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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


   
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
Pre-effective Amendment no. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-4) and
related Prospectus of F.N.B. Corporation for the registration of 754,898 shares
of its common stock, to the incorporation by reference therein of our report
dated July 3, 1997 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
F.N.B. Corporation included in its Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 22,
1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to the use of our
report dated October 17, 1997 with respect to the financial statements of West
Coast Bank, as of and for the year ended December 31, 1996 included therein.
    


                                   ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
December 1, 1997