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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.6
 
                                    CONSENT
 
     We hereby consent to the discussion relative to our opinion delivered to
the Board of Directors of Port St. Lucie National Bank Holding Corporation in
connection with its proposed merger with Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida
in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus included in Seacoast's Registration
Statement on Form S-4 under the heading "Opinion of PSHC's Financial Advisor,"
to the references to our firm in such Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and to
the inclusion of such opinion as an Appendix to the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.
 
                                          Austin Associates, Inc.
 
                                          By:            /s/ RICHARD F. MARONEY,
                                          JR.
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                 Richard F. Maroney, Jr.
                                          Executive Vice President and Principal
 
March 25, 1997