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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation in this amendment no. 1 to the 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
March 17, 1999