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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation in this registration statement of Metropolitan 
Financial Corp. on Form S-1, of our report dated February 12, 1999 on the 
consolidated financial statements of Metropolitan Financial Corp. as of 
December 31, 1998 and 1997 and for each of the three years in the period ended 
December 31, 1998. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the 
heading "Experts" in the prospectus, which is part of this registration 
statement.



                                        Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP


Cleveland, Ohio
February 25, 1999