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                                                                   EXHIBIT 23(a)

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January
16, 1996, included in First Tennessee National Corporation's 1995 Annual Report
on Form 10-K, and to all references to our firm included in this registration
statement.




Arthur Andersen LLP

Memphis, Tennessee,
November 14, 1996.