Exhibit 23

                         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.,  Registration
Statement No.  333-45142 on Form S-8 pertaining to the First Defiance  Financial
Corp. Employee Investment Plan, and Registration Statement No. 333-65740 on Form
S-8  pertaining  to the First  Defiance  Financial  Corp.  2001 Stock Option and
Incentive  Plan of our  report  dated  January  18,  2002,  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, 2001.



                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP




Cleveland, Ohio
March 18, 2002