Ex 23.1

[LOGO]

   P.O. Box 7108
   Billings, MT 59103





The Board of Directors
First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement to be 
filed on Form S-8 of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. of our report dated 
January 29, 1999, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of First 
Interstate BancSystem, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 
1997, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity 
and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the 
three-year period ended December 31, 1998, which report appears in the 
December 31, 1998 annual report on Form 10-K of First Interstate BancSystem, 
Inc.

We consent to incorporation by reference in this same registration statement 
to be filed on Form S-8 of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. of our report 
dated June 1, 1998, relating to the statements of net assets available for 
benefits of the Savings and Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of First 
Interstate BancSystem, Inc. as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the related 
statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended 
December 31, 1997, which report appears in the December 31, 1997 annual 
report on Form 11-K of the Savings and Profit Sharing Plan for Employees of 
First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.

We consent to the reference to our firm under the heading "Item 3. 
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" in the registration 
statement.

                                      /s/ KPMG LLP


Billings, Montana
April 21, 1999