1 EXHIBIT 23 [COOPERS & LYBRAND LETTERHEAD] CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS Board of Directors Greene County Bancshares, Inc. We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement of Greene County Bancshares, Inc. on Form S-8 (File no. 333-08609) of our report dated January 30, 1998, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Greene County Bancshares, Inc. as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 1997, which report is included in this Form 10-K. /s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. ----------------------------- COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. Knoxville, Tennessee March 24, 1998