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                                    THOMPSON
                                HINE & FLORY LLP
                                Attorneys at Law

                                    EXHIBIT 5

                                December 18, 1998

Metropolitan Financial Corp.
6001 Landerhaven Drive
Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124

         Re:      Metropolitan Financial Corp. Registration Statement on Form
                  S-8 -- 1997 Stock Option Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Metropolitan Financial Corp. ("Metropolitan") is filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") for the registration, under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, of 650,000 Common Shares, without par value, of Metropolitan
("Metropolitan Common Shares") to be issued from time to time pursuant to the
terms of the Metropolitan Financial Corp. 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

         Item 601 of Regulation S-K and the instructions to Form S-8 require
that an opinion of counsel concerning the legality of the securities to be
registered be filed as an exhibit to a Form S-8 registration statement if the
securities are original issue shares. This opinion is provided in satisfaction
of that requirement as it relates to the Registration Statement.

         In rendering this opinion, we have examined (a) the Articles of
Incorporation and Code of Regulations of Metropolitan, (b) the Plan, and (c)
such records and documents as we have deemed advisable in order to render this
opinion. As a result of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

                  (1)      Metropolitan is a corporation validly organized and
         existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio.

                  (2)      When issued, the Metropolitan Common Shares which are
         the subject of the Registration Statement will be legally issued, fully
         paid, and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the use and filing of this opinion in connection
with the Registration Statement.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Thompson Hine & Flory LLP

                                            Thompson Hine & Flory LLP