EXHIBIT 23.4



                       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 Statement of
    First Midwest Bancorp on the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to form S-3
    (File No. 333-37809) and to the use of our name as it appears under the
    caption "EXPERTS."



                                        /s/ Grant Thornton LLP


    Chicago, Illinois
    March 4, 1998