EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY WHEREAS, Metropolitan Financial Corp. (the "Corporation") intends to file an annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (the "10-K") and a Notice of Annual Shareholders Meeting and Proxy Statement for the Corporation's 2002 Annual Shareholders Meeting, including preliminary proxy statements, if necessary (the "Proxy"), and other documents, statements and filings related thereto, with the SEC and NASDAQ; and, WHEREAS, each of the directors and/or officers of the Corporation desire to appoint attorneys-in-fact to implement the filing of the 10-K and the Proxy and take all such further and other action relating thereto as is set forth herein, NOW, THEREFORE, each of the directors and/or officers of Metropolitan Financial Corp. whose signature appears below hereby appoints and grants full authority to Robert M. Kaye, Kenneth T. Koehler, Donald F. Smith and David G. Slezak, and each of them severally, as his or her attorney-in-fact to sign in his or her name and behalf, in any and all capacities stated below and to file with the SEC and NASDAQ the 10-K and the Proxy, any and all amendments to the 10-K and the Proxy making such changes in the 10-K and the Proxy, as appropriate, all other documents, statements and filings related to the 10-K and Proxy and generally to do all such things in their behalf in their capacities as directors and/or officers to enable Metropolitan Financial Corp. to comply with its regulatory obligations, including but not limited to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and all requirements of the SEC and NASDAQ and hereby approving and ratifying all that said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, may lawfully do, have done or cause to be done by virtue hereof. (The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank) Name Title Date ---- ----- ---- By: /s/ Robert M. Kaye Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive --------------------------- and Director (Principal Executive Robert M. Kaye Officer) February 19, 2002 By: /s/ Kenneth T. Koehler President, Assistant Secretary, Assistant --------------------------- Treasurer and Director February 19, 2002 Kenneth T. Koehler By: /s/ Malvin E. Bank Vice Chairman, Secretary February 19, 2002 --------------------------- and Director Malvin E. Bank By: /s/ Robert R. Broadbent Director March 26, 2002 --------------------------- Robert R. Broadbent By: /s/ Marjorie M. Carlson Director February 19, 2002 --------------------------- Marjorie M. Carlson By: /s/ Lois K. Goodman Director February 19, 2002 --------------------------- Lois K. Goodman By: /s/ Marguerite B. Humphrey Director February 19, 2002 --------------------------- Marguerite B. Humphrey By: /s/ James A. Karman Director February 19, 2002 --------------------------- James A. Karman By: /s/ Ralph D. Ketchum Director February 19, 2002 --------------------------- Ralph D. Ketchum By: /s/ Alfonse M. Mattia Director February 19, 2002 --------------------------- Alfonse M. Mattia By: /s/ David P. Miller Director February 19, 2002 --------------------------- David P. Miller By: /s/ Donald F. Smith Chief Financial Officer (Principal --------------------------- Financial Officer and Accounting Donald F. Smith Officer) March 26, 2002 - 2 -