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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the inclusion in this
Form 8-K of our report dated January 17, 2001 on the audited financial
statements of Old Kent Financial Corporation and subsidiaries for the year
ended December 31, 2000. It should be noted that we have not audited any
financial statements of the company subsequent to December 31, 2000, or
performed any audit procedures subsequent to the date of our report.


/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP


Chicago, Illinois,
  April 2, 2001