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                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1



             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated February 13, 1999 relating to the
financial statements, which appears in American Bancshares, Inc.'s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. We also consent to
the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
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PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Tampa, Florida
August 12, 1999