EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
    We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-1 of our report dated February 20, 1998
relating to the financial statements of MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc., which
appears in such Prospectus. We also consent to the references to us under the
headings "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and "Experts" in such
Prospectus. However, it should be noted that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has not
prepared or certified such "Selected Consolidated Financial Data."
 
/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP____________
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Houston, Texas
August 26, 1998