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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.5
 
                          CONSENT OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR
 
     We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-4 of
our draft letter to the Board of Directors of Charter Federal Savings Bank
included as Appendix B to the Prospectus/Proxy Statement that is a part of this
Registration Statement, and to the references to such letters and to our firm in
such Prospectus/Proxy Statement. In giving such consent we do not thereby admit
that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
 
                                          /s/  Wheat, First Securities, Inc.
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          WHEAT, FIRST SECURITIES, INC.
 
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
   
OCTOBER 26, 1995