1 Emerald Financial Corp. S-8 Registration EXHIBIT NO. 23.1 (a) CONSENT OF EXPERTS KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP 11 2 Emerald Financial Corp. S-8 Registration KPMG Peat Marwick LLP 1500 National City Center 1900 East Ninth Street Cleveland, OH 44114-3495 CONSENT OF KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Board of Directors Emerald Financial Corp. We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference. /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Cleveland, Ohio April 27, 1998 12