Exhibit 23



                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following documents of our
report dated January 20, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. included in the Annual Report (Form
10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1997:

 .    Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 33-20439) pertaining to the First
     Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.

 .    Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-25136) pertaining to the First
     Midwest Bancorp Savings and Profit Sharing Plan.

 .    Registration Statement (Form S-8 No.33-42980) pertaining to the First
     Midwest Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan.

 .    Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-37809) pertaining to the First
     Midwest Bancorp, Inc. common stock.

 .    Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-42273) pertaining to the First
     Midwest Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan.



     ERNST & YOUNG LLP


     Chicago, Illinois
     February 27,1998

 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

    
We have issued our report dated May 23, 1997, on the consolidated financial
statements of SparBank, Incorporated and subsidiary as of December 31, 1996 and
for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 1996, included in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. for the year ended
December 31, 1997.  We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of our
report in the Registration Statements of First Midwest Bancorp on Forms S-3
(File No. 33-20439, pertaining to the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Dividend
Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, and File No. 333-37809, relating to the
registration of shares of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.'s common stock received in
the SparBank, Incorporated merger) and on Forms S-8 (File No. 33-25136,
pertaining to the First Midwest Bancorp Savings and Profit Sharing Plan; File
No. 33-42980, pertaining to the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Omnibus Stock,
and Incentive Plan, and File No. 333-42273, pertaining to the First Midwest
Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan).



GRANT THORNTON LLP


GRANT THORNTON LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 27, 1998

     
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
                        -------------------------------


The Board of Directors
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc:


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements on
Form S-3 (Registration Statement Number 33-20439), Form S-8 (Registration
Statement Number 33-25136), Form S-8 (Registration Statement Number 33-42980),
Form S-3 (Registration Statement Number 333-31665, Form S-3 (Registration
Statement Number 333-37809),  and Form S-8 (Registration Statement Number 
333-42273) of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated January 19, 1996,
relating to the consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders'
equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 1995, which report appears
in the December 31, 1997 annual report on Form 10-K of First Midwest Bancorp,
Inc.



KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP



KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 27, 1998