Exhibit 23.1


                    Consent of Independent Public Accountants

     We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by reference to the  Registration
Statement  on Form S-8 of River  Valley  Bancorp  (the  "Company"),  File Number
000-21765,  of our report dated January 21, 2003 on the  consolidated  financial
statements  of the Company  which  report is  incorporated  by  reference in the
Company's 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed pursuant to the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934.



/s/ BKD, LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
March 28, 2003