1 Emerald Financial Corp. S-8 Registration EXHIBIT NO. 23.1 (b) CONSENT OF EXPERTS DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP 13 2 Emerald Financial Corp. S-8 Registration INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT Emerald Financial Corp. We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Emerald Financial Corp. on Form S-8 of our report dated January 25, 1997 (which expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to a change in accounting for mortgage servicing rights), incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Emerald Financial Corp. for the year ended December 31, 1997. /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP Cleveland, Ohio April 27, 1998 14