EXHIBIT 24


                          CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of First Financial Corporation of our report dated January 15, 1996, included in
the 1995 Annual Report to Shareholders of First Financial Corporation.

Our audits also included the  financial  statement  schedule of First  Financial
Corporation  listed in Item 14(a).  This schedule is the  responsibility  of the
Corporation's  management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on
our audits. In our opinion,  the financial statement schedule referred to above,
when considered in relation to the basic financial  statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
No.  2-90005 on Form S-8 dated March 16,  1984,  No.  33-17304 on Form S-8 dated
September  17, 1987,  and No.  33-36295 on Form S-8 dated August 9, 1990, in the
Post-Effective  amendment  No.  5 to  Form  S-1 on  Form  S-8  (Registration  No
33-16948)  dated May 12, 1988,  No.  33-69856 on Form S-8 dated October 1, 1993,
Registration  Statement  No.  33-51487  filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission on January 13, 1994 and  Registration  Statement No.  33-55823  filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 1995, with respect to
the   consolidated   financial   statements  and  schedule  of  First  Financial
Corporation  incorporated  by reference in the Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the
year ended December 31, 1994.

/s/Ernst & Young LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 20, 1996