Exhibit 23


           CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


  The Board of Directors
  Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.:

 We consent  to incorporation by reference  in the registration  statement on
 Form S-8  (File No.  333-41220) of  Hallmark  Financial Services,  Inc.  and
 subsidiaries  of  our  report  dated  March   17,  2006,  relating  to   the
 consolidated  balance  sheets  of  Hallmark  Financial  Services,  Inc.  and
 subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related  consolidated
 statements of operations, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income  and
 cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
 2005  and  all financial statement schedules,  which report appears  in  the
 December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K of Hallmark Financial Services,
 Inc.

 Our report refers to the January 1, 2003 adoption of the prospective  method
 provisions for stock-based employee compensation.


 /s/ KPMG LLP
 ------------
 KPMG LLP
 Dallas, Texas
 March 22, 2006