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 20, 2004 on the  consolidated  financial
statements  of the Company  which  report is  incorporated  by  reference in the
Company's 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed pursuant to the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934.

/s/ BKD, LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
March 26, 2004