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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1




                         Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-4 Nos. 333-____ and 333-____) and related
Prospectus of National Commerce Bancorporation and National Commerce Capital
Trust I for the registration of $50,000,000 of Capital Securities of National
Commerce Capital Trust I and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
report dated February 14, 1997, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of National Commerce Bancorporation incorporated by reference in its
Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1996, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Memphis, Tennessee
June 10, 1997