1
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1



                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
Metropolitan Financial Corp. on Form S-2 of our report dated March 9, 2001,
except for Note 22, as to which the date is March 26, 2001, on Metropolitan
Financial Corp.'s consolidated financial statements appearing in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Metropolitan Financial Corp. for the year ended December
31, 2000, and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the
Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.





                                         Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP




Cleveland, Ohio
September 18, 2001