-backed notes secured by receivables in a portfolio of private-label retail credit card accounts and related assets (the "Notes"). The Notes of a particular Series will be issued pursuant to a Master Indenture between the Trust and The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"), substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement, and a related Indenture Supplement (the "Indenture Supplement") between the Trust and the Indenture Trustee, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement. Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the form of Master Indenture. First Consumers National Bank January 16, 2001 Page 2 In connection with your request, we have examined executed copies of the Registration Statement and forms of the Master Indenture, Indenture Supplement, and Transfer and Servicing Agreement attached thereto, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion (collectively, the "Transaction Documents"). Our opinion is based upon an examination of the Transaction Documents, representations of representatives of FCNB and its affiliates as to relevant material facts, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury Regulations (whether proposed, temporary, or final), judicial decisions, administrative rulings, and other applicable legal authorities. The statutory provisions, regulations, legal authorities, and interpretations on which our opinions are based are, of course, subject to change, and such changes could apply retroactively. In addition, there can be no assurance that the relevant tax authorities will not take a position contrary to those stated herein. In expressing our opinion, we have assumed, without independent verification, that the facts presented in the Transaction Documents are correct, the Transaction Documents have been or will be consummated according to their terms, and the factual representations of FCNB and its affiliates are correct. Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the statements set forth in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement under the caption "Federal Income Tax Consequences," insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the U.S. federal income tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects. We hereby confirm and adopt the opinions expressly set forth under the caption "Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the prospectus. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement and the use of our name under the caption "Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the prospectus and under the caption "Tax Status" in the form of prospectus supplement included in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, this Firm does not hereby admit that it comes into the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder. Very truly yours, Rooks, Pitts and Poust