Exhibit 23.1







                         Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement No.
33-98506 on Form S-8  pertaining to the 1993 Stock  Incentive  Plan and the 1993
Directors'  Stock  Option  Plan of First  Defiance  Financial  Corp.  and in the
Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8 No.  333-45142  pertaining  to the  First
Defiance  Financial Corp.  Employee  Investment Plan of our report dated January
18,  2001,  with  respect  to the  consolidated  financial  statements  of First
Defiance Financial Corp. included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year
ended December 31, 2000.



                                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                                          --------------------
                                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP



Cleveland, Ohio
March 19, 2001