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, except
for Note 18, as to which the date is October 26, 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
December 1, 1998